Little Laura and Big John

Little Laura and Big John is a 1973 American feature film about the exploits of the Ashley gang in the Florida everglades in the 1910s and 1920s. Plot Loosely based on the true story about Laura Upthegrove and John Ashley. Laura's mother, Emma Upthegrove tells the story of her daughter and John Ashley. John goes into a life of crime after he accidentally shoots a Seminole, Desoto Tiger. Historical narrative In December 1929, Ashley murdered Seminole trapper Desoto Tiger, whose body was discovered by a crew building the Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee. A few days later, Ashley sold Tiger's otter furs in Miami. In one of the first instances of a jury of whites convicting a white for the murder of an Indian, Ashley was convicted for murder, but was repeatedly allowed to escape custody, whereupon he began his life of crime. Although he spent jail time for many other crimes, he never served a day for the murder of Desoto Tiger. Cast Fabian Forte as John Ashley Karen Black as Laura Ivy Thayer as Laura's mother Ross Kananga as Desoto Tiger Ken Miller as Hanford Mobley Paul Gleason as Sheriff Bob Baker Cliff Frates as Young John Jerry Rhodes as Bob Ashley Ray Barrett as Cates