Lucille
and Ernest Moore lived in Gadsden Alabama, and
were known by friends and family as extremely
kind people, who always had time to give.
Ernest
was very devoted to his family. He always
worked hard, and enjoyed making people laugh.
I never had a conversation with him that he
did not tell a joke.
Lucille
was one of the sweetest people you could ever
meet. She always had a smile on her face, and
I never heard her speak of anyone in a
negative way.
They
had one son, Johnny, that they both lived for
. They raised him to be a wonderful caring
person. I know because I have been his wife
for 24 years.
They
loved each other so much it really showed. It
always made me feel good to be with them. They
took me in as if they had known me my whole
life. Both showing me over and over again how
much I meant to them.
On
November 4th 1991 Michael Shannon Taylor had a
friend drop him off at their home. Michael
Taylor had mowed Lucille and Ernest 's lawn
before. He went to their door, and asked to
use their phone.
They
were happy to see him, and invited him in.
They fed him a doughnut and some water while
having conversation. Michael Taylor went over
to their phone, and faked using it.
After
that, Ernest asked Michael if he wanted more
water. He said yes ,and followed him into the
kitchen. There, he beat Ernest in the head
over and over again. Lucille heard the
commotion, and ran into the kitchen to see
what was happening. She found Ernest on the
floor by the refrigerator.
When
she bent down to see about him Taylor started
beating her over and over again. Ernest then
tried to move. He went back to beating Ernest.
Lucille begged him to stop, and asked why? He
started beating her again then.
I
know firsthand, because Lucille told me
everything several times before she died. He
took their car keys, stole some checks, and
her purse. When he left in their car he pulled
the garage door down, so no one would notice
their car was gone, and left them for dead.
Johnny
and I lived in Jackson Mississippi then. We
called them every Sunday and Wednesday. When I
could not reach them Wednesday, I called their
neighbors and asked them to go over to tell
them I was trying to call. When they knocked
on the door they heard my mother in law crying
for help. They had laid there since
Monday.
Ernest
was dead with at least 17 splits in his skull.
Lucille had at least 10, and you could not see
her left eye. She lived several days after
that brutal assault, and I know in my heart
she did it to tell me what happened.
Michael
Taylor was captured, and confessed to the
crimes. He was sentenced to death on 3 counts
of capitol murder, and is on death row in
Atmore Alabama. He watches tv, plays
volleyball land writes on the internet. He has
at least 4 web sites. In these he describes
Alabama as being barbaric, racist ;and
prejudice. If he is ever executed, it will
take 20 years to go through all of the
appeals. How can this be?
I
miss Lucille and Ernest very much. There isn't
a day that goes by we don't speak of them. We
plan on fighting for them to see that justice
is served. We need help to see that the courts
do what they say they will.
Lisa
Moore
