A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 2 - The Shot Doctor - full transcript

Man over radio:
IN ORLANDO, BILL HENDRICKS,

PATRON OF
THE FLORIDA KU KLUX KLAN

SAID HE AND HIS
AMERICAN CONFEDERATE ARMY

WILL BEAR ARMS

IF THE SUPREME COURT OUTLAWS
SEGREGATION IN THE SOUTH.

HENDRICKS SAID THAT HIS REBEL
ARMY HAD MOBILIZED IN AND --

[ RADIO TURNS OFF ]

Woman: ANSWER ME THIS.

HOW DO YOU TELL THE TRUE STORY
OF SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED 60 YEARS AGO,

WHEN NO TWO PEOPLE CAN AGREE ON
EXACTLY WHAT OCCURRED?



WHEN THE PLAYERS, LONG DEAD,
LIVED IN A WORLD

THAT BARELY RESEMBLES OURS?

SO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED.

SO MANY SECRETS TAKEN
TO THE GRAVE.

Man: WHAT YOU DOIN' HERE?

HOW DO I MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND
WHY THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED

IN MY LITTLE HOMETOWN
ON THIS SUNNY SUNDAY MORNING...

Woman:
I DIDN'T TREAT YOU LIKE THIS!

[ GUNSHOT ]

CAME TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
FAMOUS CRIMES...

[ GUNSHOTS ]

YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF.

Woman: * WADE IN THE WATER *

IN 1952, LIVE OAK, FLORIDA,
WAS A SLEEPY LITTLE PLACE



ON THE BANKS
OF THE SUWANNEE RIVER.

AROUND HERE,
COTTON USED TO BE KING.

NOW MOST FOLKS
MADE THEIR LIVING

GROWING TOBACCO
AND PINE TREE.

* THE WATER *

* TELL YOU JORDAN RIVER
IS CHILLY AND COLD *

* NOT GONNA TROUBLE
THE WATER *

* IT CHILLED MY BODY
BUT NOT MY SOUL *

BUT MAKING A LIVING
WAS FOR THE WEEK DAYS.

SUNDAYS WERE FOR CHURCH --
WHETHER YOU WERE BLACK...

* AMAZING GRACE *

...OR WHITE.

Ellis: AND THERE WAS CERTAINLY
A RACIAL DIVIDE.

WITH TREMENDOUS SEGREGATION
SO THAT BLACKS AND WHITES

WERE ENTIRELY SEPARATED.

YOU KNOW ALL OF THIS.

JIM CROW LAWS WERE SUPPOSED
TO MEAN SEPARATE BUT EQUAL,

BUT EVEN I COULD'VE TOLD YOU --

AND I WAS JUST
10 YEARS OLD THEN --

IN REALITY,
IT WAS SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL.

1952, LIVE OAK, FLORIDA,
WAS LIKE MOST SOUTHERN TOWNS,

ON THE SURFACE IT APPEARED THAT
EVERYTHING WAS NICE AND SWEET.

ON THE SURFACE.

* BUT NOW I SEE *

[ SIREN WAILING ]

AND SO,
ISN'T IT JUST A LITTLE IRONIC

THAT THE WORST THING
TO EVER HAPPEN IN LIVE OAK

HAPPENED IN ONE
OF THE ONLY PLACES

OPEN TO BOTH
BLACKS AND WHITES --

THE OFFICE OF DR. LEROY ADAMS.

WITHIN MINUTES,
THE POLICE WERE THERE

BECAUSE THE POLICE STATION
WAS ONE BLOCK AWAY.

WHAT THEY SEE
LEAVES THEM AGHAST.

Woman: THEY SEE DR. ADAMS LAYING
IN A POOL OF BLOOD.

Ellis: AND HE HAD TWO GUNSHOTS
IN HIS BACK.

THEY DID NOT NOTICE
THE OTHER TWO BULLETS

THAT HAD BEEN FIRED AT THE TIME.

AND CLUTCHED IN HIS HAND,
WAS $100 BILL.

NOW YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND,

IN ADDITION TO THE FACT
THAT NO ONE, I MEAN, NO ONE,

HAD EVER SHOT A PERSON
IN COLD BLOOD IN TOWN

IN RECENT MEMORY,
THIS WAS DOC ADAMS.

JACK SPURLOCK.

HE WAS LIKE SANTA CLAUS.

DR. ADAMS WAS EVERYBODY'S
FAMILY PHYSICIAN IN TOWN --

BLACK AND WHITE.

IT WAS KIND OF UNHEARD OF
IN THE 1950s IN THE SOUTH.

Udell:
HE WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE DOCTORS

THAT HAD TO COLLECT MONEY.
"PAY ME WHEN YOU CAN."

HE DOCTORED ON PEOPLE
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK,

SEPARATE WAITING ROOM,
SEPARATE TREATMENT ROOM,

WITHIN IN THE SAME BUILDING.

KNOCK, KNOCK.
WHO'S THERE?

BANANA.
BANANA, WHO?

KNOCK, KNOCK.

HE WAS KNOWN AS
"THE SHOT DOCTOR."

HE HAD SOME INTO TOWN
IN 1945 AS A NEW PHYSICIAN.

HE WAS WIELDING PENICILLIN
WHICH COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

ORANGE YOU GLAD
I DIDN'T SAY BANANA?

[ GIGGLES ]

TAKE A DEEP BREATH NOW, BIG GUY.
[ INHALES SHARPLY ]

IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND TODAY
THE KIND OF POWER A MAN HAD

WHEN HE COULD
PREVENT A CHILD FROM DYING

BY JUST GIVING THEM A SHOT.

"ANTIBIOTIC" WASN'T A WORD
WE'D USE MUCH BACK THEN,

BUT "MIRACLE" WAS.

