Murdered by the King of Western Swing: The Beating Death of Ella Mae Cooley in 1961 (A Historical True Crime Short)

By R. Barri Flowers

From R. Barri Flowers, award-winning criminologist and the bestselling author of Murderess on the Loose, Murder of the Doctor’s Wife, Murder at the Pencil Factory, and The Sex Slave Murders, comes the gripping historical true crime short, Murdered by the King of Western Swing: The Beating Death of Ella Mae Cooley in 1961.

On Monday, April 3, 1961, thirty-eight-year-old former vocalist Ella Mae Cooley was beaten to death in her home in Willow Springs, an unincorporated area located in Kern County, California. The cruelty of the crime was shocking to local residents in the normally idyllic community. A greater shock was that the murder was committed by the victim’s fifty-year-old husband, Donnell Clyde Cooley, a well-known big band leader, musician, actor, host of a television variety show, and businessman.

Ella Mae and Donnell Clyde, who generally went by the name Spade Cooley, were both struggling with accusations of unfaithfulness in their marriage that had produced two children. They were in the midst of a divorce when tragedy struck. Cooley snapped in deciding to end the marriage prematurely by murdering his wife

The horrific assault was witnessed by the couple’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Melody, who would testify against her father at his trial. In spite of her untimely presence at the crime scene, Cooley sought to attribute Ella Mae’s death to an accident. This fell flat, as did a short-lived attempt to plead insanity in the death of his wife.

Spade Cooley would be convicted of murder and sent to prison for his heinous act of criminality, forever casting a shadow over a successful career in Western swing music and television.

See how this tragic story of celebrity, suspicion, and homicidal rage unfolds in the historical crime of passion.

Included is a complete bonus historical short tale, The Gold Special Train Robbery: Deadly Crimes of the D’Autremont Brothers, as well as excerpts from the author’s bestselling true crime book, Serial Killer Couples; the riveting historical true crime short, Murder of the Banker's Daughter: The Killing of Marion Parker; and the gripping historical true crime tale, Mass Murder in the Sky: The Bombing of Flight 629.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R. Barri Flowers
• Release date: May 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463721308

R. Barri Flowers

R. Barri Flowers is the award winning, bestselling author of mystery and thriller novels, true crime books, relationship fiction, young adult mysteries, and children's books. Follow R. Barri Flowers on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Goodreads, LibraryThing, and YouTube. Learn more about the author on Wikipedia and www.rbarriflowers.com.

Book preview

MURDERED BY THE KING OF WESTERN SWING

The Beating Death of Ella Mae Cooley in 1961

A Historical True Crime Short

By R. Barri Flowers

MURDERED BY THE KING OF WESTERN SWING

The Beating Death of Ella Mae Cooley in 1961

A Historical True Crime Short

Copyright 2018 by R. Barri Flowers

All rights reserved.

Cover Image Copyright Andrey Yurlov, 2018

Used under license from Shutterstock.com

In memory of Mrs. Ella Mae Cooley and the other tragic victims of

historical and present day domestic violence and homicide.

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OTHER TRUE CRIME TITLES BY R. BARRI FLOWERS

Dead at the Saddleworth Moor

Kids Who Commit Adult Crimes

Killers of the Lonely Hearts

Prostitution in the Digital Age

Mass Murder in the Sky

Masters of True Crime

Missing or Murdered

Murder at the Pencil Factory

Murder During the Chicago World’s Fair

Murder of the Banker’s Daughter

Murder of the Doctor’s Wife

Murders in the United States

Murder of a Star Quarterback

Murderess on the Loose

Serial Killer Couples

The Amityville Massacre

The Dreadful Acts of Jack the Ripper

The Dynamics of Murder

The Gold Special Train Robbery

The Pickaxe Killers

The Sex Slave Murders

The Sex Slave Murders 2

The Sex Slave Murders 3

MYSTERY & THRILLER FICTION TITLES BY R. BARRI FLOWERS

Before He Kills Again: A Veronica Vasquez Thriller

Dark Streets of Whitechapel: A Jack the Ripper Mystery

Dead in Pukalani: An Eddie Naku Maui Mystery (Book 1)

