Will Tommy Die in 22 Days?

We're sure many out there think Thomas Dale Arthur won't die on May 25th. He's escaped the chair and needle seven times so far. While we don't bet as a rule, if we had to, we'd bet he goes to his reward this time. Why?

Was This Really Tommy?

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied hearing his latest appeal and his attorney Suhana Han filed a request for new DNA testing that was denied by Gov. Ivey. Previous testing found no DNA present in the wig Arthur allegedly wore when he killed Troy Wicker. So is this the best Han has? If so, there would appear to be little left legally for Tommy to cling to.

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Conflict of interest? It seems to be everywhere. We've just had a reader ask us how Butch Whitehead can be the electrical inspector for the City of Muscle Shoals and also serve a paid position on the Muscle Shoals Electric Board. 

Is this a conflict of interest? We welcome reader comments.

He's Not Dead, Jim!

Once again, Tommy Arthur's life has been spared. Once again, Arthur will return to a solitary cell on death row where he will have few amenities, almost no food, and certainly no company except for the occasional impersonal visit by a corrections officer. Why does he want to live?

We've stated before that we have very mixed opinions of the death penalty. If anyone ever deserved to die for his crimes, Arthur probably does. Of those who have supported Arthur, let's ask this: How do you feel about the death of Jodey Wayne Waldrop? Did you know that Waldrop was one of six men murdered in the St. Clair prison during a 36 month period?

While Waldrop's killer has been indicted for the crime, three of the other five deaths were investigated, but failed to produce an indictment. While we're changing the legal system, let's see if we can't manage equal justice for all.

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It seems our attorney general is intent on having Robert Bentley all to himself...so no impeachment? Let's hope Big Luther knows what he's doing.

What Are We Going to Do with Uncle (Tommy) Arthur?

If you’re not familiar with the old music hall song What Are We Going to Do with Uncle Arthur?, here’s a great video:

What is the best thing to do with convicted killer Thomas Douglas Arthur? Here are our options:

1. Execute him. Remember he’s killed two people, shot a Colbert County deputy who survived, shot a sibling to one of his murder victims, kidnapped an innocent bystander during a robbery while escaped from Colbert County, reportedly brutally beat his two/three wives (the third perhaps being common law), and countless unknown other crimes?

2. Keep him in solitary confinement where he can’t hurt anyone else; this could easily be considered cruel and unusual punishment?

3. Place him in the general prison population where he can hurt or kill prisoners who may have redeeming qualities or may even be innocent of the crime of which they were convicted? Remember, Arthur is one who has used feces as “punishment” for his enemies in the past. Don’t even prisoners deserve more consideration than that? We hope you’re nodding in agreement with that.

So what is the best way to handle Arthur or those like him? Send us your comments and we’ll happily publish them.

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Arthur’s family is stating they think this is the end. It very well may be. His daughter says it’s cruel and unusual punishment for Arthur’s family. Let’s remember the state didn’t commit the crimes. The state didn’t demand a stay of execution all these times. Let’s place the blame where it lies - completely in the lap of convicted killer Thomas Douglas Arthur who may at this point have less than four days to live.

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Tommy Arthur/Live Dangerously

It’s now five days until Thomas Douglas Arthur’s scheduled execution. Will it finally be a fait accompli? Don’t bet the farm. The current main objection to Arthur’s demise is the alleged pain caused by potassium used in the execution IV cocktail.

Does potassium burn the body from the inside out? Since no one comes back from that kind of death, no one can say. Our personal research indicates the drug Versed is a potent tranquilizer and many medical professionals use potassium to commit suicide. Does Arthur deserve more? We personally do not support capital punishment in 99% of the cases, but we also suggest everyone remember that Arthur has killed two individuals and attempted to kill more. His death will not be a loss to society as a whole.

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We unpublished our blog from yesterday for obvious reasons. We will probably re-publish it at a future date.

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Links: We publish many links; we are not responsible for the content of these links, but publish them because we believe our readers will be interested in them. As we’ve said many times, to no obvious avail, we have no control over these sites’ publications. You might not like AL.com or Yellowhammer News, but you can always learn something from them. Live dangerously…learn a little.