HERE YOU GO.

Udell:
DR. ADAMS WAS A SAVIOR.

DR. ADAMS WAS BELOVED BY ALL,
BLACK AND WHITE ALIKE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT,

DOC ADAMS
WAS PRACTICALLY FAMOUS.

HE JUST GOT ELECTED
TO THE FLORIDA STATE SENATE

AND EVERYONE SAID
IF HE PLAYED HIS CARDS RIGHT,

HE COULD BE GOVERNOR SOMEDAY.

THE POLICE SPEAK TO THREE WOMEN

WHO HAD BEEN IN
THE COLORED WAITING ROOM.

Ellis: ONE OF THEM HAD COME IN
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE GUNSHOTS.

THE OTHER TWO WOMEN
HAD ACTUALLY SEEN A WOMAN ENTER.

THIS LADY WAS APPROXIMATELY
5'2" TALL.

SHE WAS A LITTLE OVER
MEDIUM WEIGHT.

WELL, SHE'S DARK-SKINNED,

YELLOW DRESS, TAN HANDBAG,
TAN SHOES.

Evans:
THE WOMEN HAD HEARD AN ARGUMENT

CENTERED AROUND A MEDICAL BILL.

SHE SAID,
"I WANT TO PAY MY BILL.

HERE'S $100.
I WANT A RECEIPT FOR IT."

AND THE DOCTOR THEN SAID,
YOU KNOW,

"GODDAMN YOU, WOMAN,
I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU."

[ GUNSHOT ]

AT THAT POINT,
SHE HEARD THE FIRST GUNSHOT,

AS DR. ADAMS TRIED TO
TURN AROUND AND EXIT THE DOOR,

[ GUNSHOT ]

THERE WAS A SECOND GUNSHOT.

AND THEN, ANOTHER SHOT
TOWARDS HIS BACK.

AND AFTER A PAUSE...
[ GUNSHOT ]

THE FOURTH SHOT.

THE THREE WOMEN SAID
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHO IT WAS.

IT WAS A COLORED WOMAN,

BUT IT'S A SMALL TOWN.
EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY.

THIS WAS THE SEPARATE PART
OF SEPARATE BUT EQUAL.

Udell: YOU LEARNED TO HAVE
AS LITTLE TO DO

WITH WHITE FOLKS' BUSINESS
AS YOU COULD.

YOU DIDN'T PUT YOURSELF IN
A POSITION TO KNOW EVERYTHING.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

SO TELL US WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

YES, I WAS SITTING RIGHT OVER
THERE IN THE TRUCK.

Ellis: A FEW MINUTES
BEFORE THE GUNSHOTS,

HAROLD MUSGROVE, A TEEN
SITTING IN A PICKUP TRUCK,

SAW A WOMAN WEARING THE SAME
OUTFIT THAT WAS DESCRIBED.

Evans:
THE WOMAN APPEARS TO BE NERVOUS.

SHE WALKS BACK AND FORTH,
PEERS INTO DR. ADAMS' OFFICE,

THEN SHE WOULD WALK
BACK TO HER CAR.

THE TWO KIDS WERE JUST
SITTING IN THE CAR.

STOP IT.

Evans:
IN THE CAR ARE TWO CHILDREN.

ONE ABOUT 7 AND THE OTHER
WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

THEN MY MA AND PA CAME OUT.
THAT'S ALL I SAW.

ASIDE FROM THE FACT
THAT THOSE DEPUTIES

MUST HAVE WONDERED
WHAT WOMAN IN HER RIGHT MIND

WOULD BRING HER CHILDREN
ALONG TO A MURDER?

THE DESCRIPTION
OF THIS MYSTERIOUS PERSON

WASN'T SO MYSTERIOUS.

WHEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS HEAR HOW FINELY DRESSED

THIS LADY IS AND ON TOP OF THIS,
THEY HAVE THE $100 BILL,

THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON
THAT IT COULD BE.

AND THAT IS RUBY McCOLLUM.

[ ENGINE TURNS ON ]

EVERYBODY KNEW RUBY McCOLLUM.

SHE WAS JUST ABOUT
THE LAST PERSON

YOU WOULD EXPECT TO BE
INVOLVED IN THIS KIND OF MESS.

SHE'S THE RICHEST BLACK WOMAN
IN LIVE OAK.

HOW YOU DOIN', RUBY?

I'M FINE, OFFICER.
HOW MAY I HELP YOU?

RUBY IS PREPARING A BOTTLE
FOR THE BABY.

AND HER OUTFIT DOESN'T MATCH
THE DESCRIPTION

OF THE WOMAN AT THE CRIME SCENE.

THEY ARE STRUCK BY
THE NORMALCY OF THE SCENE.

SO THEY ARE CONFUSED
AT THIS POINT.

NOW, HOW MAY I HELP YOU?

SO,
ON THIS SUNNY SUNDAY MORNING,

NOTHING WAS AS IT SEEMED.

BUT THAT WAS THE WAY
THINGS WERE IN LIVE OAK.

APPEARANCES WERE DECEIVING,

AND THE TRUTH WAS OFTEN TRAPPED
UNDER LAYERS OF SECRETS.

Woman: ON A SUNNY
SUNDAY MORNING IN 1952,

SOMEONE SHOT
LIVE OAK, FLORIDA'S

BELOVED DR. LEROY ADAMS DEAD
RIGHT IN HIS OFFICE.

FOLKS IN THE WAITING ROOM
SAID THEY HEARD HIM ARGUING

WITH A WOMAN
OVER SETTLING A BILL.

AND THE POLICE BELIEVE
THAT THAT WOMAN

WAS NONE OTHER
THAN RUBY McCOLLUM,

THE RICHEST BLACK WOMAN
IN TOWN.

