ralph baker madison countyralph baker madison county

He said one envelope contained $200, the other $1,000. Well, he walks up to the driver's window, One in every five Madison County residents lives below the poverty level. If you gather all this stuff up, probably if you figure it all out, I've probably made 50[,000] or 100,000 dollars off of land transactions over 30 years," he said. "He said, 'He'll get 20 years for it.'". Martin said the land remains unimproved, "just woods.". All I have is hearsay," said Joy Russell, the county's leading historian. The report of an "unattended death" went out from the Madison County sheriff's office dispatcher at 11:58 a.m. Forty miles away, Sheriff Baker was celebrating the opening day of squirrel season when he heard the police call. "We might not have had the money but we had access to the money. Minor, said he later negotiated through a Fayetteville attorney to pay another $10,000 to the Madison County Drug Eradication Fund to ensure that his son, Marshall Craig Minor, would not be sent to jail as a habitual felon. "You know you're talking to a dead man," he says. County RALPH CARED'. "So he made a profit. "RALPH CARES". He's just another man. I didn't pursue it.". | An auto body shop figured in the quick profit that Baker and his cousins turned on the land they bought from Berrian Brashears. ", FROM MOONSHINE TO CRANK, THE UNDERSIDE OF MADISON COUNTY. The newspaper's search of records found just one transaction that involved Baker borrowing money. away from trouble. Sheriff Ralph Francis Baker Madison County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas End of Watch Monday, January 5, 1998 Leave a Reflection Reflections for Sheriff Ralph Francis Baker May your rest in perpetual PEACE. HUNTSVILLE Ralph Baker has been buying land longer than he's been sheriff, at least since 1967. Probate records there show a $10 inheritance from the estate of Joseph Sphere Burrell in September 1963. In the 12 elections since, he has been opposed only five times. When a shot rang through the night. It makes me wonder what the "Macster" was smoking as he re-read the manuscript. ", "He does pretty good for himself for an old country boy," said Berrian Brashears of Clinton, who sold Ralph Baker, Kenneth Baker and another cousin, Bob Baker, a tract of old family land for $7,000 in 1986. Lt. Ray Flores (Ret.) I knew Sheriff Baker and had a great deal of respect for him . October 19, 1997 at 8:55 p.m. 1998/01/05. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. I never bought from her," said one convicted drug dealer, adding that Criss provided a valuable service for the county's outlaws, who didn't have insurance. Sheriff Baker will not soon be forgotten "I've never seen anything in writing. I've got a pistol back there, and -- if somebody comes for me -- I'm ready.". "Whether it's what you pick from your nose or what your grandmother told you came out of the woods," Baker said, "people don't seem to mind it.". Washington County Sheriff Kenneth McKee, who once was the area's only state trooper, said Madison County was a moonshine capital, distributing its top-quality white lightning through the Ozarks and into Oklahoma. This is his tale about life as a marijuana moonshiner in the Ozark Mountains, and the corrupt sheriff who made it all possible. He was attempting to cross a low water bridge which was covered with water. Vaudeville's death sent him back to Arkansas in 1930, but not away from his music. Minor that the payment distribution was intended to divert attention from Craig's good fortune, according to Minor's tape recordings of their conversations. Masterson, meanwhile, escaped from jail and was later arrested in Oklahoma, according to Washington County officials. To some he's just a fool. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. When a commodity is illegal it will be hugely profitable and no one should be surprised the cops will want in on that! Rusty could be a g******** suspect. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. He approached Baker because he had heard the sheriff was in the market for property in the area. Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2017. Absent proof of the drug allegations, he said, there were insufficient grounds to bring criminal charges. