FOR News March-April 1999
A publication of the Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation
P.O. Box 268 Columbia MO 65205 573-449-4585
Ralph Davis Scheduled for Execution April 27
About a decade ago, Ralph Davis became the first person in Missouri to be prosecuted using DNA analysis. He was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering Susan Davis, his estranged wife in Columbia-- even though her body was never found. A few days ago, the Missouri Supreme Court, set his execution for late the evening of April 27, officially just past midnight, April 28.
Boone County Prosecutor Joe Moseley (later a state senator) secured the conviction with extensive circumstantial evidence. The police formally charged him 20 months after her disappearance, soon after they found her car-- the driver's side window shot out and its interior splattered with dried blood and bone fragments-- in a Jefferson City garage rented by Ralph Davis. Samples of the tissue matched the DNA pattern of the couples' children.Witnesses testified he had threatened to kill her; she had also filed a couple restraining orders against him after he had beaten her.
While it seems certain he is guilty of the killing, we nonetheless condemn the deliberate state killing of Ralph Davis (and his violence). He's still a human being with a Creator-given right to life, which no one should have to forfeit, even if they've committed a vile crime. We implore people of conscience to contact Gov. Mel Carnahan . Ask him to halt the execution, and commute Davis'sentence. Note the governor's address listed to the left, along with logistical specifics on protest vigils which will take place Tuesday, April 27. For more information call Jeff at 573-449-4585.
>>>> Suggested Actions
** Please contact Governor Mel Carnahan (phone 573-751-3222 or fax 573-751-1495) and urge him to stay the execution. Ask him to follow the lead of officials in neighboring Illinois, like the state's former Attorney General, Richard Daley, now Chicago Mayor. He's endorsed a moratorium on executions to allow an extensive review of death-penalty convictions sentence.
** If the governor doesn't intercede, please join us
for protest vigils Tuesday, April 27:
5:00- 6:00 p.m., Boone County Courthouse, Walnut St., Columbia and
11:00 p.m.- Midnight, Governor's Mansion, Jefferson City (car-pooling from courthouse, 10:00 p.m.)
7:00.p.m.- Car-pool from Courthouse in Columbia for Potosi vigil. For more information on his case or protests call Jeff (573-449-4585) or Rita (573-635-7239).
State of Missouri Executes Roy Ramsey;
The 36th Human Killed Since 1989
Roy Ramsey and his younger brother Billy on November 21, 1988, robbed an elderly couple, Garnett and Betty Ledford in their suburban Kansas City home. One of them committed a further reprehensible action, fatally shooting both elders. While there's some confusion which brother was actually the triggerman, it is clear the state of Missouri killed Roy late the evening of April 13, officially a few minutes after midnight April 14. We with the FOR condemn the initial crimes, offer condolences to relatives and friends of the couple-- yet we also condemn the murder committed by the state.
Issues to Consider:
Arbitrary Punishment. While Roy received the death sentence, Billy Ramsey got a 25-year prison sentence in exchange for testifying against his brother. He will be eligible for release on parole sometime next year.
Possible Innocence of Murder. Roy and some of his relatives contend it was Billy, not he who was the gunman. In recent weeks, Billy confessed as much to another brother, Paul Ramsey, who says their brother plans to talk as soon as possible with Roy's attorney to admit his role as the shooter. However, on a couple occasions in past years, Billy has raised this possibility only to soon after recant the confession.Only the two men really know who shot the couple.
An Impoverished, Neglected and Institutionalized Background.. Roy Ramsey, Jr. was one of ten brothers, born in southeastern Missouri in New Madrid, where his family worked the cotton fields as sharecroppers. During the trial, his brother Earl testified that the family subsisted there in abject poverty, in a home with no indoor plumbing. When the family moved to Kansas City, life became even more tenuous. The two of them, he stated, would steal food to help feed the family. Eventually, they began to steal other things like bicycles. For some time the family also lived out of their car, according to Marilyn Keller, a member of Roy's current legal team.
At the age of 10, Roy was committed to a Jackson County residential facility for truancy. He ran away from there twice and was later sent to the Boonville facility then operated for youthful offenders. Just three days before he was scheduled to be released, Paul Ramsey says Roy assaulted a worker with a chair. Thus at the age of 13, he says his brother was sent to the Missouri State Penitentiary, beginning his dead end journey of institutionalization. From then to his incarceration on the current charge in 1988, Roy Ramsey had been out of prison for only about 27 months, according to Keller.
Most Importantly a Human Being. And writes Fr. Paul Jones (who corresponded with him for several months), one who was capable of change with nurturing. In spite of his difficult upbringing, Roy "learned the word 'love,' and uses(d) it in every letter.... I will miss those notes-- from one who is beginning to experience feelings other than violent ones."