WHAT IS IT, SONIA?

HERE'S THIS WOMAN
APPEARING TO NOT KNOW ANYTHING

ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED
TO DR. ADAMS.

SO THE POLICE ARE SEARCHING
FOR EVIDENCE.

Ellis: SEARCHING HER PURSE,

ONE OF THEM FINDS A ROLL
OF 18 $100 BILLS.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS,

THE AVERAGE WORKER MADE
$2,000 A YEAR.

SO THE $1,800 THAT RUBY
CARRIED IN HER PURSE

WAS AN ANNUAL SALARY.

THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO COULD
PAY A DOCTOR BILL.

SO WHAT THE HECK
WAS GOING ON HERE?

[ OBJECTS CLATTER ]

WHO KNOWS WHY RUBY DID
WHAT SHE DID NEXT?

COME ON.

MAYBE SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS
PROTECTING HER FAMILY.

MAYBE SHE THOUGHT SHE'D FIND
A SYMPATHETIC EAR.

RUBY, DID YOU KILL
DR. ADAMS?

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
I DID RIGHT

OR WHETHER I DID WRONG.

I DON'T KNOW.

AND NONE OF US WOULD EVER
HAVE A CHANCE TO FIND OUT.

ALTHOUGH THE ANSWER IS CRYPTIC,

THEY HAVE,
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES,

AN ADMISSION OF GUILT.

IT WAS INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

BLACK PEOPLE DIDN'T DARE
LOOK TOO LONG AT A WHITE PERSON

LET ALONE HURT THEM.

WE WERE ALL TOO FAMILIAR
WITH HOW THAT WOULD END.

EIGHT OR NINE YEARS BEFORE,
THIS BOY, WILLY HOWARD,

ALL HE DID WAS SEND
A CHRISTMAS CARD

TO A WHITE GIRL,
AND HE WAS BROUGHT TO

THE EDGE OF A RIVER BANK
BY THREE WHITE MEN

IN FRONT OF HIS FATHER.

BOUNDED, GAGGED,
AND THROWN INTO THE RIVER.

MAMA.

MAMA!

THE RIVER WHERE
THEY THREW THAT BOY?

THAT WAS THE SUWANNEE RIVER,
AND LIKE I SAID,

THAT RIVER RAN RIGHT THROUGH
LIVE OAK.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

SO, OBVIOUSLY,
THIS WAS A BIG FUSE

LEADING TO A HUGE BOMB.

AND THEY HAD TO SOMEHOW
DEFUSE IT.

Thompson-Miller: NORMALLY, IF
SOMEONE HAS COMMITTED A CRIME,

THEY WOULD TAKE THEM
TO THE SUWANNEE COUNTY JAIL.

BUT IF YOU CARRIED HER
TO SUWANNEE COUNTY JAIL,

SHE WAS GONNA BE DEAD,
DEAD, DEAD SHORTLY.

AND A LYNCHING WAS NOT
SOMETHING THE LAW

IN LIVE OAK WANTED.

I'D LIKE TO SAY IT WAS
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE

LYNCHING WAS AN AFFRONT
TO OUR HUMANITY,

BUT KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW,

I SUSPECT THAT THERE WAS
MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

IT WOULD'VE MADE NATIONAL NEWS.

AND LIVE OAK WOULD'VE BEEN
PUT UNDER THIS MICROSCOPE.

NORTHERNERS COULD COME DOWN
DIGGING DEEP

INTO THE SOUTHERN SOIL
TO FIND OUT

THE SUBTERRANEAN AFFAIRS,

AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THEY DID NOT WANT --

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE.

SO THEY WHISK HER
ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY

TO THE STATE PENITENTIARY
IN RAIFORD, FLORIDA.

THOSE FOLKS HAD TO BE
VERY CAREFUL,

BECAUSE SITTING
IN THAT BACKSEAT

WAS THE RICHEST BLACK WOMAN
IN THE COUNTY,

THE ONE PERSON IN LIVE OAK
WHO KNEW ALL THE SECRETS.

[ BLUES MUSIC PLAYING ]

WHAT YOU GONNA DO
WITH THAT?

NOW, NOW, NOW, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

I KNOW I GOT THREE...

RUBY, WHERE MY LIGHTER?

RUBY McCOLLUM GREW UP
IN ZUBER, FLORIDA,

AND HER PARENTS WERE FARMERS
AND THEY WERE REALLY

INTERESTED
IN HER GETTING EDUCATED.

Ellis: SHE WAS SMART.

SHE EXCELLED IN MATH.

Thompson-Miller:
SHE HAS A LOT OF AMBITION.

Ellis: RUBY KNEW SHE WANTED
TO HAVE ONLY

THE FINEST THINGS IN LIFE.

WHEN SHE WAS JUST
19 YEARS OLD,

RUBY JOHNSON WAS SINGING
IN CHURCH AND CAUGHT THE EYE

OF SAM McCOLLUM.

HE FELL FOR HER RIGHT AWAY
AND PROPOSED THEN AND THERE.

SHE SAID, "I'M GOING TO MARRY
SAM BECAUSE I SEE A WAY

TO HAVE A BETTER FUTURE
WITH SAM."

SAM McCOLLUM
HAD A THRIVING BUSINESS.

HE WAS A FARMER.

HE HAD THE LARGEST TOBACCO
ALLOTMENT IN SUWANNEE COUNTY.

***

Ellis: AND THEY ALSO HAVE
A NUMBER OF JUKE JOINTS,

WHAT THE COMMUNITY CANNOT SEE

IS THE INVISIBLE SOURCE
OF INCOME.

ALL RIGHT, NOW.