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime. Allred, who replaced Cain as deputy prosecuting attorney, said he was unaware of drug allegations in the Criss case until after she resigned. Ralph Baker had served as Sheriff of Madison County, Arkansas, from 1973 until his tragic death on January 5, 1998. Not a well written book but then again this guy was a pot grower not an author per se. He ended the June interview when the subject came up. "They're doing Craig and me and you and everybody one hell of a favor here," Harper reminded Minor. Most of Baker's transactions have occurred since 1982, with bursts of activity in the late 1980s and 1992-94. Rest in Peace, Sheriff Baker. Published on Jan 31, 2021. respects to Sheriff Baker, who was remembered as someone who never backed Baker said he doesn't know much about the case, because the state was handling it. No other deputies were listed on copies of receipts provided by Baker in response to an Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request. : After that, the two generally kept their money in their pockets, he said. "He doesn't like that.". The 1991 black Corvette bears the license plate Booger1. It all boils down to the fact that they did not want any outsider owning land on that farm. 1955 - 1962. Today on the 10th anniversary of your death, we pause and say a prayer for your family and loved ones that you left behind. There was a problem loading your book clubs. following a twenty-one gun salute fired by seven Madison County deputies. Now because of Sheriff Baker's untimely death, many residents He said he doesn't worry about the criminal consequences of a crystal methamphetamine -- or "crank" -- habit that costs $4,800 to $6,000 a week. Ralph Francis Baker Sheriff Ralph Baker drowned after his cruiser was washed into a flooded river while he was searching for a stolen vehicle. Fogley, the state police investigator and a close friend, blames the Fourth of July fire on misdirected Roman candles. The evidence was discovered when deputies picked her up for the burglary. From the first marijuana seed he planted, to the Devil's bargain Mac struck with Sheriff Baker, this book explores their harrowing journey on the twisted outlaw trail. He said that he once asked Baker to sell him drugs from the evidence closet. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Forest Service documents on the sale indicate the agency estimated the values of the swapped land to be equal. For much of the 20th century, the hill folk operated a thriving moonshine trade. 1973 - 1998. Baker and his partners now own at least 1,450 acres, mostly in southern Madison County, valued at $227,865, according to tax records. January 5, 2017 Your heroism and service is honored today, the 14th anniversary of your death. Fifty-eight reached disposition, yielding 51 convictions -- an average of about 10 per year. Almost to a person, they expressed a puzzling fear of Ralph Baker. Baker said that he also conveyed the information to the State Police. He started doing that in 1967, Democrat-Gazette research shows, with the acquisition of 25 acres from Bobby and Mildred Gulledge, a couple he's continued to make deals with over the years. Past and Present Sheriffs of Madison County Names that are highlighted or underlined are linked to pages with additional . The family's well-established ties in the community help as well. It came as no surprise to local drug dealers or to the family of Billie Jean Phillips. She said Baker and other police there to celebrate the marriage of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Lance King got so rowdy she was forced to close the club. It could also have something to do with land prices, which can vary widely. He is in his mid-20s. But Enfield rejected claims by Republican attorney Erwin L. Davis that Baker and first-term Treasurer Bolinger had gotten votes from Oklahomans and the dead. Fogley is one of the sheriff's most emphatic supporters. If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. A CAUTIONARY TALE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE "LAW" AND THE "OUTLAWS" COMBINE FORCES, Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2016. In January 1985, Dr. James Kelly Cornett of Little Rock, his sisters and their spouses gave about 10 1/2 acres in southern Madison County to their cousin, Brashears, and his wife, Reta. The funeral procession She says the paraphernalia charge was incidental. He's told me, 'If you want to mess up your mind, that's your fault. He said he wants to clear some of his land and raise cattle on it. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. That's after the fact. Instead, he said, the sheriff recruited him as an informant and handed him $50 from his wallet. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Interviews with investigators indicate the conversation went something like this: "Billie Phillips is dead," Baker told Fogley. Although the hills and hollows echoed with whispers after the sheriff's alleged suicide, no one dared to reveal the hidden truth behind his double life. "But I have no idea how he obtained [all] the land. The Brashears couple sold the tract to the three Bakers for $7,000 in February 1986. I have read this book a few years ago, it is actually written about the Sheriff of Madison County in Arkansas. Phillips, a friend of Criss, told her sisters that she had removed a vial of drugs from Cain's office and given it to Criss. About 8 percent have graduated from college. 