Memorializing Those Executed in '99;
Protesting More State Killings
A memorial recalling the three men executed by the state of Missouri this year, the individuals whose lives these men were convicted of taking, as well as all victims of murder in our society-- will take place, beginning at noon, Monday, April 5 in the Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City. Cars will depart from Columbia, 11:00 a.m., in front of the Boone County Courthouse. Call Jeff (573-449-4585) or Tom (314-962-4937) to arrange a ride from the St. Louis area.
Kelvin Malone
Murdered by the State: January 13, 1999
James Rodden
Murdered by the State: February 24, 1999
Roy Roberts
Murdered by the State: March 10, 1999
We extend our condolences to the families and friends of these men slain by the state and to those people traumatized by the violent deaths of William Parr, Terry Trunnell, James Arnold and Thomas Jackson-- individuals for whom the state killed. Let us remember all people mourning especially those grieving the violent loss of a loved one. We urge all to offer unconditional support to those among us reeling from such a loss.
Johnson could receive death penalty
On March 13, a jury once more recommended the death sentence for Ernest Johnson, convicted of brutally murdering three people, Mary Bratcher, Fred Jones and Mable Scruggs with a hammer during a 1994 robbery of a Columbia Casey's General Store. Judge Gene Hamilton will formally sentence him on Monday, April 19.
While empathetic to the families and friends of those three slain human beings, we want the killing to end, with an example of compassion by the state. We urge people of conscience to join in the following actions:
* Write to Judge Hamilton. c/o Boone County Circuit Court, 705 E. Walnut, Columbia MO 65201. Urge him to impose a life sentence (his only legal option) not death for Ernest Johnson;
* Join us in a Vigil for Life with leafleting, beginning at 8:00 a.m., Monday, April 19 in front of the Boone County Courthouse. And perhaps in a nonviolent direct action within the courtroom if death is again imposed (*if interested in participating must attend the following event);
* Attend a Discussion/Clarification of Thought on Direct Action, considering appropriate nonviolent action, plus their potential legal and personal ramifications, 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 14 at 2018 Hazelwood Dr. (call for directions). Bring a potluck dish as well if you'd like. A nonviolence training will immediately proceed for those individuals never receiving such training yet wanting to participate in a possible April 19 action.
Call Jeff at 573-449-4585 for more information.
Life sentence instead of death penalty for Schlup
The retrial which Lloyd Schlup had struggled for 14 years to receive-- ended on March 22 before it began, when he pled "guilty" and got life in a plea bargain offered by Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Rich Callahan. That he can't now be executed "is a victory," asserts Sean O'Brien, the appellate attorney responsible for uncovering new evidence which compelled Gov. Mel Carnahan to stay his execution in 1993 and federal courts to order an evidentiary hearing then retrial.
Schlup had been sentenced to death for allegedly holding fellow prisoner, Arthur Dade while another inmate threw hot bleach in his face and a third fatally stabbed him on February 3, 1984 in the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) in Jefferson City.
Ironically, says O'Brien, "Fifteen years ago, Lloyd said he didn't do it and got death. Today they (Callahan and Attorney General Jay Nixon) are ready to spare his life" when he admits guilt.
It's not surprising that Schlup admitted guilt. "To appreciate Lloyd's decision you have to understand the pressure he was under and the sheer torture of being in that death watch cell twice," O'Brien explains. In his first near-death judicial experience, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay 36 hours before his scheduled midnight execution in March 1992. Nixon however, appealed that stay. The Court did not deny his motion until 5:00 p.m.-- nearly 18 hours into the day the state could have legally killed him. During that time he was denied any visitors or outside contact. At any moment he could have been taken into the prison's infirmary (which ironically doubles as the death chamber) and executed.
During his second brush with death, Gov. Carnahan intervened in November 1993, just eight hours shy of his scheduled demise. Understandably, Lloyd "didn't want to put his mother through that" trauma again, should a jury somehow have again sentenced him to death. We were unable to connect for his comments, before we went to print.
Carnahan reported he took his action mainly to allow the US Supreme Court to rule in Schlup's case. In January 1995, that Court directed the 8th District Court to hold an evidentiary hearing before Judge Jean Hamilton. O'Brien called as witnesses or presented affidavits of 20 men imprisoned in that MSP housing unit, plus a few guards-- all of whom either saw Schlup elsewhere in the prison at the time of the killing or witnessed the murder and insisted he was not involved.
In the evidentiary hearing, Judge Hamilton essentially ruled that any jury, having heard the same evidence presented in her court, would have found Schlup not guilty. She ordered his death sentence vacated, pending any state response. Last year, Callahan officially filed to retry the case.
Lloyd's exoneration in court would have further shown the fallibility of capital punishment and officially shown Missouri courts at times do (just as have their counterparts in Illinois and other states)-- wrongfully sentence people to death. The political fallout of Schlup being found not guilty could have been particularly embarrassing to Nixon and Callahan.