LET'S GET
THESE BOLITA NUMBERS CALLED

TO FIND OURSELVES A WINNER.

74.

SAM McCOLLUM WAS
IN THE BOLITA BUSINESS

MAKING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
A WEEK.

BOLITA IS NUMBERS.

87.

Evans: PLAYERS WOULD PAY MONEY
FOR A CHANCE TO HIT

A SERIES OF NUMBERS DRAWN
FROM A BAG.

47.

Evans:
HOWEVER, IT WAS AN ILLEGAL GAME.

33.
HEY, IT'S ME! I WON! I WON!

ALL RIGHT, NOW, MISS LADY.

RUBY McCOLLUM IS A SMART WOMAN
AND AN EXCELLENT BOOKKEEPER.

SO, SAM AND RUBY
ARE IN BUSINESS TOGETHER.

IN RUBY, SAM HAD FOUND A WIFE
WHO WOULD HELP HIM

RUN HIS NUMBERS GAME LIKE
A REAL HONEST-TO-GOD BUSINESS.

HOW WE LOOKIN'?

OH, WE LOOKIN' REAL GOOD,
BABY.

DOUBLE WHAT WE BROUGHT IN
LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW I LIKE THAT.

AND IN SAM, RUBY HAD A HUSBAND
WHO FED HER AMBITION.

Evans: AND VERY SOON, THEY HAD
AMASSED A SMALL FORTUNE.

BUT THEY COULDN'T DO THIS
ON THEIR OWN.

Evans: DURING THIS TIME,

FOR A BLACK MAN TO RUN
AN ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPERATION

WOULD'VE REQUIRED HELP.

Ellis: HOW COULD SAM McCOLLUM
POSSIBLY OPERATE?

THE ANSWER'S VERY SIMPLE,
HE PAID LAW ENFORCEMENT.

[ GLASSES CLINK ]

NOW IF WILLY HOWARD
WAS DROWNED

FOR NOTHING BUT SENDING
A NOTE TO A LITTLE GIRL?

YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY WAS RUBY,
SAM'S BOOKKEEPER,

AND AN ACTUAL THREAT
TO SOME POWERFUL PEOPLE,

STILL ALIVE?

THERE WERE RUMORS
THAT RUBY McCOLLUM

KEPT A LITTLE BLACK BOOK,

WHICH RECORDED ALL OF
THE PAYOUTS

TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY COULDN'T FIND IT.

THEY DO NOT WANT HER LYNCHED,

NOT LONG AS THAT BOOK
WAS OUT THERE.

WHO CAN SAY?

YOU'LL COME TO SEE
THAT THE SO-CALLED FACTS

IN THIS STORY OFTEN SEEM
MORE LIKE FABLES.

Ellis: SAM WAS IN CHURCH
WITH HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER, KAY.

A DEACON CAME, TOLD HIM THAT
HIS WIFE HAD SHOT DR. ADAMS.

[ MUFFLED SINGING ]

Southerland: AND HE KNOWS
RIGHT THEN AND THERE

THAT THEIR LIFE IS OVER.

EVERYTHING IS GONNA COME
CRUMBLING DOWN.

Udell: YOUR WIFE DONE KILLED
THE MOST LOVED, RESPECTED

WHITE MAN IN THIS COUNTY,

YOU GONNA GET YOUR NECK
STRETCHED, TOO.

ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS FOR HIM
TO PACK UP AND GET GONE

BEFORE EVERYONE FIGURED OUT

WHY RUBY'D DONE
WHAT SHE'D DONE.

AND THAT IT ALL LED BACK TO
THEIR SILENT PARTNER

WHO STAYED IN THE SHADOWS.

KAY, BABY, I NEED YOU TO HELP
YOUR SISTER GET HER THINGS.

OKAY?
I NEED YOU TO HURRY UP NOW.

OKAY, WE GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE.

Woman: RUBY McCOLLUM WAS ON
HER WAY TO JAIL FOR KILLING

DR. LEROY ADAMS.

RUBY'S HUSBAND SAM KNEW
HE HAD JUST A VERY SHORT TIME

TO GET THEIR CHILDREN
OUT OF TOWN AND SOMEWHERE SAFE.

Ellis: SAM McCOLLUM SECURED
ALL THREE CHILDREN.

LOADED UP SUITCASES FULL
OF HUNDRED DOLLAR BILLS.

Southerland:
AND DRIVES AS FAST AS HE CAN

TO HIS IN-LAWS' HOUSE
IN ZUBER, FLORIDA.

Ellis: OF COURSE LAW ENFORCEMENT
WANTED TO TALK TO SAM McCOLLUM

TO FIND OUT WHAT HE KNEW.

HE AGREED TO MEET THEM
IN LAKE CITY THE FOLLOWING DAY.

Southerland:
BUT BEFORE HE CAN DO THAT,

HE HAS A HEART ATTACK AND DIES.

NOW, SAM DID HAVE A BAD HEART,

BUT WHEN ONE DAY A MAN

IS RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE
FROM THE LAW

AND THE NEXT DAY
HE DIES OF NATURAL CAUSES,

LIKE WITH SO MANY OTHER
PARTS OF THIS STORY,

PEOPLE START TO WONDER.

THEY SAY HE HAD
A "HEART ATTACK,"

OR HE OVERDOSED ON
HIS HEART PILLS.

I DON'T THINK SO.
I DON'T BUY IT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF.

I'M SPECULATING JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE,

BUT I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK THAT SOMEBODY
GOT TO HIM.

AND THEY KILLED HIM.

WHERE ARE THE CHILDREN?

THEY'RE WITH YOUR PEOPLE
IN ZUBER.

THE CHILDREN WILL BE
JUST FINE, MISS McCOLLUM.

I'LL MAKE SURE OF IT.

