OFFICER KILLS NEW HOPE MAN IN PROHI RAID
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Paint Rock Farmer Slain, Sawmill Operator Held
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Corner Called Upon To Hold Inquest; Probe Is Due
Two violent deaths, one in Madison County and the other in nearby Jackson County, both caused by gunshots, were written into the records yesterday.
A. D. (Dike) BAKER, 66, of New Hope, was shot to death by Deputy Sheriff Arthur H. SMITH of New Hope, in a barn near the Baker home, early yesterday morning in what was termed a “clear case of self defense,” by one of Smith’s fellow officers, who accompanied him there on a prohibition raid.
A misunderstanding of several months was blamed for the killing of Jesse K. Polk WEBB, 71-year-old Paint Rock farmer, who was fatally shot at Trenton shortly before noon yesterday. Andrew STEEL, Trenton sawmill operator, is in the Jackson County jail, charged with the shooting.
Reports of high feelings in both communities reached Huntsville late yesterday afternoon.
Coroner H. C. LAUGHLIN was finally called to hold an inquest at New Hope despite the fact that three officers participated in the raid at Baker’s barn.
The coroner’s verdict was that Baker met death from a pistol shot fired by Deputy A. H. SMITH, the bullet entering Baker’s chest.
Previously, Chief Deputy John CHILDRESS, who with Deputy Tom CRUTCHER, accompanied Smith in a raid at the Baker place, had said that Baker was shot through the brain.
Childress said it was a plain case of self defense, adding that if Smith had not shot, he probably would have been killed or badly hurt.
The shooting occurred shortly before 7 o’clock. Deputies Childress, Smith, and Crutcher had gone to Baker’s home, flowing information he was storing liquor there.
Hiding around the place, they awaited Baker’s exit from his home, but later Smith entered the barn, where he was said to have found Baker in the crib, pouring liquor from a jug into bottles.
Deputy Childress said Smith reached for one of the bottles and that Baker swung at him, striking him across the neck with a bottle. Then, he said, Smith ducked under Baker’s arm as the latter came at him with a shovel raised in his hands, attempting to hit the officer again.
Childress said Smith fired one shot in an effort to frighten Baker, but that the latter refused to be scared, and that Smith shot again. He said the bullet entered Baker’s head.
Coroner Laughlin said he was informed that Smith left the barn immediately, going out across a cornfield in the direction of his home. A few minutes later, he said he was told, the other two officers entered the barn and found Baker dead.
Smith came to Huntsville shortly afterward and turned in a report to Sheriff Frank G. HEREFORD. No charges had been filed against him last night. Mr. Laughlin said he planned to make a further investigation tomorrow morning.
The coroner said residents of New Hope apparently were divided in their opinions regarding the shooting. It was a fairly well known fact that Smith and Baker had been at odds some time. Deputy Childress said Baker had warned the officers that “he didn’t want Smith raiding him any more.”
Funeral services for the slain man will be held this afternoon. Burial will be made in Chandler’s cemetery, with Butler Bros. in charge of arrangements.
Surviving are his wife; one son, Shelby BAKER; two daughters, Mrs. Florence COWAN of Owens Cross Roads, and Mrs. Gertrude SMITH of New Hope; three sisters, Mrs. Phoebe BUFORD, Mrs. Ella SMITH and Mrs. Nora CHANEY; five brothers, Allen BAKER, Paul BAKER, and Clarence BAKER of Huntsville; Tom BAKER of Hobbs Island, and Jesse BAKER of Goodlet, Texas.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon for Mr. Webb, who was killed in Trenton.
The services will be conducted from the Paint Rock Baptist Church at 2 o’clock with the Rev. Henry BRANNUM officiating. Interment will be made in Paint Rock cemetery, with Laughlin-McCaleb in charge of arrangements.
Active pallbearers will be Syd BRANNUM, M. E. POPEJOY, Robert WILBURN, Clark GWATHNEY, Albert MAPLES, C. B. ROUSSEAU, Ira BIRCHFIELD, and Carrol WILBURN. Honorary pallbearers will be R. K. KENNAMER, W. L. KENNAMER, W. E. BRANNUM, Walter HALL, W. J. GWATHNEY, A. C. SMITH, J. E. JONES, W. T. CAMPBELL, W. H. HILL, J. W. MANNING, J. S. O’NEAL, J. M. SMITH, R. W. SMITH and W. T. FLANNAGAN,
The trouble between Mr. Webb and Steel is alleged to have started about a year ago, when the former sold Steel a pair of mules, taking a mortgage on his sawmill.
Yesterday, accompanied by Chief Deputy Simmons of Jackson County, Webb went to Trenton to foreclose on the mortgage.
Leaving their car, the officer started toward a store, while Webb walked in the direction of the sawmill. Suddenly, without warning, Steel is said to have opened fire on him with a riffle. Three shots struck him, two entering his back and the other his hip.
Steel was placed under arrest immediately by Deputy Simmons and removed to the jail at Scottsboro. Sheriff Thomas of Jackson County said last night that he had heard of no trouble brewing concerning the safety of his prisoner. Despite his assertion, however, it was reported that feeling in Paint Rock and Trenton ran high following the shooting.
Monday, November 9, 1936
DEPUTY SMITH IN UNDER BOND
---------------------------------------------------
Warrant Sworn Out Pending Investigation of Baker Slaying
Deputy Sheriff Arthur H. SMITH, who killed Dike BAKER in a raid on the latter’s home at New Hope Saturday morning, was under $1,000 bond today, pending investigation of the shooting.
The warrant under which he was bonded was sworn by Chief Deputy John CHILDRESS, with Smith at the time of the killing. He charged that the deputy, “unlawfully and with malice aforethought, killed Dike BAKER by shooting him with a pistol, but without premeditation or deliberation.”
Sheriff Frank HEREFORD explained that Childress step was of a routine nature. He said that there will be no prosecution of Smith, unless some member of Baker’s family makes a case against him.
Deputy Tom CRUTCHER, who also was a member of the raiding party, gave the following account of the slaying today:
“We had been expecting trouble from Baker for a long time. He had been convicted on a liquor charge once, while another was pending in court, but he persisted in the sale of whisky.”
“Smith phoned to the sheriff last week for a search warrant and asked that deputies be sent toe New Hope to assist him in the raid, as he expected trouble. Childress and I went up before daylight Saturday morning.”
“Smith knew that Baker sold whisky from his home at night while we could not search the dwelling, and that he moved it to his barn during the daytime. We waited until we saw Baker come out of the house with the liquor and go to his barn, and then Smith followed him while Childress and I stood about 30 yards away on each side.”
“Smith went inside the barn. A scuffle followed, and I heard Smith tell Baker he did not want to hurt him. A moment later, I heard a shot, and when we went into the building, we found Baker had been killed.”