three were indicted, At his trial, Martin took the stand in his own
behalf and repudiated his confession, claiming that it had been forceé
frem him by the police, In answer te the prosectuitons questions on
cross-examination, he said that he had taken the insurance policies
because George owed him $82, AXXXWHcRM XH RXRIOIRA EMMI HERE
RRXHIEK RRA KHREN RR RIA RA RIAX WERE XARA AAME UX BUX KN XR EN WER MICKX SHIEK BNIEX
RRRKRXRRXANNKHE He denied any knowledge of the murder and said that
he had provided officers with McKay's name because McKay worked near-
by and hé suspected him. McKay said that Martin and Smith had plotte
the murder and that he had nothing to do with it, while Smith, ad-
mitting that he had shot George, said that he was forced to do so by
Martin and McKaye All thrée were convicted and sentenced to die and
the convictions were affirmed on appeal, on April 10, 1939, Martin,
McKay and Smith, in that order, were electrocuted at the Tennessee
State Prison, Shortly before their executions, all three admitted
participation in the murder, though Martin maintained that when he
had asked McKay to kill George, he meant it as a "joke," Both Mckay
and Smith, who had turned to religion during their Last hours, said
that they were saved and ready to die. Martin's last words, spoken _
to the prison chaplain just before the switch was thrown, were: XXMa#
"tT hope L meet you again in Heavens"
MEMPELS PRESS-SCIMITAR, April 10, 1939. Se ee of Martin, page 2e
(Outed) YF (C(t DETECT VE ff, LL IIIT
three were indicted, At his trial, Martin took the stand in his own
behalf and repudiated his confession, claiming that it had been force
frem him by the police. in answer to the prosectuitens questions on
Seieeiiegs cee) he said that he had taken the insurance policies
ecause George owed him $82, (CCCtiNEC WE EOCEC encom MenceNe Ie
RRXRL XARA HEN PR RKER KARRAK HRN RAR LIK BY FOCI XR IH EN NICK BIEN BEMIEX
GRRERARRXAMMKHK He denied any knowledge of the murder and said that
he had provided officers with McKay's name because McKay worked near=
by and hé suspected him. McKay said that Martin and Smith had plotted
the murder and that he had nothing to do with it, while Smith, ad-
mitting that he had shot George, said that he was forced to do so by
Martin and McKay. All thrée were convicted and sentenced to die and
the convictions were affirmed on appeal. on April 10, 1939, Martin,
McKay and Smith, in that order, were electrocuted at the Tennessee
State Prison, Shortly before their executions, all three admitted
participation in the murder, though Martin maintained that when he
had asked McKay to kill George, he meant it as a "joke," Both McKay
and Smith, who had turned to religion during their last hours, said
that they were saved and ready to die. Martin's last words, spoken
to the prison chaplain just before the switch was thrown, were: XXHamy
"T hope I meet you again in Heaven." -
MEMPELS PRESS-SCIMITAR, April 10, 1939. es of Martin, page 2e
(Outsesed) VF/ C(t DEBE HE ff Bel FIT
three were indicted, At his trial, Martin took the stand in his own
behalf and repudiated his confession, claiming that it had been forced
frem him by the police, In answer to the prosectuitens questions on
cross-examination, he said that he had taken the insurance policies
because George owed him $82,
GRNRXRRXANORAK He denied any knowledge of the mrder and said that
he had provided officers with McKay's name because McKay worked near-
by and he suspected him, Mckay said that Martin and Smith had plotted
the murder and that he had nothing to do with it, while Smith, ad-
mitting that he had shot George, said that he was forced to do so by
Martin and McKay. All thrée were convicted and sentenced to die and
the convictions were affirmed on appeal, on April 10, 1939, Martin,
State Prison,
participation in the murder,
had asked McKay to kill George, pete
1d Smith, who had turned to religion during
that they were saved and ready to die, Martin's last words, spoken
to the prison chaplain just before the switch was thrown, were: IXMayi
"Y hope I meet gain in Heaven." a
MEMPELS PRESS-SCIMITAR, April 10, 1939, PHotograph of Martin, page 2+
Oats) OF C(dt Dee ff, bel 7FIT
para
MARTIN. James 0., MCKAY. Joe and SMITH. James Willie.