RUBY TALKS TO RELEFORD McGRIFF,
A FAMILY FRIEND

WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A LAWYER
AND WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE

THAT SHE WAS ACTUALLY
ABLE TO SPEAK TO, UM,

THROUGHOUT THIS ORDEAL.

AND IT WAS TO RELEFORD McGRIFF
THAT RUBY TOLD

THE ENTIRE STORY --

HOW SAM AND RUBY HADN'T BEEN
ALONE IN THE BOLITA BUSINESS.

THEY HAD A PARTNER.

AND THAT PARTNER WAS
NONE OTHER THAN DOC ADAMS.

[ COUGHING ]

SIX YEARS EARLIER,
RUBY HAD FALLEN ILL.

RUBY?

AND SAM HAD CALLED
THE NEW DOCTOR IN TOWN,

THE ONE WHO MADE HOUSE CALLS
IN THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS HERE DR. ADAMS.

THE ONE I TOLD YOU ABOUT.

SOON, DOC ADAMS TOOK CARE
OF ALL THE McCOLLUMS.

HE WOULD EVEN DELIVER
RUBY AND SAM'S

SECOND DAUGHTER, SONIA.

BUT THAT WAS JUST
THE BEGINNING.

MMM, MMM, MMM-MMM.

DR. ADAMS FAMILY IS AN OLD
SOUTHERN FAMILY FROM BACK

SLAVERY TIME.

BIG LAND OWNERS
IN HAMILTON COUNTY.

MMM, MMM, RUBY.

BETTER THAN MY MAMA'S.

WELL, THANK YOU.

AS TIME WORE ON, THOUGH,
HIS FAMILY HAD NOT BEEN

AS PROMINENT.

AND THEY WENT BROKE.

SAM, LET'S TALK US
SOME BUSINESS.

DR. ADAMS WAS A SHREWD MAN.

AND HE KNEW WHAT HE WANTED,
AND WHAT HE WANTED WAS POWER

AND MONEY.

RUBY AND SAM McCOLLUM
HAD SOME TREMENDOUS WEALTH,

UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

THAT WEALTH COULD BE TAKEN AWAY
AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING
MIGHTY GOOD HERE.

MIGHTY GOOD.

I THINK YOU AND ME
CAN HELP EACH OTHER.

[ CRUNCHING ]

HE BECAME THE GO-BETWEEN
THE McCOLLUMS

AND ALL THE WHITES.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE
NO PERMISSION.

HE DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK
BECAUSE HE WAS DR. ADAMS

AND HE WAS WHITE.

"I'M YOUR BOSS NOW."

Southerland:
AND BECAUSE OF THIS,

DR. ADAMS IS ABLE TO FINANCE

HIS INDEPENDENT
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

MMM. [ CHUCKLES ]

IT WAS A DANGEROUS GAME
HE WAS PLAYING.

SURE, THE MONEY HE WAS TAKING
IN FROM THE BOLITA RACKET

WOULD HELP HIM
START POLITICKING,

BUT THE SOURCE OF THAT MONEY
CAN NEVER BE KNOWN

TO THE GOOD WHITE CHRISTIAN
VOTERS OF FLORIDA

WHO HATED GAMBLING.

DID SOMETHING GO WRONG
WITH THE NUMBERS, RUBY?

ONE HAS TO WONDER,

COULD THERE HAVE BEEN
AN ARGUMENT ABOUT THE TAKE?

HOW MUCH ADAMS WOULD GET,

HOW MUCH THE McCOLLUMS
COULD GET.

IT WASN'T THE NUMBERS.

AND IF IT WASN'T
ABOUT BUSINESS,

IT MUST'VE BEEN ABOUT
SOMETHING PERSONAL.

[ WAILING ]

OH, GOD! OH, GOD! OH, GOD!

HELP, SOMEBODY!
SOMEBODY, PLEASE HELP ME!

RUBY WAS KEPT AWAY
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS

SUPPOSEDLY FOR HER OWN SAFETY.

GUARD!

GUARD!

ONE DAY, HER ATTORNEY CAME IN
AND FOUND HER LYING

IN A POOL OF BLOOD.

SHE HAD A MISCARRIAGE.

GUARD!

SHE WAS THREE MONTHS PREGNANT.

I NEED A DOCTOR OVER HERE!

AND AS SHE LAY IN THE BLOOD
THAT JUST HOURS AGO

FILLED HER WOMB...

RUBY?

...RUBY REVEALED
HER DARKEST SECRET.

IT'S DR. ADAMS' BABY.

SHE'D BEEN CARRYING
DOC ADAMS' CHILD.

GUARD!

AND NOT ONLY THAT,

THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME
SHE'D BEEN PREGNANT BY HIM.

DOC ADAMS WAS DEAD.

SHOT BY RUBY McCOLLUM,
THAT MUCH WAS CLEAR.

BUT THAT'S RIGHT ABOUT
WHERE CLARITY ENDED.

BECAUSE, YOU SEE,
BACK THEN IN LIVE OAK,

KEEPING SECRETS
WAS OFTEN CONSIDERED

THE POLITE THING TO DO.

IN THE SOUTH,

THERE ARE TWO THINGS --
ONE, WHAT IS NON,

AND ONE IS WHAT IS TALKED ABOUT.

[ HUMMING ]

AND WHAT EVERYONE KNEW
AND NO ONE TALKED ABOUT

WAS THAT RUBY HAD ALREADY HAD
ONE CHILD BY DOC ADAMS.

NOW RELEFORD McGRIFF COULD
HAVE DEFENDED RUBY IN COURT,

BUT AS A BLACK MAN IN 1952,
HE WAS ALL TOO AWARE

OF HOW A JURY MIGHT REACT
TO THAT.

