Murdered by the State of Georgia

The Execution of Theodore Coggeshall

Robert Turek

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English

Robert Turek, Author
16 October 2025

True crime; True stories of heroism, endurance & survival; Organised crime

He left home on the farm in Illinois, looking for adventure.

What he found would change the course of his short life.

In 1925, Ted Coggeshall was a young farmer from small-town Illinois - caring, hard-working, and restless. With the open road ahead, he set out to see the South, chasing sunshine and adventure. But what followed may have been one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice the nation has ever seen.

A local drifter with mob ties-Sam ""Slim"" Scarborough-cut a deal to save his own neck, accusing Ted and his friend of murdering a retired schoolmaster. Circumstantial evidence. Shaky motive. Just a story the State wanted to believe. Within months, Ted was convicted, sentenced, and facing Georgia's electric chair...the first white man executed in state history.

Hearing the news, his father stopped at nothing to prove his son's innocence. Thousands in Adams County signed petitions begging for mercy. The Governor never answered. Ted's final letter thanked his community and warned other young travelers to choose their company wisely.

Nearly a century later, questions still linger. Was Ted Coggeshall guilty...or was he silenced to protect someone else?

Murdered by the State of Georgia uncovers the shocking true story of a small-town boy caught in a web of lies, mob influence, and Southern justice gone wrong. It's a haunting reminder that sometimes, innocence isn't enough...and that history has a way of burying the truth right beside the body.

By: Robert Turek
Imprint: Robert Turek, Author
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 8mm
Weight: 200g
ISBN: 9798330469659
Pages: 144
Publication Date: 16 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Robert Turek was born and raised in the historic river city of Quincy, Illinois, where his love for local history and storytelling began. A dedicated researcher and writer, Turek is the author of the bestselling books True Crime in Adams County and Haunted Quincy. His work uncovers forgotten Midwestern stories, tales of faith, tragedy, and perseverance, and preserves them for future generations with a deep respect for truth and place.

Reviews for Murdered by the State of Georgia: The Execution of Theodore Coggeshall

""This was an easy book to delve into. Catching the reader's attention from chapter 1 and keeping it to the very last page. Full of historical accounts and factuality that urges the reader's to dig deeper into the investigation. 5 stars all the way!"" ""This book is more than just a biography; it is a meticulous, gut-wrenching indictment of the justice system's capacity for error and the tragic resilience of the human spirit. ......... Highly, highly recommended."" ""It captured my attention and held it all the way thru! Interesting story told in a way only a good story teller can! It left me wanting to read more of his work!""