The Crime at Quiet Dell
We're going to post a Song of the Month here, starting with a murder ballad, "The Crime at Quiet Dell," from our most recent band album Crooked Man.
In the future, we hope to post brand new songs for listening to and downloading, so stay tuned.
Our good friend, and great singer/songwriter, John Lilly also happens to be the editor of the West Virginia state magazine, Goldenseal. He sent me an article about this murder spree that happened in 1931 in a quiet little town in West Virginia called Quiet Dell. No bluegrass songwriter can pass up a good murder story. The point of view is from the mob, which is a little different.
Later, Janet and I were teaching at the Augusta Heritage Week in Elkins, West Virginia, and we drove through Quiet Dell. Today, it's a nice, quiet little town just off the Interstate.
The Crime at Quiet Dell
(Chris Stuart, Backcountry Music, BMI)
Gather round good people, of evil I will tell,
Did you hear about the crime at Quiet Dell?
A little pig-eyed grocer is sittin’ in his cell,
Did you hear about the crime at Quiet Dell?
So if you love your neighbor, go home and get your gun,
We’ll drive the devil out of West Virginia in 1931.
Up around Clarksburg, there’s a little piece of hell,
Did you hear about the crime at Quiet Dell?
The police sent a message from Park Ridge, Illinois,
About a widow, two girls, and a boy,
They said a Mr. Pierson might be to blame,
But down here Harry Powers is his name.
They found that little coward and they dragged him in,
They beat him through the night ‘til he told them what he did,
Then he led them to the farmhouse and pointed down the well,
Did you hear about the crime at Quiet Dell?
He lured them with love letters and told them pretty lies,
They saw his fancy roadster and silk ties,
The women and their children, he brought to Quiet Dell,
And he kept them where no one could hear them yell.
So go and tell your neighbor, he’s sleepin’ at the jail,
We’re gonna hang the evil out of Harrison County so good folks will prevail,
Up around Clarksburg, there’s a little piece of hell,
Did you hear about the crime at Quiet Dell?