SO, HE BROUGHT IN A WHITE
LAWYER TO HEAR RUBY'S STORY.

HOW DID THIS ALL HAPPEN?

IT STARTED FIVE,
SIX YEARS AGO NOW.

[ PLAYING JAZZ ]

SAM McCOLLUM WAS ALLEGED
TO BE HAVING AN AFFAIR

WITH A SCHOOLTEACHER IN
SUWANNEE COUNTY BLACK SCHOOLS.

Ellis: RUBY WAS AWARE OF THIS,
BUT SHE IGNORED IT.

YOU KNOW, I MARRIED SAM BECAUSE
I THOUGHT HE'D BE A STEP UP.

IN THE END, HE TURNED OUT
TO BE LIKE ALL THE REST.

[ MAN VOMITS ]

OH, MY -- WHOA, HE DONE VOMIT
ALL OVER, MISS RUBY,

RIGHT THERE NOW, BOY, YOU AIN'T
GONNA LIVE THIS ONE DOWN.

NO MORE WHISKEY FOR HIM.
HEY, RUBY!

RUBY, COME IN HERE
FOR A SECOND!

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

NOT ON MY FLOOR!

GO ON GET SOMETHING
TO CLEAN IT UP NOW.

NO!

WOMAN, I SAID CLEAN IT UP.

[ SCOFFS ] NO.
YOU CLEAN IT UP.

[ TABLE THUDS ]

COME OVER HERE.

RUBY, GET YOURSELF OVER THERE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? STOP IT!

Leslie: YEARS EARLIER,
SAM AND RUBY HAVE A FIGHT.

RUBY WILL NOT BE
SUBSERVIENT TO SAM.

[ ARGUING
CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY ]

AND BECAUSE OF THAT
HE BEATS HER UP PRETTY BADLY.

RUBY DIDN'T MARRY SAM
SO SHE COULD BE LIKE

ALL THE OTHER GIRLS SHE KNEW.

SHE WANTED A PARTNER.

[ LIGHTER CLICKS ]

AND NOBODY EVER ACCUSED
RUBY McCOLLUM

OF NOT KNOWING HER OWN WORTH.

THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

Ruby: DR. ADAMS CAME BY
THE HOUSE WHEN SAM WAS AWAY.

WELL, GOOD DAY, RUBY.

GOOD DAY, DR. ADAMS.
HOW MAY I HELP YOU?

THOUGHT I'D STOP IN,
CHECK ON YOU IS ALL.

OH, WELL, I'M FINE.
THANK YOU.

OH, SAM'S NOT IN RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WAS THE TRUE NATURE
OF THEIR COMING TOGETHER?

RUBY WAS A VERY PROUD WOMAN
IN HER OWN RIGHT.

SHE WAS NOT STUPID.

AND SHE WAS NO SHRINKING VIOLET.

Ellis: I BELIEVE AS FAR AS
SHE WAS CONCERNED,

SHE WAS ENTITLED TO BE WITH
THE HIGHEST RANKING PERSON

SHE COULD POSSIBLY BE WITH.

I BELIEVE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY
NO WAY THAT THIS INTELLIGENT,

SUCCESSFUL, BLACK WOMAN
WHO WAS MARRIED

WOULD HAVE CHOSEN TO BE
WITH DR. ADAMS.

AND TO IMPLY THAT
IT WAS AN AFFAIR,

IT'S LIKE THIS NOTION THAT,
YOU KNOW,

SHE HAD AS MANY RIGHTS
AS, UH, HE DID.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF SLAVERY
IN NORTH AMERICA,

BLACK PEOPLE WERE PROPERTY.

THOSE SAME NOTIONS
WERE PERPETUATED

ALL THROUGH THE JIM CROW ERA.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

THERE WAS AN IMPLICIT
UNDERSTANDING THAT

WHITE MEN HAD THE RIGHT TO DO
WHATEVER THEY WANTED

WITH BLACK WOMEN.

WHO STARTED WHAT?

WHO MADE THE FIRST OVERTURE?

WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

BUT, FOR ME, I HAVE TO WONDER
DOES IT MATTER?

IN A WORLD WHERE A WOMAN
CAN'T SAY "NO,"

WHAT COULD A "YES"
POSSIBLY MEAN?

IT WAS LIKE IT WAS
HIS RIGHTS TO DO IT.

NOTHING SHE COULD DO ABOUT IT.

NOTHING HER FAMILY
COULD DO ABOUT IT.

HOWEVER IT MAY HAVE STARTED,
RUBY TOLD RELEFORD McGRIFF

AND HER WHITE LAWYER THAT
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG

FOR THINGS TO TURN UGLY.

DR. ADAMS WASN'T THE MAN
EVERYBODY THOUGHT HE WAS.

HE SURE HAD A TEMPER ON HIM.

I'D SAY, "NO."
AND HE'D JUST TAKE IT.

WE KNOW FROM NOTES THAT
SHE WROTE TO HER ATTORNEYS

THAT HE HAD BEAT HER
AND RAPED HER FOR YEARS.

FOR HIM,
SEX WITH RUBY WAS A WAY OF

CEMENTING THE RELATIONSHIP.

IT WAS A WAY OF
GETTING CONTROL OF HER.

IT WAS A WAY OF
GETTING CONTROL OVER HER MONEY.

Southerland:
DR. ADAMS IS A SHOT DOCTOR.

AND SO HE TOOK
FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

SHE STATED THAT HE WOULD
GIVE HER ONE SHOT

TO MAKE HER SICK
AND ONE SHOT TO MAKE HER WELL.

Leslie: PROBABLY THE SHOTS
THAT HE GAVE HER

WERE EITHER COCAINE OR HEROIN.

Evans:
ADAMS WAS ALL ABOUT CONTROL.