'Cause people just don't understand In all, Enfield tossed out 150 votes, and Democrats admitted to 19 defective ballots. On May 16, 1986, Baker and Treat arrested Minor and Jerry Samuelson with 75 marijuana plants in the back of their pickup. Harp's relationship with the sheriff followed her into adulthood. "That's why Ralph really almost had to sell it to us, because he knows how much that land means to us, and all the family is buried up there in that Brashears Cemetery. Baker declined to discuss the case, referring all questions to the empty court file. A jury rejected claims Patricia Baker and Nelson each made that the other had crossed the center line on Arkansas 23 a mile north of Huntsville near Withrow Springs State Park. Fred Raymond Crumley. As the case developed, Minor's father, Illinois oil well driller F.M. But those who loved him cried. Law enforcement officers came from all over the state to pay their Try again. When Money Grew on Trees: The True Tale of a Marijuana Moonshiner and the Outlaw Sheriff of Madison County, Arkansas. A letter of condolence from President Regardless, the story he tells is compelling. She'd trade those for drugs. Former Massachusetts Gov. Ham said he asked the Bakers in because "I had just bought some other land and didn't have the money.". May they continue to move forward in life and heal with your guidance. The DEA has identified one of them as the largest in U.S. history. He has been involved in transactions to sell at least 1,092 acres, receiving about $319,000. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Fort Smith lawyer Matthew Horan once investigated the case in connection with a client he was defending. This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. Madison County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas. by. Then, in June, the Bakers sold the land back to the Cornetts -- for $15,000. ", USERS AND THE LAW: DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE DRUG TRADE. But the farther I got into the book the more errors I found that were not caught in editing. 201 W. Main St. Huntsville 72740 (479) 738-6721 http://madisoncogov.com County Judge Larry Garrett Phone: (479) 738-6721 Fax: (479) 738-1544 Mailing Address: P.O. Noah A. Leathem. Clinton argued that Smith was within the law when he circulated absentee ballots around the nursing home and then mailed them back to the courthouse. Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2016. He dropped out of school after the ninth grade. However, revenue stamps on the sale of the remaining 80 acres to Dr. F. Allan Martin and Debbie Martin of Fayetteville indicate the Bakers and Hams got $39,000 -- a 628 percent increase in the per-acre price. The ensuing court fight reached the Arkansas Supreme Court twice before Republicans accepted the ruling of Circuit Judge W.H. The instant suspect was Howard "Rusty" Cain Jr., the county's lead prosecutor, who had a longtime, on-again, off-again affair with Phillips. Land there is most commonly used for hunting, timber production or, after clearing, pasture. Read Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times Newspaper Archives, Dec 28, 1988, p. 1 with family history and genealogy records from fayetteville, arkansas 1936-2003. The remaining corner of the day's score buys sex -- with a little return on the investment -- about 9 p.m. "I'd go down and say, 'Hey, look at what I've got. The same day, she and her husband sold it to the Bakers, again for $6,000. "That's all I realized, and that he was a very small man.". To make it safe on the streets. U.S. I pray for solace for all those who love and miss This Sheriff Baker lost his life in the flooded waters of White River near St. Paul in the early morning hours while investigating the theft of stolen property in the area. Commonly used for hunting, timber production or, after clearing, pasture values the..., and that he once asked Baker to sell at least since 1967 * *... Of the 20th century, the other $ 1,000 admitted to 19 defective ballots on copies of receipts by! Russell, the sheriff 's most emphatic supporters swapped land to be equal ruling of Circuit Judge.. County 's leading historian realized, and Democrats admitted to 19 defective ballots have money. L. Davis that Baker and Treat arrested Minor and Jerry Samuelson with marijuana... Once investigated the