We with the FOR congratulate Lloyd on finally overcoming his unjust death sentence. Further, we wish him patience, hope and success both in completing his prison time as quickly as possible and ultimately in adjusting to life outside prison walls.
FOR Donations Needed
During the past few months, the FOR has increased efforts to better acquaint newsletter readers and the general public of the human beings scheduled for execution. We've also been on the forefront of efforts to mobilize the public statewide to abolish the death penalty and to get abolitionist legislation passed in Missouri. The efforts have not come cheaply. FOR phone calls the past several months have averaged about $275 monthly. Each time the state sets an execution date, we've tried to get a newsletter out informing folks of who the human being is beyond the damning headlines. This is the third newsletter of 1999-- each costs about $450 to print and mail.
In the last few months, we've also reinitiated our monthly tabling at area high schools, offering students a pacifists' perspective of the military and draft registration. We've spent about $50 on literature to give folks the most accurate, current information available. We're gearing up our peace work to respond to U.S. aggression in Kosovo and Yugoslavia, while continuing to educate on the ongoing human calamity of sanctions and bombings in Iraq. Enough said. It all takes money. We believe you consider this work important or you wouldn't be reading this now. Many of you have contributed over the past few years, and for that we are grateful. But for those of you who haven't and can afford to, please send a check today to: FOR; P.O. Box 268; Columbia MO 65205. Thanks in advance.
Death Penalty Legislative Update
Please ask your state senator and representatives to vote favorably on HB 283 which includes language to exclude the executions of people with mental retardations.
Late last month, Senate Bill 39 was voted "do pass" by a 6-3 vote of members in the Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Clay would exclude sentencing to death, people with mental retardation and disallow judges from imposing death when juries deadlock on sentencing in murder trials. We are hoping the bill would be "reported in" by the committee, thus allowing it to come up for a vote before the full Senate. The "do pass" vote allows senators to add the bill to other proposed legislation. Please contact your state senator and ask him/her to support this bill.
Three bills dealing with abolition are being considered in the House. HB 973 would establish a moratorium on executions, pending completion of the death-penalty study already approved in legislation a few years ago, but never really begun. The study was to examine the death penalty's costs to taxpayers along with racial and economic disparity among people convicted of capital compared to other types of murder. The bill was introduced by Rep. Bill Boucher and six other representatives, including Reps. Schilling and Vicky Riback-Wilson and is co-sponsored by 14 other representatives. No committee hearing has yet been scheduled.
Two bills introduced by Rep. Mike Schilling had what seemed to be successful hearings last month before the Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.(a dozen people testified for the bills, perhaps one against them). HB 424 would abolish the death penalty completely, HB 425 would exclude individuals with mental retardation from death sentencing. FOR coordinator Jeff Stack will continue recently-begun one-on-one lobbying with members of the committee to urge they vote "do pass" and send the legislation on to the full House. At this point, HB 424 seems to have little chance of passage, but the other two, especially HB 425 seem to have a pretty good chance of becoming law. Please contact members of the committee (especially if one is your representative) and urge them to vote the three bills "reported in" (although perhaps only HB 425 may stand a strong chance of advancing in this session)-- or at least "do pass." Write the members of the committee: c/o The Missouri House, House Post Office, Jefferson City MO 65101 or call the representatives at the numbers listed below:
Craig Hosmer, Chair Springfield 573-751-9474
Kelly Parker Salem 573-751-2108
Bill Alter High Ridge 573-751-2732
Rex Barnett Maryville 9465
Amber Boykins St. Louis 4415
Phil Britt Kennett 8591
Marsha Campbell Kansas City 4485
Robert Clayton Hannibal 9614
Larry Crawford Centertown 2134
Dorothea Davis St. Louis 2606
Jon Dolan Lake St. Louis 4964
Roger Fitzwater Norborne 9757
Michael Gibbons Kirkwood 2853
Chuck Graham Columbia 3455
Catherine Hanaway St. Louis 8510
John Loudon Ballwin 9763
Ryan McKenna Barnhart 2504
Luann Ridgeway Smithville 2238
Lobbying Day For Life
Please join Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty for a Lobbying Day For Life, Tuesday, April 27, beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a brief program on the south steps of the State Capitol, featuring Kristi Smith, an opponent of the death penalty despite the murder of her father. Immediately after, we'll fan out to speak with legislators.
Please call Jeff (573-449-4585) or Rita (573-635-7239) for details. To car-pool from Columbia, meet at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot behind Newman Center, located at Maryland and Rollins near the University campus.
Kristi Smith Healing Through Forgiveness
Not Revenge
7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 27
Guadeloupe (Multi-purpose) Room.
