Killing of Earnest Smith in Alabama in 1952

Incident

Case summary

Earnest Smith, 36, was killed in 1952 by either police captain John Wilson Baker or a civilian named Arthur Samples in Selma, Alabama. Police claimed that they arrested Smith in a domestic violence incident. At the police station, Baker shot Smith during an altercation. A local reverend claimed that Smith was not under arrest but had been accused of cursing a white woman, was pulled from his bed, and was shot by Arthur Samples, the woman’s father.

Victim(s):

Earnest Smith


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

John Wilson Baker

Arthur Sample

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1952-01-26
Location: Selma, Dallas County, Alabama
Location type: carceral location
Allegation against victim: using profane language in the presence of a woman; attempting to attack a white woman; being drunk and disorderly; resisting arrest

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: yes
Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: yes
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]

FBI case ID:

Mobile 44-184

DOJ case ID:

144-1-142

144-3-68


Document(s):
census records - closed
federal agency records
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