THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The Pickens County Museum of Art and History, formerly the county jail, is said to be home to the ghost of a boy named Willie Earle who calls out in anguish, “I didn’t do it!” So the story goes, in 1944 Willie was blamed for killing a cab driver when, in reality, it was the ca...
The Pickens County Museum of Art and History, formerly the county jail, is said to be home to the ghost of a boy named Willie Earle who calls out in anguish, “I didn’t do it!” So the story goes, in 1944 Willie was blamed for killing a cab driver when, in reality, it was the cab’s passenger who committed the crime. Willie was arrested, but a mob of cab drivers stormed the place and tortured and killed Willie before he could be tried. Later, 31 cab drivers were arrested and tried for Willie’s death, but were acquitted. Now Willie’s ghost still calls out from the jail, pleading his innocence.