AND WHEN SHE ASKED HIM,
"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?"

HIS ANSWER WAS,
"IT TAKES A LITTLE OF THAT

FOR YOU SOMETIMES."

A FEW YEARS LATER,

RUBY GAVE BIRTH TO LITTLE
LORETTA, DOC ADAMS' CHILD.

Evans: IT MUST'VE BEEN
A SLAP IN THE FACE TO SAM.

Ellis: CERTAINLY WAS KNOWN THAT
LORETTA WAS LIGHT-SKINNED.

DADDY, DADDY.
HEY.

BUT LIVE OAK
WAS A WHISPERING TOWN.

IT DID NOT SPEAK THESE TRUTHS.

I LEARNED LONG AGO
THAT IT IS FUTILE TO TRY

TO MAKE SENSE OF
SOMEONE ELSE'S MARRIAGE.

ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS
RUBY AND SAM STAYED MARRIED

AND STAYED IN BUSINESS.

I ASKED HIM TO FIX ME

SO I WOULDN'T HAVE NO MORE
BABIES BY HIM.

AND HE SAID NO.

HE HAD ME COMMITTED TO
BRUCE'S NEGRO MENTAL HOSPITAL.

IF SHE DIDN'T CONTAIN HERSELF
AND BEHAVE AND DO

AS HE TOLD HER TO DO,

THAT HE WAS GOING TO HAVE HER
SENT TO A MENTAL INSTITUTION.

SO, SHE WOULD GO AWAY,
SHE WOULD REST,

AND THEN SHE WOULD COME HOME.

AND THEN IT WOULD NOT BE LONG
BEFORE SHE WOULD BE

ON THE DOORSTEP OF HIS OFFICE
ASKING TO SEE HIM

OR ASKING FOR A FIX.

AND IT JUST CONTINUED
TO SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.

NOW, I'M NOT CERTAIN,
BUT NEAR AS I CAN FIGURE,

BY THIS TIME, SENATOR ADAMS
ALREADY HAD HIS EYES

ON THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION.

RUBY AND THE BOLITA MONEY
HAD SERVED THEIR PURPOSE.

IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO START
PUTTING DISTANCE

BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THIS
UGLY CHAPTER IN HIS PAST.

RUBY, WHY DID YOU KILL
DR. ADAMS?

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

I WAS CAUGHT
BETWEEN TWO GUNS.

[ GUNSHOT ]

RUBY, WHY DID YOU KILL
DR. ADAMS?

I WAS CAUGHT
BETWEEN TWO GUNS.

SAM AND DR. ADAMS.

RUBY FOUND OUT
THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT

WITH DOC ADAMS' SECOND CHILD.

I WANNA GET RID OF IT.

YOU TAKE CARE OF IT,
OR I'LL FIND A DOCTOR WHO WILL.

YOU AIN'T KILLING
NO CHILD OF MINE.

YOU KILL MY BABY,

AND I'LL KILL YOU.

THEN ONE DAY, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR
TO THE MURDER,

SHE OPENED HER BILL
FROM DR. ADAMS' OFFICE.

THERE WERE RUMORS
THAT ON THE BILL WAS $116

FOR A D.N.C. WHERE THE UTERUS
WAS SCRAPED CLEAN

PERFORMING, EFFECTIVELY,
AN ABORTION.

BUT IF INDEED
THAT'S WHAT THE BILL WAS FOR

AND RUBY NEVER DID SAY EXACTLY
WHAT WAS ON IT,

IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN RUBY
WHO WAS THE PATIENT.

DOC ADAMS HAD REFUSED
TO INTERFERE

WITH RUBY'S CONDITION.

SO THEN WHO MIGHT HAVE
UNDERGONE THIS PROCEDURE?

WHAT IS THIS?!
HMM?! WHAT IS THIS?!

YOU AND YOUR TWO-BIT WHORE
ARE HAVING A BABY?!

YOU THINK I DIDN'T KNOW
ABOUT THE OTHER WOMAN?!

CALM DOWN, HUH?

CALM DOWN?
GET OFF OF ME!

YOU GOT NO REASON.
YOU AND YOUR WHITE MAN!

YOU GOT NOTHING TO SAY NOW.

I'LL TELL YOU THIS MUCH.

YOU AIN'T' GONNA HAVE ANOTHER
BABY BY THAT MAN.

IF YOU DO, I SWEAR,
I'LL KILL YOU.

SO RUBY WAS CORNERED.

EVERY DAY THAT BABY GREW
INSIDE OF HER,

SHE GOT CLOSER
TO BEING KILLED...

BY ONE MAN OR THE OTHER.

AND THEN THERE WAS
THE NOTE SCRAWLED

ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BILL.

WAS IT THE THING THAT PUSHED
A DESPERATE WOMAN

OVER THE EDGE?

DID YOU WRITE THIS?

"SAM, YOU KEEP THIS
GODDAMN WOMAN OUT OF MY OFFICE.

SHE'S GONE CRAZY AS A BAT."

GET OUT OF MY OFFICE.

DOC ADAMS HAD RAPED HER,
ADDICTED HER TO DRUGS,

FORCED HER TO BEAR
HIS CHILDREN,

AND WHEN SHE BECAME
A POLITICAL LIABILITY,

HE WAS CASTING HER ASIDE,

AS THOUGH SHE WAS NOTHING.

WORTHLESS.

[ CLICK, GUNSHOT ]

[ GUNSHOTS ]

[ THUD ]

[ GALLERY MURMURING ]

THE JURY FOR RUBY McCOLLUM

CONSISTED
OF 12 ALL WHITE MALE JURORS,

MOST OF HIM HAD BEEN PATIENTS
OF DR. ADAMS.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

[ DOOR OPENS ]

THIS TRIAL SHOOK THE FOUNDATIONS
OF THE SEGREGATIONIST SOUTH.