Newman Center (upstairs)
University campus, Columbia
(rescheduled from the canceled March event)
In 1977, Kristi Smith's father was murdered while trying to thwart a robbery. Twelve years later, still angry and grief-stricken, Kristi attended parole hearings for the three men responsible for his murder. As a means of healing herself, she reached out to confront one of them, expressing both her pain and forgiveness for his actions. They continued to keep in touch and when he was released from prison two years ago, she met him at the gate to welcome him back into society. We hope you'll be able to hear her tragic yet inspiring story. Admission is free. Call Jeff (449-4585) for more information.
Kosovo- John's Letter
Whatever the question, President Clinton's answer all too often, seems to be 'bomb them, whether it's Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq or now Kosovo. There is something depressing and demeaning about the willingness of the President of the United states to repeatedly use military violence and the threat of violence to try to punish those with whom he disagrees.
We can hope and prompt the President to think back to his own appropriate abhorrence of war during the Vietnam era and not force another generation of young Americans to kill and be killed in yet another insane war. An Associated Press report on March 28, offered this short-sighted, insensitive (though all too typical US) assessment of the violence when referring to the shooting down of an F-117A Stealth fighter jet: the pilot's rescue "marked the most harrowing moment so far in the four-day military action against Serbian forces."
It is safe to say that thousands of Serbian human beings have had far more frightening experiences with bombs exploding throughout their land those four days. That's without even considering the terror and pain visited upon the several dozen Serbs killed and wounded thus far in the US-NATO bombings
Suggested Actions:
* Please submit a letter to the editor with your views.to the local newspaper or in Columbia leave editorial messages by calling the Daily Tribune's "Trib Talk" (815-1776) and/or the Missourian's "Your Turn" (882-5734)-- plus statewide papers (St.Louis Post Dispatch fax # 314-340-3050; Kansas City Star fax # 816-234-4125);
* Alert your officials in Washington to halt the bombings of Kosovo and Yugoslavia.and rededicate energy to nonviolent solutions to the ethnic strife, seriously considering viewpoints from all sides.
President Bill Clinton
White House Comment Line (EST business hours) 202-456-1111;
The White House, Wash. DC 20500
Rep. Kenny Hulshof Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121; House of Representatives, Washington DC 20515;
Sens. John Ashcroft and Kit Bond US Senate, Washington DC 20510
For more information, including about upcoming local actions call John (445-7569) or Mark/ Kim with Peaceworks (875-0539).
Tax Day Protests
Most peace groups estimate about 50% of our federal income taxes pay for past, current or future military activities. As the National Campaign For a Peace Tax Fund notes if you had $20,000 in taxable income last year, you'd be essentially shelling out about $1500 into Uncle Sam's military coiffures.
A coalition of Peaceworks, Veterans for Peace and the FOR are planning two protests on Thursday, April 15, Tax Day at the Columbia Post Office. At noon, a demonstration with speakers will take place, while from 8:00 a.m.- 12 midnight, individuals will leaflet procrastinating taxpayers. We invite you to join for either or both activities. Call Mark or Kim (875-0539) to sign up for a leafleting slot or for more information.
* Iraqi Protest April 9
Each month, more than 5000 Iraqi children die from inadequate food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies denied to the people via the US-supported UN sanctions. Veterans for Peace chapters nationwide have been collecting dolls, hoping to gather several thousand to deliver to the State Dept.in mid-April to show the scope of the calamity.
At 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 10, concerned citizens will gather at the Columbia Post Office to demonstrate opposition to sanctions and send off more than a hundred dolls for the national action. Dolls can still be dropped off at the Peace Nook, 804 E. Broadway until that date. Call Mark or Kim (875-0539) or Charlie (445-5470) for info.
* Howard Zinn to Speak April 8
Noted historian Howard Zinn, author of "A Peoples' History of the US," will speak at 7:30 p.m., Middlebush Auditorium on the UMC campus. His talk, sponsored by several groups including Peaceworks and the FOR, is a true consciousness raising event. Call 875-0539 for more details on the event which is free to the public.
* Native Americans' Human Rights Day April 10
An all-day event will be presented on Saturday, April 10 in Middlebush Auditorium on the University of Missouri campus, corner of 9th St. and University. Morning programs will feature Native American dancing, drumming and story-telling, panel discussions during the afternoon and poetry, music and a keynote speaker in the evening. For more information on this event coordinated by the Native American Support Group, call Carolyn (443-5985).
* FOR Vigil for Peaceable International Relations
Saturdays
10:00-11:00 a.m
Columbia Post Office
We're reserving a spot for you on the vigil line. Come join us; let you views be known on Yugoslavia, Iraq, Cuba.
* We Want Your Input
Please let us know if you have some suggestions to make the FOR a more effective agent for social change and/or if you'd like to volunteer/ contrib-ute some of your talents to our work. Call 449-4585 to let us know.
Send email to: jstack@mail.coin.missouri.edu | February 1999 FOR News