Visit the Mississippi garden where a novelist outpaced the FBI

Eudora Welty’s Overnight Story About Medgar Evers’ Killer

On June 12, 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers was shot outside his Jackson home.

That same night, author Eudora Welty, who lived in the same city, sat down and wrote a story from the killer’s point of view.

Her tale was so spot-on that The New Yorker had to change details before publishing it just 25 days later. Meanwhile, police found the real shooter’s rifle with his fingerprint on the scope.

Oddly enough, Welty had nailed the mindset of a man she’d never met. The Eudora Welty House now shows how one writer turned rage into art that still speaks to us today.

Kennedy’s Civil Rights Speech Hit TV Screens Nationwide

President Kennedy spoke to Americans about race problems on June 11, 1963.

He talked directly through their TVs, calling discrimination a “moral crisis” and promising new laws. This marked a big shift in how the White House handled civil rights.

The Evers family watched together in their Jackson, Mississippi home.

Myrlie and their three children waited for Medgar to return from his NAACP meeting, not knowing tragedy would strike within hours.

Medgar Brought "Jim Crow Must Go" T-shirts Home

Around 12:30 AM on June 12, 1963, Medgar Evers pulled into his driveway at 2332 Guynes Street in Jackson. He had an armful of NAACP T-shirts saying “Jim Crow Must Go.”

The civil rights leader had just finished a late meeting with fellow workers. His wife and kids waited inside, ready to hear about his day.

Byron De La Beckwith hid in honeysuckle bushes about 150 feet away. The fertilizer salesman and KKK member had a clear view of the driveway.

A Single Bullet Changed American History

De La Beckwith pulled the trigger of his . 30-06 Enfield rifle at 12:30 AM.

The bullet went through Evers’ back and heart. The rifle scope hit the shooter’s eye hard, leaving a bruise.

Evers stumbled toward his front door, trying to reach his family. He dragged himself a few steps before falling on the concrete.

The gunshot broke the quiet night, alerting his family and neighbors that something bad had happened.

Myrlie Ran Outside When She Heard the Shot

The Evers family rushed outside after hearing the gunshot. They found Medgar bleeding heavily on their front steps.

Neighbors came to help while someone called police. Despite trying to save him, Evers died within 50 minutes from heavy bleeding.

The ambulance took him to the hospital, but doctors couldn’t stop the blood loss. Meanwhile, De La Beckwith dropped his rifle in nearby bushes and ran away.

The murder of such a well-known civil rights leader shocked America.

FBI Found a Fingerprint on the Rifle Scope

Police found the fired Enfield rifle in bushes near the Evers home. FBI agents checked the weapon and spotted a clear fingerprint on the scope.

The proof pointed to a shooter who had set up across the street. Investigators started putting together what happened as national anger grew.

Civil rights leaders asked for justice for Evers. The murder case quickly became a top focus for law officers in Mississippi and the federal government.

Welty Wrote the Story in One Angry Night

Eudora Welty heard about the killing on June 12, 1963.

The famous writer lived in the same Jackson area as the Evers family. That night, she sat down and wrote “Where Is the Voice Coming From? ” all at once.

This was the only story she ever wrote in anger. Welty first called it “From the Unknown” before making changes.

She later said she knew the killer not by name but by nature, having grown up in Mississippi and understanding its race problems.

Her Story Matched Details About the Real Killer

Welty created a made-up poor white narrator who matched the real killer with odd accuracy.

She showed the thinking of a racist murderer through first-person storytelling. Her story had details about waiting in bushes and the victim’s last movements.

Welty wrote all this before anyone knew who the killer was.

Police Caught De La Beckwith Nine Days Later

The FBI matched the scope fingerprint to Byron De La Beckwith through army records. Police arrested the 42-year-old fertilizer salesman and KKK member on June 21, 1963.

They learned he had been asking about Evers’ home for weeks before the shooting. Two people reported seeing him ask taxi drivers for Evers’ address.

The case against him grew stronger when police noticed his black eye, matching rifle scope kickback. The arrest came just as Welty’s story moved toward print.

The New Yorker Rushed the Story to Print

Welty sent her story right away to The New Yorker magazine.

Editor William Maxwell saw its power and importance. The magazine worked fast to get the piece ready while keeping good reporting standards.

The magazine’s lawyers asked for changes to avoid affecting the ongoing case. Several details needed changing to prevent legal issues with the search.

From Murder to Magazine in Just 25 Days

The story appeared in The New Yorker on July 6, 1963, just 25 days after Evers’ murder. This quick printing came only nine days after De La Beckwith’s arrest.

Readers across America read Welty’s powerful made-up account while news of the real murder still filled headlines.

The story became one of Welty’s most studied works, praised for both its writing quality and social concern.

Visitors See the Original Manuscript at Welty House

The Eudora Welty House now features a permanent exhibit about the story. Glass cases display the original manuscript pages with Welty’s handwritten revisions.

The exhibit carries the title “Out of Outrage: Processing the Murder of Medgar Evers.” Museum guides explain how Welty transformed her anger into art.

This display shows visitors how literature can serve as a form of civil rights activism. The Welty House stands as a testament to how quickly a writer responded to tragedy.

Visiting Eudora Welty House & Gardens

The Eudora Welty House & Gardens at 1119 Pinehurst Street in Jackson offers guided tours Tuesday-Friday at 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, plus Saturday at 1pm and 3pm.

Admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, teachers, and military, $5 for students, and free for kids under 6. You can make reservations at 601-353-7762.

Wednesday tours are free throughout 2025 celebrating 100 years on Pinehurst Street. The visitor center exhibits are free Tuesday-Friday 8:30am-4pm and Saturday 12:30-4pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• The KKK member who bragged about killing Medgar Evers for 30 years
• The wade-ins that challenged Jim Crow at Mississippi’s beaches
• The 35-day “death march” that built America’s economy between 1780 and 1820