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Massive Drug Bust in Franklin County/Tommy Arthur--Senior Citizen

Police sources say the newly formed drug task force in Franklin County began raids in the early morning hours Monday and continues their quest as we write this. One source outside the police department stated as many as 300 were scheduled to be arrested. If that number is even remotely close to the actual number of arrests, local jails will be filled to capacity. Perhaps some dealers will be charged under Federal statutes and taken to Huntsville. (The Franklin County Times reported 126 taken into custody by 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.)

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In today's world of longevity, sociologists now describe the last era of human life as beginning at 70. This is a mark that Tommy Arthur recently passed, and we're now seeing him described as "a senior citizen" on death row. By all definitions, Arthur is indeed a senior citizen. Many predict he will die on death row before he is executed.

There's nothing humorous about Arthur's crime, yet there is something amusing in the fact that his supporters wish to spare his life because he is now a senior citizen. We have to ask why Arthur's case has aroused so much interest when such others as John Forrest Parker were executed with comparatively little fanfare.

Related post: John Forrest Parker's Path to the Death Chamber



Shoalanda

Tommy Arthur in His Own Words (You Tube)

This 1988 interview with Geraldo Rivera has just recently been posted to You Tube. At approximately 38 minutes into the program, twice convicted murderer Tommy Arthur makes an appearance. Tommy does what he seems to do best--attempts to manipulate the truth. During his interview with Geraldo, he claims the killing of the sister of his girlfriend/common-law wife was actually manslaughter. Just for the record, shooting someone in the right eye at close range is not usually manslaughter.

Why does Arthur have so many supporters? We're guessing those who defend him have not investigated either his past or the circumstances of his crime. In his latest attempt at manipulation, he again stresses that another man confessed to killing Troy Wicker. Could it be true?

Obviously anything could be true, but not too many 15 year-old boys frequent bars, strike up romances with women in their 30s, and agree to kill their husbands. We find it sad that so many convicted murderers in Alabama who have rededicated their lives to God are executed, while Tommy Arthur serves a more sinister master and continues to live.

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We haven't had a local hero in quite some time. Today we wish to confer that title on Thomas Beane. We recently featured Beane's excellent blog, but Thomas is also well-known as a filmmaker. Thomas has used his abilities to aid in preservation of local landmarks, most notably with a video produced at Sweetwater Plantation under the auspices of the University of North Alabama. Thank you, Thomas, for all you do for the Shoals area.

Related post: The King of Castle Rock



Shoalanda

Tommy Arthur Curses Us All

Apparently Tommy Arthur was prepared for the worst this time, even if it didn't happen. His final words to the world were to be a curse, which he forwarded to a friend to type and send to various news media. The person who forwarded this anathema laced document to us does not want Arthur to gain from such publicity, so we will not reproduce it here. Let's just say that his thoughts are not benevolent; even Spot and Fluffy are not exempt from Arthur's rantings. We're sure if you dig you can find them published elsewhere.

If any of you do read his "final words" to us all, please let us know if you can honestly say he wouldn't kill again if released into the general prison population. If the Devil dances in wicked minds, he's having a ball in Arthur's.

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Spring Housecleaning Continued - Those who read various blogs and forums in Shoals cyberspace are aware that certain unscrupulous rumblings have invaded recently--or would that more correctly be ramblings. We're not going to address all of them here, but we do wish to clear up any misconceptions in one area. Until two years ago, Mr. E.A. Truitt was listed here as "publisher." He at no time was ever listed as a partner, although we greatly valued his help.

Sadly, Mr. Truitt is just one of approximately ten individuals who have been painted with a tainted brush and accused of anything from jaywalking to murder. We will have a follow up on this later. Until then we'll simply say that since this group has now named four separate women as "Shoalanda," we don't think their pronouncements should be held in very high regard.

Shoalanda

Why Tommy Arthur Should Pay the Ultimate Price

 
Those who read here regularly know that we do not favor the death penalty in 99.99% of murder cases. We have mentioned before that we do support it when the crime is especially heinous and the admitted murderer would live a better life in prison than he would have on the outside. This was the case with Valentino Miranda who murdered Jennifer Hampton of Waterloo.

We also support the death penalty in such cases as Tommy Arthur. Why? Arthur has openly admitted to one killing. He has been convicted by three juries of a second killing. He shot a jailer to escape. He kidnapped a woman and held her hostage for a short time during his brief freedom. He also stole two cars during this short lived freedom, but considering his other crimes, that seems small potatoes.