Dead in Kihei: An Eddie Naku Maui Mystery (Book 2)

Deadly Defense: A Grace Gaynor Christian Mystery

Justice Served: A Barkley & Parker Mystery

Killer in The Woods

Murder in Maui: A Leila Kahana Mystery (Book 1)

Murder on Kaanapali Beach: A Leila Kahana Mystery (Book 2)

Murder of the Hula Dancers: A Leila Kahana Mystery (Book 3)

Persuasive Evidence: A Jordan La Fontaine Legal Thriller

State’s Evidence: A Beverly Mendoza Legal Thriller

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PRAISE FOR TRUE CRIME BOOKS BY R. BARRI FLOWERS

Must read for all true crime fans. — Amazon reviewer on Serial Killers and Prostitutes

Selected as one of Suspense Magazine’s Best books. — John Raab, CEO/Publisher on The Sex Slave Murders

A gripping account of the murders committed by husband-and-wife serial killers Gerald and Charlene Gallego. — Gary C. King, true crime author on The Sex Slave Murders

Vivid case studies of murder to complement this well researched criminology text. — Scott Bonn, Ph.D., criminology professor on The Dynamics of Murder

A model of exposition not to be missed by anyone interested in the annals of American criminal behavior. — Jim Ingraham, Ph.D., professor emeritus of American Studies at Bryant University on The Pickaxe Killers

R. Barri Flowers always relates an engrossing story. — Robert Scott, true crime author on The Sex Slave Murders

Striking, well-written tales sparkle in this ocean of murder. — Diane Fanning, true crime author on Masters of True Crime

Exhaustively researched, each storyteller brings their own unique prose to these pages, creating what will soon become a true crime classic. — Kevin M. Sullivan, true crime author on Masters of True Crime

This book should be a mandatory purchase and read for any true-crime buff. — Steven A. Egger, Ph.D., associate professor on Masters of True Crime

Incredible cases, psychopathic killers, unwitting victims, along with the very best writers, make for an exciting, no-holds-barred, soon-to-be true-crime classic. — Dan Zupansky, host of True Murder on Masters of True Crime

An indispensable sourcebook for anyone interested in American homicide, from law-enforcement professionals to armchair criminologists. — Harold Schechter, true crime historian on The Dynamics of Murder

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Murdered by the King of Western Swing: The Beating Death of Ella Mae Cooley in 1961

The Gold Special Train Robbery: Deadly Crimes of the D’Autremont Brothers – bonus story

Serial Killer Couples: Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck – bonus excerpt

Murder of the Banker’s Daughter: The Killing of Marion Parker – bonus excerpt

Mass Murder in the Sky: The Bombing of Flight 629 – bonus excerpt

Notes

About the Author

MURDERED BY THE KING OF WESTERN SWING

The Beating Death of Ella Mae Cooley in 1961

On Monday, April 3, 1961, thirty-eight-year-old former vocalist Ella Mae Cooley was beaten to death in her home in Willow Springs, an unincorporated area located in Kern County, California. The brutality of the crime was shocking to local residents in the normally idyllic community. A greater shock was that the murder was committed by the victim’s fifty-year-old husband, Donnell Clyde Cooley, a well-known big band leader, musician, actor, host of a television show, and businessman. Ella Mae and Donnell Clyde, who generally went by the name Spade Cooley, were both struggling with accusations of unfaithfulness in their marriage that had produced two children. They were in the midst of a divorce when tragedy struck. Cooley snapped in deciding to end the marriage prematurely by murdering his wife. The horrific assault was witnessed by the couple’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Melody, who would testify against her father at his trial. In spite of her untimely presence at the scene of the crime, Cooley sought to attribute Ella Mae’s death to an accident. This fell flat, as did a short-lived attempt