Stewart Homestead -- Site of an Axe Murder

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This homestead is located in the Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area. On May 9, 1918 Isham and Sarah Stewart were axe murdered by Sarah's grandson Joshua Browning and his friend John Tucker. From the research I have uncovered, it appears the couple took all their money out of a bank and hid it in the walls of their cabin. Sarah's grandson wanted a new truck so he and his friend walked the grade and broke into the cabin at night. The pair killed the couple and stole the money. The bodies were not discovered for about a week. When they were discovered the roof of the cabin was covered with buzzards. Imagine the smell! The authorities broke down the wall of the cabin to drag the mattress with the decomposing bodies on it to the grave site. What looks like mattress springs are still there on the ground. Some of the research says Joshua's father was arrested for the murders and it wasn't until Joshua came to town in a brand new truck that he was charged and his father released--what a son. The two murderers were given 20 years in prison, 10 for each murder. The original home is still there. The floor is gone but three walls and the roof remain. A few boards from the fourth wall can be found in the leaf litter. Some tar paper still remains attached to the outside walls. A stump that was used as a seat sits conspicuously in a corner of the room.