A PECULIAR TRIBE OF PEOPLE by Richard J Hutto
In the 1960’s Chester Burge was tried for the brutal murder of his wife in their home in Macon, Georgia. This crime shocked the population of Macon and dominated conversation throughout the city. It was a horrific crime and one that involved an aspiring member of upper class society. All of the history and elements of the crime are revealed in Rick Hutto’s book A PECULIAR TRIBE OF PEOPLE.
Hutto traces Chester Burge’s roots back through several generations of family leading up to the 1960’s. There are revelations upon revelations about Chester’s lineage and also about the heritage of other persons who play integral roles in the story. If Hutto is ever looking for another vocation he could certainly find success as a researcher.
He could also be a “father confessor” as people seem unable to hide their secrets from him. Time after time throughout the book various persons tell their secrets to him and they must regret doing so at some later date. Still they must not have revoked their tales as they are all plainly visible in the pages of the story.
This book, like its cousin MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL, has it all. There are criminal acts, spousal abuse, homosexuality, sodomy, greed and corruption. In fact the possible crimes in this story are projected as being so common and plentiful you would think Macon was a hot bed of criminality at this time.
Hutto relates the facts of the story in a serious tone with little interjection of judgment. There is no effort made to convert the texture of the book from anything other than a factual account. While this could have made for dry reading material, the elements of this story are so shocking and exaggerated that the truth alone makes it fascinating.
There are no heroes in the story, and no outstanding show of brilliance from the legal community involved in the case. Hutto exposes the personalities and character traits of all who were involved in fine detail. These are not glossy whitewashed portraits but rather are of the warts and all variety.
Peel back the covers on any town large or small and you will find a scandal. Hutto has done this to Macon and has come up with a juicy one. After apparently years of extensive research he has placed the story in print. The saga of Chester Burge is now available to be discovered.
Rick Hutto has done a magnificent job of assembling the facts of the case as well as the history of the participants. With him as the guide, the reader can study the complete story of the case that shocked the citizens of Macon in the1960’s and still reverberates all these years later.
A PECULIAR TRIBE OF PEOPLE is published by Lyons Press. It contains 240 pages and sells for $24.95.