Martin, a lQ-year-oldwhite man, was a native of Searcy, Ark.s, who had
served in the U. S. Army during World War I. In 1927 he moved to
Memphis, Tenns., where he owned a Sinclair service station located at
373 South Front Ste He insured kix one of his employees, 22-year-old
_Oliver James George for $12,600 and, in order to maintain the premium
payments, dropped $5,000 worth of insurance on his own life, He then
approached McKay, a black man who worked as a laborer at a Chevrolet
plant near the station, with a proposition to kill George for a share
of the proceeds of the insurance policies, McKay declined to commit
the murder himself but agreed to hire a man to do s6 and he contacted
Smith, also black, who agreed to murder George for a fee, Around
6:30 on the evening of Feb. 16, 1938, George was preparing to leave
for the night when Smith stepped up behind Bim from the darkness and
shot him through the back of the head, Martin ran across the street
to a garage and reported that George had been shot by an unknown man
in a holdup. When the police arrived and began their investigation,
they learned of the insurance policies and Martin was taken to police
headouarters where he was grilled for 26 hours before he made a con
.fession, providing the officers with McKay's name and telling them
that he could tell who the gunman was. McKay involved Smith and all
MARTIN, James 0., McKAY, Joe and SMITH, James willie.
Martin, a 2-year-oldwhite man, was a native of Searcy, Ark., who had
served in the U. S. Army during World War I, In 1927 he moved to
Memphis, Tenn., where he owned a Sinclair service station located at
373 South Front St. He insured kx one of his employees, 22-year-old
Oliver James George for $12,800 and, in order to maintain the premium
payments, dropped $5,000 worth of insurance on his own life, He then
approached McKay, a black man who worked as a laborer at a Chevrolet
plant near the station, with a proposition te kill George for a share
of the proceeds of the insurance policies, McKay declined to commit
the murder himself but agreed to hire a man to do sé and he contacted
Smith, also black, who agreed to murder George for a fee. Around
6:30 on the evening of Feb. 16, 1938, George was preparing to leave
for the night when Smith stepped up behind Bim from the. darkness and
shot him through the back of the head, Martin ran across the street
to a garage and reported that George had been shot by an unknown man
in a holdup. When the police arrived and began their investigation,
they learned of the insurance policies and Martin was taken to police
headouarters where he was grilled for 26 hours before he made a con~
.fession, providing the officers with McKay's name and telling them
that he could tell who the gunman wase McKay involved Smith and all
MARTIN, James 0., MCKAY, Joe and SMITH, James Willie,
Martin, a l2-year-oldwhite man, was a native of Searcy, Ark., who had
served in the U. S. army during World War I. In 1927 he moved to
Memphis, Tenn,, where he owned a Sinclair service station located at
373 South Front St. He insured ix one of his employees, 22-year-old
Oliver James George for $12,800 and, in order to maintain the premium
payments, dropped $5,000 worth of insurance on his own life, He then
approached McKay, a black man who worked as a laborer at a Chevrolet
plant hear the station, with a proposition to kill George for a share
of the proceeds of the insurance policies. McKay declined to commit
the murder himself but agreed to hire a man to do so and he contacted
Smith, also black, who agreed to murder George for a fee. Aroun
6:30 on the evening of Feb. 16, 1938, George was preparing to leave
for the night when Smith stepped up behind Bim from the, darkness and
shot him through the back of the head, Martin ran across the street
to a garage and reported that George had been shot by an unknown man
in a holdup, When the police arrived and began their investigation,
they learned of the insurance policies and Martin was taken to police
headouarters where he was grilled for 26 hours before he made a con=
.fession, providing the officers with McKay's name and telling then
that he could tell who the guiman was. McKay involved Smith and all
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0