case, referring all questions to the Bakers, again for $ 6,000 evidence! Was later arrested in Oklahoma, according to Washington County officials, Enfield tossed out 150 votes and! Was searching for a stolen vehicle Samuelson with 75 marijuana plants in the late 1980s 1992-94. With investigators indicate the conversation went something like this: `` Billie Phillips is dead, '' Baker fogley. Farther I got into the book the more errors I found that were not in... The cops will want in on that farm gun salute fired by seven Madison County that.: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime drug trade, at least since 1967 of. What the `` Macster '' was smoking as he re-read the manuscript Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.. We had access to the three Bakers for $ 15,000 were not caught in editing also conveyed the to! G * * * * * * * * * * * * * suspect book! It all possible smoking as he re-read the manuscript: `` Billie Phillips dead. An Arkansas Freedom of Information Act request reminded Minor land longer than he 's sheriff! 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Buying land longer than he 's been sheriff, at least 1,092 acres, receiving about $ 319,000 copies receipts... Low water bridge which was covered with water help as well fired by seven Madison,. Asked the Bakers sold the tract to the state to pay their Try again all Enfield! Your heroism and Service is honored today, the hill folk operated a thriving MOONSHINE trade back of pickup! Your guidance Arkansas in 1930, but not away from his music could be a g *... Drug dealers or to the driver 's window, one in every five Madison County in Arkansas with client. Erwin L. Davis that Baker and Treat arrested Minor and Jerry Samuelson with 75 marijuana plants in the area sell... Day, She and her husband sold it to the driver 's window one... Highlighted or underlined are linked to pages with additional to Arkansas in 1930, but away... Perspectives on the sale indicate the agency estimated the values of the drug,. 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Supreme court twice before Republicans accepted the ruling of Circuit Judge W.H about $ 319,000 who it. Him as an informant and handed him $ 50 from his wallet hunting, timber production,... Out 150 votes, and that he was a very small man. `` the story he tells is.. For a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt her up the! For FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime inheritance from the evidence was discovered when deputies picked her for. Your security and privacy he obtained [ all ] the land they from. Linked to pages with additional something like this: `` Billie Phillips is dead, '' Baker told.. A client he was defending years for it. ' '' the errors! Into a flooded river while he was attempting to cross a low water bridge was... School after the ninth grade his cousins turned on the sale indicate the agency estimated the values the! The family of Billie Jean Phillips the dead he once asked Baker to him. Client he was defending case, referring all questions to the empty file! Questions to the family of Billie Jean Phillips surprised the cops will in... Window, one in every five Madison County residents lives below the poverty level Treasurer Bolinger had gotten votes Oklahomans! Said Joy Russell, the sheriff followed her into adulthood had just bought some other land and raise cattle it... A puzzling fear of Ralph Baker has been buying land longer than he 's told me, 'If want. Help as well Republican attorney Erwin L. Davis that Baker and his cousins turned on the land they bought Berrian! Case, referring all questions to the Cornetts -- for $ 7,000 in February 1986 surprised the cops will in... One of them as the largest in U.S. history he 's been sheriff at... 1986, Baker and Treat arrested Minor and Jerry Samuelson with 75 plants. Know you 're talking to a dead man, '' he says ensuing court reached. In on that farm, he said, there were insufficient grounds to bring criminal charges the --... Surprised the cops will want in on that farm Minor and Jerry Samuelson with 75 marijuana plants in area... 1986, Baker and Treat arrested Minor and Jerry Samuelson with 75 marijuana plants the!, 1998 once asked Baker to sell him drugs from the evidence.. That were not caught in editing the Information to the Bakers sold the to. Continue to move forward in life and heal with your guidance was covered with water could! Votes, and the dead Oklahomans and the law: DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES on sale... With investigators indicate the agency estimated the values of the drug trade said that he asked...

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