Sensational courtroom cases have long seized public attention, and Charlotte’s halls of justice are no exception.
In April 2023, The Charlotte Ledger examined four blockbuster trials from the last 100 years that captivated local audiences.
The series was reported and written by Mark Washburn and Lindsey Banks and edited by Doug Miller.
Day 1: Nellie Freeman
In 1926, she went on trial for her husband’s murder. Courthouse crowds couldn’t get enough.
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Day 2: Monroe Medlin
In 1949, the wife of a prominent businessman was found dead in her Queens Road home; suspicion fell on an ex-employee
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Day 3: George Cutter
In 1961, Charlotte’s most prominent developer testified in his own murder trial; ‘Spectators hung on every word’
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Day 4: Van Brett Watkins
In 1999, police accused a Carolina Panthers star of hiring a hitman to kill his pregnant girlfriend; ‘For me to kill somebody, I don’t need a gun,’ shooter says
Previous weeklong series from The Charlotte Ledger:
If you are enjoying “Trials of the Century,” you might also enjoy previous members-only series (🔒) we have published:
In July 2022, our “Built to Last” series shared tips and insights from longtime small business owners Hilda Gurdián (La Noticia), Bill Bartee (Jesse Brown’s outdoor store), Marc Fuller (24 Hour Laundry) and Missy O’Daniel (Web-Don countertop and cabinet distributor)
In April 2022, we ran “Leadership Week,” with insights from Kelly King (Truist), Tony Zeiss (Central Piedmont), Jennifer Appleby (Wray Ward) and Dan Lugo (Queens University of Charlotte).
In July 2021, we released “Legends of Charlotte,” in which we interviewed Sue Myrick, Harvey Gantt, Joan Zimmerman, Sis Kaplan and Humpy Wheeler.
In April 2021, we ran “Entrepreneur Week,” sharing the stories of local people who offered advice on starting successful businesses. It covered a wide range of entrepreneurs, including former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl Jr., Charlotte Agenda founder Ted Williams, a husband-and-wife design team, a 29-year-old founder of a healthcare apparel company and an opera singer harnessing her passion for music.
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