So if Arthur's sentence should be commuted to Life Without? Why would this man hesitate to kill a guard or fellow prisoner? We don't think he would. He would have nothing to lose and has proved in the past that he's capable of killing. It's a horrible analogy, but he's like a rabid dog. A merciful end is best for society.

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Spring Housecleaning: Due to several recent high profile cases, we've picked up many new readers. We thank you for reading and appreciate your comments. Feel free to agree or disagree as long as it's done without profane or libelous language. We don't usually feel the need to defend our beliefs or practices, but we do choose to defend ourselves against outright lies when they are openly propagated by certain individuals.

Why do we mention names of family of the accused/admitted ne'er-do-wells (assuming they are not involved in the incident)? We can think of only four instances in almost 1,300 blogs that this has been done. We have not done an actual count, so feel free to correct us if necessary. In one case it was done in explanation of why certain judges recused themselves in a case as well as being necessary to explain other aspects of the events leading up to the arrest. In two other instances it was done simply in using a short excerpt from an online biography, one that had appeared in three or four online sites previously. In the fourth and latest instance it was done to distinguish an arrestee from a person in a similar occupation with the same name. If a similar event should arise in the future, you can expect us again to do so. It's not right that an innocent person should suffer simply because they have the same name as a sexual predator.

More tomorrow...

Shoalanda

"The Difference is How We Die"/Fifth Stay for Tommy Arthur

Death Row at Holman Prison

Since Christie Bray Scott's arrival on the female edition of death row in Alabama, Louise Harris has left the exclusive community, having had her sentence commuted to Life Without Parole. The following is a short excerpt from a series written by Kym Klass.

The message that Alicia Smallwood-Brown works to pass on to the five women she ministers to on death row at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women is one that makes them feel inclusive:
We will all die for our sins. The difference is in how we die. The women that Brown ministers to at Tutwiler are in lock-up for 23 hours a day because their crimes were so bad that the courts believed they should die for them. While this is mankind's judgment, the women need to consider a higher one, Brown tells them. "I tell them we are all on death row ... everyone has to die," she said. Brown is Tutwiler's chaplain, and she has ministered to all the women there for almost two years. She entered the prison at a time when the inmates went months without a minister. A few months can seem like a long time when you are in prison, especially when a chaplain is your one outreach. That is especially true for those women on death row, women behind steel doors who desperately needed a connection, and who had been praying for a minister to study the Bible with them. For those five women -- Louise, Shonda, Patricia, Tierra and Christie -- the weekly ministry is part of their lifeline. It is their connection to helping to right wrongs, to prayer, to forgiveness.

Related post: Christie Bray Scott's Road to Death Row

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Colbert County's Tommy Arthur has again seemingly cheated the death penalty for which he asked upon his conviction for the murder of Troy Wicker of Muscle Shoals. Arthur's fifth execution date has been stayed due to uncertainties concerning the drug cocktail trifecta used in Alabama's lethal injection protocol.

Arthur has spent the majority of the last 30 years behind bars for Wicker's murder. Interestingly, Arthur also has an earlier Felony Murder conviction for the murder of Christie Bray Scott's aunt. It's a small world in some Alabama circles.

Related posts:

Judy Says

Life without Parole

Sherrie Arthur



Shoalanda

B.J. Tully/Carla's Closing/Runners

 B. J. Tully

If you live in Lauderdale County, you've heard the name B.J. Tully. Mr. Tully has long worked in law enforcement and similarly toiled in the political vineyard. The Republican is currently running against Roger Garner for the county commission seat in District 1.

Both gentlemen have good records, but Mr. Tully has more diverse experience and has proved himself in numerous capacities. We wholeheartedly endorse B.J. Tully for the Republican nomination.

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Have you eaten at Carla's Sandwiches & Burgers yet? Open less than two months, we hear that today is their swan song. The South Court Street location was previously home to Backyard Burger, another regional chain that failed to make it there, not once but twice.

We're still hearing rumors that Zaxby's is considering downtown Florence. The main question is will they give this location a try or consider it jinxed at this point?

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Fast Delivery for Fine Dining: If you live or work in the immediate Shoals area, you should be familiar with Runners. This new business is something of a novelty in the area, but owner Bill Gibbs tells us it's gaining new customers each day. For a small charge, Runners delivers for several local restaurants and is adding to the list daily.

