Q - Fascinating - I am curious about the reference to the "Jefferson pen" in the first verse of the "Fisher" version, if the Lomaxes and Mrs Fisher thought the song was Memphis based.   Lee Shelton of the 1895 St Louis incident was housed in the Missouri State pen in Jefferson City MO, which would at least potentially permit a reference to it as the "Jefferson Pen", although I'm not sure I have ever seen that precise reference.   Is there is a "Jefferson Pen" that would come into play for a Memphis TN crime? As best I can tell the Tennessee State Pen has been in Nashville since prior to the 1890's and I don't think it is referred to as the Jefferson Pen. The County and City of Jefferson TN are no where near Memphis or the state capitol, so if there is a County Pen in TN referred to as the Jefferson Pen, why would someone involved in a Memphis crime end up there? Is there some other jail associated with a Memphis crime that may have been called the "Jefferson Pen"?