HERE WAS A BLACK WOMAN

TAKING THE STAND
IN HER OWN DEFENSE

AGAINST BEING RAPED
BY A WHITE MAN

AND BEING FORCED
TO HAVE HIS CHILD.

DID MRS. McCOLLUM
HAVE RELATIONS WITH LEROY ADAMS?

OBJECTION! YOUR HONOR,

WE ARE NOT HERE
TO DISGRACE THE LEGACY

OF THE LATE DR. ADAMS.

YOUR HONOR, THIS GOES
TO THE HEART OF OUR CASE.

Judge: SUSTAINED.

"IS DR. ADAMS THE FATHER
OF YOUR CHILD?"

"OBJECTION." "SUSTAINED."

"DID DR. ADAMS EVER BEAT YOU?"

"OBJECTION." "SUSTAINED."

SHE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO ANSWER
37 TIMES.

THE JUDGE SAID,
"THIS TRIAL WILL BE DONE FAIR

AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW."

WELL, IT APPEARS THAT IT DEPENDS
ON THE DEFINITION OF FAIRNESS

AND WHOSE LAW.

AND THIS SILENCING OF RUBY,

KEEPING HER FROM TELLING
HER SIDE OF THE STORY,

HAS LED TO SPECULATION
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING

EVEN MORE DUPLICITOUS
GOING ON,

LIKE MAYBE RUBY DIDN'T SHOOT
DOC ADAMS AT ALL.

I HAVEN'T FOUND ONE BLACK PERSON
IN SUWANNEE COUNTY

WHO BELIEVES SHE DID IT,

AND NEVER DID BELIEVE IT.

Ellis: THERE WERE RUMORS
IN SUWANNEE COUNTY,

ESPECIALLY
IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY,

THERE WAS A LAW ENFORCEMENT
MEMBER HIMSELF.

WHO SHOT DR. ADAMS
OVER THE BOLITA OPERATION.

Udell: THEM BLACK LADIES SAID
WHAT THEY WAS TOLD TO SAY.

THESE PEOPLE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY.

MS. RUBY WAS A WEALTHY WOMAN,
WEALTHY HUSBAND.

"WE'LL TAKE EVERYTHING
THEY GOT."

EVERYTHING BASED ON MONEY.

BUT IN THE END,
IT'S ALL JUST TALK.

IN THE KILLING OF DR. ADAMS,

THE TRUTH IS AS MURKY
AS THE WATERS OF THE SUWANNEE.

SHE WAS FOUND GUILTY
AND SENTENCED

TO THE ELECTRIC CHAIR.

[ GROANING
AND SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]

[ CHEERING ]

RUBY McCOLLUM SPENT 18 MONTHS
SITTING IN JAIL

WAITING TO BE EXECUTED.

HER LAWYERS FOUGHT TO GET
A NEW TRIAL AND WON.

BUT WHEN THAT SECOND TRIAL
WAS GETTING READY TO START,

THE STATE OF FLORIDA RULED

THAT RUBY HAD DETERIORATED
MENTALLY.

SENDING RUBY
TO THE ELECTRIC CHAIR

WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE
SENSATIONAL.

IT WOULD HAVE ATTRACTED
MORE NORTHERN PRESS.

SO THEY FOUND A QUIETER WAY
TO DEAL WITH RUBY.

NO, NO, PLEASE! [ CRYING ]

NO, PLEASE! [ SOBBING ]

SHE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE
IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION.

SHE WAS GIVEN A CONSTANT
INJECTION OF THORAZINE

AND OCCASIONAL
ELECTRIC SHOCK THERAPY.

[ GAGGING ]

YOU DON'T NEED A TREE
TO LYNCH A PERSON.

[ GASPING ]

YOU'LL BE FINE.

YOU CAN JUST RUN THEM
INTO THE GROUND.

[ THUD, HIGH-PITCHED WHIR ]

[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]

[ GAGGING ]

Woman: * WADE IN THE WATER *

* WADE IN THE WATER,
CHILDREN, WADE *

Udell: LIVE OAK IS
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PLACE NOW.

BLACK PEOPLE NOW HAVE NO REASON
TO BELIEVE

THAT THEY'RE
SECOND CLASS CITIZENS,

BUT MY DADDY TAUGHT ME

"DON'T GET TOO CLOSE
TO WHITE FOLKS."

AND I'M NOT FULL OF HATE.

I JUST FEEL I'M WISE.

SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE
THE RICHEST BLACK WOMAN IN TOWN

IN A TIME WHEN BLACK PEOPLE
WERE BARELY CITIZENS?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE POWER

WHEN THAT POWER CAN BE
TAKEN AWAY

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE?

AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DEFEND
YOURSELF IN A COURT OF LAW

WHEN YOU AREN'T ALLOWED
TO SPEAK?

IT AIN'T JUST
ABOUT RUBY McCOLLUM.

IT'S A REPRESENTATIVE
OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS

THAT BLACK WOMEN HAVE
GONE THROUGH IN THIS COUNTRY,

EXCEPT SHE MADE A CHOICE
THAT SHE WAS GONNA END IT

ON THAT SUNNY SUNDAY MORNING
IN LIVE OAK, FLORIDA, IN 1952.

Women: * GOD'S GON' TROUBLE
THE WATER *

* JUST FOLLOW ME DOWN
TO JORDAN'S STREAM *

* GOD'S GON' TROUBLE THE WATER *

* WADE IN THE WATER *

* WADE IN THE WATER, CHILDREN *

* WADE *

* IN THE WATER *

* GOD'S GONNA TROUBLE
THE WATER *