Runners on Facebook

Runners Menu Blog

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The legal system failed Tommy Arthur? We wonder how long Arthur would have been allowed to live if human existence depended upon what a person gave back to society?



Shoalanda

Two Tommies Get Bad News

from tommy....thank you all for coming today to support me...i really dont have words right now except that i will not just sit down. i will fight to be with my family and friends. They said I was Gonna do LIFE inside the wall ...I say I am gonna have a life and i will be free!!! we only just begun to fight!!!

The above words were posted on the Facebook page of Jon Thomas Wallis this afternoon after his sentencing. Tommy Wallis, aka the Inkslinger, received a life sentence in Judge Jones' courtroom this afternoon. We may assume that Wallis (pictured on his 31st birthday) intends to appeal his sentence. Only capital sentences provide a free appeal, so Wallis' quest will be expensive, as well as lengthy.

Wallis had previously been arrested for stalking and convicted of drug trafficking. We'll be having more on Wallis in upcoming days.

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Wallis wasn't the only Tommy to get bad news today. Tommy Arthur has been scheduled to die by lethal injection on March 29th. We're not holding our breath...

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With the abundance of violent crime in the area, many forget that we are primarily a political blog. We'll soon be adding a new team member--an expert in Alabama politics as played out in our capital. Keep reading...



Shoalanda

What is Common Law Marriage & Does Alabama Need It?

Recent reports on the Christopher Rich murder trial have brought up the question of common law marriage in this state. How "common" is it? Below is a list of states that recognize such a union:

Alabama
Colorado
Georgia (if created before 1/1/97)
Idaho (if created before 1/1/96)
Iowa
Kansas
Montana
New Hampshire (for inheritance purposes only)
Ohio (if created before 10/10/91)
Oklahoma (possibly only if created before 11/1/98. Oklahoma's laws and court decisions may be in conflict about whether common law marriages formed in that state after 11/1/98 will be recognized.)
Pennsylvania (if created before 1/1/05)
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Washington, D.C.

As you can see, the list is diminishing. Here in Alabama, just what constitutes a common-law marriage? There are three requirements for such a marriage to be valid:

The requirements for a common-law marriage are: (1) capacity; (2) an agreement to be husband and wife; and (3) consummation of the marital relationship.

Using these criteria, Christopher Rich and his victim Hollie Newbury were never married since they never agreed to be husband and wife. We have read of miscreants using the common-law principal to their advantage. When the infamous Tommy Arthur murdered his girlfriend's sister, he claimed a common-law marriage that allowed his girlfriend, a witness to the crime, immunity from testifying. How sad that any woman would prefer Tommy Arthur over her own sister.

Is it time for Alabama to join a growing number of states in outlawing this archaic institution? We say yes. We welcome opposing view points...

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More on ProShot Concrete: ProShot and Illegal Immigration



Shoalanda

Odds, Ends, & Monkeys

Odds: O'Malley's Bar in Littleville announced on its Facebook page that the club had its first fight recently. It's possible the set-to was the first major altercation at O'Malley's, but it's at odds with a source in the Littleville Police Department. Club Aqua has ceased operations leaving only the private Oasis and O'Malley's in the small Colbert County town. Our sources state local police would prefer the club's liquor license is not renewed.

Ends: We're removing Sheffield Billiards from our list of eyesores. Our original informant states that renovation has again begun on the building.

Monkeys: If we never saw the River Oaks monkeys in Sheffield, most of us have read of them. Why were they removed? Sadly we're sure the cruelty of a few was at least one of the reasons. According to one long-time Sheffield resident a certain infamous felon was known to shoot BB's at the poor captives. Who? None other than Tommy Arthur.



Shoalanda

"They Said Rude Things About Me" - Sherrie Arthur

Tommy Arthur & Children

Lewis Grizzard loved his alcoholic father so much he even wrote a book in praise of the man...a man who had abused the person for whom the southern humorist cared more than any living being. Should any of us be shocked that Tommy Douglas Arthur's daughter Sherrie Arthur Stone still loves the convicted murderer? Should we be surprised that she once helped him escape from the Colbert County Jail and now assists in running his personal website?

Sherrie Arthur has stated over the years that she felt threatened here in the Shoals. When asked specifically what threats were made against her, she replied, "They said rude things about me."

Well, Sherrie, you did provide your father with a gun hidden in a bucket of KFC in order to facilitate his escape, an escape that resulted in the shooting of jailer James Conley. Here in the South, people usually find that grounds for at least a few rude comments.

To be completely fair, Sherrie Arthur Stone hired Don Holt as her defense attorney and did not serve a day in prison for her crime. She now lives outside the Shoals, but never misses an opportunity to recite her version of the malicious prosecution of both her father and herself.

Since Troy Wicker was murdered, Shoals residents have married, produced children, and even become grandparents. Tommy Arthur still sits on death row. At least commuting his sentence to Life Without Parole would spare us from seeing his mug shots spread out in the TimesDaily with the regularity and fervor usually reserved for Alabama-Auburn game publicity.

Related post: Tommy D. Arthur: Life Without Parole?


Tommy Arthur Trivia: At the time of Troy Wicker's murder, Arthur was serving a life sentence in the Decatur Work Release for the murder of Christie Michelle Bray Scott's aunt. Scott is now on death row for the murder of her son.

Shoalanda

Tommy D. Arthur - Life Without Parole?

The DNA evidence, or what's left of it, has been examined and doesn't match that of Thomas Douglas Arthur. Specifically, the semen collected from Judy Wicker's underwear matches that of her husband Troy. Judy Wicker, who now uses the name Mary Turner, has changed her story many times; the facts of her husband's execution style murder may never be known. Does that mean Arthur will soon gain his freedom?

At the time of his arrest for Wicker's murder, Arthur was serving a life sentence at the Decatur Work Release Center for the 1977 murder of Eloise West, the sister of his girlfriend/common-law wife Shirley Dodd, a crime he freely admitted. Arthur also admits that on the day of Troy Wicker's murder he was not at his assigned job, a disciplinary offense that would hinder his chance of parole for West's murder.

After Arthur's arrest for the 1982 murder of Wicker, he escaped the Colbert County Jail while awaiting a second trial. During the escape, Arthur used a gun his daughter Sherrie Arthur Stone ostensibly smuggled to him in a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Arthur wounded a jailer in the neck while escaping.

Once free, Arthur fled to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he robbed a bank of $9,000.00, abducted a hostage, and stole two cars. He still faces a 30-year sentence for those crimes should he ever be released from the Alabama Prison System.

Tommy Arthur's chances of release are seemingly nil. Even if the Wicker conviction is overturned, Arthur faces charges in Alabama of escape and attempted murder, for which he would be tried as a violent habitual offender. If convicted, he would be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Is his conviction for these crimes a given? Considering his track record, nothing seems a certainty for Arthur. For over thirty years, he's provided the public with more thrills and chills than a Saturday matinee. Stay tuned.


Tommy Arthur trivia: According to one source, Eloise West and Shirley Dodd are sisters to Donald Bray, father of convicted Russellville murderess Christie Bray Scott. It's a small world.

Judy Says; Troy Remains Silent

Few Shoals area residents with functioning sight and hearing are unfamiliar with the Tommy Arthur case. While serving a murder sentence in a Decatur work release facility, Arthur met Judy Wicker, an unhappy Muscle Shoals housewife who wanted to be rid of her husband without losing any of the financial perks of her marriage. The Wicker/Arthur tale of love and lust has never remained out of the limelight for long periods, and has again reared its horn-rimmed head.

While testifying yet again against her former lover, Judy Wicker has told the TimesDaily of her fears while in Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women in Elmore County. She relates that her life was threatened while there, due to the connections Arthur had in the women's prison. Whether Tommy Arthur actually had connections at Tutwiler is beside the point; however, we doubt his low-life tough guy image projected that far south. Wicker does speak the truth when she says she served the majority of her sentence not in the facility designated for Alabama's female prisoners, but in a nearby county jail.

Sources with unimpeachable information in this case tell us that Judy Wicker met a nearby county sheriff while on a work detail outside the prison and insinuated herself into his company. It was not long before the two were a romantic item, and the sheriff used his influence to have her transferred to his jail.

It's sad that Judy's murdered husband Troy Wicker is unable to speak from beyond the grave. We would love to interview him.


What's up with this: It seems the city of Sheffield has declared war on storefront churches. Whether one agrees with this decision or not, we salute Sheffield in attempting to bring its finances under control and to move the city forward.