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DRIVING WHILE BLACK
What the Narc’s were claiming
1939 - Bakersfield California. – a Negro was apprehended who was driving a car through the center of traffic at more than fifty miles an hour and was finally brought to a halt by officers firing six shots into his automobile. This man was found to be “high” on Marihuana and to have in his possession Marihuana cigarettes, - which he stated he had brought with him from St. Paul, Minnesota. (He was convicted and sentenced to San Quentin Prison). -- Calif --Dept. Penology, Report for the year 1939
NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS:
The Bakersfield Californian (Bakersfield, California)
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-10-09p1 - “Shots Halt Suspect in Dope Case”
[e]- Oct 10, 1939 p9 - “ Dope Charge Is Faced by Suspect” Leo True Renfro 34-year-old Negro from St. Paul, Minn., who was arrested early Sunday Morning on a charge of possession and transportation of narcotics, was to be arraigned in the sixth Township Justice Court of Judge Steward Magee late today, according to Inspector Robert Knight of the city police department. Renfro was arrested by Officers B.M. Vanderpool,. Vernon Furry and Clarence McGraw after an attempted escape from East Bakersfield, the police records show. First suspected of causing a disturbance in an East Bakersfield cafe shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, Renfro sped away from officers when they asked to see the registration on his car. Six bullets were fired by the officers during the flight which ended at Eighteenth and Union as Renfro’s car was forced to the curb. Nearly 60 grains of marijuana found in Renfro’s car, police records indicated. Inspector Knight declares that his evidence indicates that Renfro may be connected with Marijuana and white slave traffic in many states of the union. An investigation has been launched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Renfro has already been under surveillance of the state board, Knight states
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-10-11p15 - “Dope Suspect is Arraigned on Charges”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-10-20p9 - “Leo Renfro Bound Over to Superior Court on Charge”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-11-09p1 - “Renfro Pleads Not Guilty to Charges”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-11-30p1 - “Police Brutality charges Are Dismissed”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-12-07p1 - “Trial of Negro Musician Gets Under Way”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-12-08p1 - “Mayor Witness in Leo Renfro Dope Trail”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-12-09p1 - “Jury’s Quick Verdict Finds Renfro Guilty on dope Count”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-12-12p8 - “New Trials Are Sought Here in Renfro and Ratterman Cases”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1939-12-18p1 - “Prison Sentence Is Meted to Renfro”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1940-05-31p1 - “Officers Cleared in Felon’s suit on Beating”
[S]- BakersfiedCal1940-06-25p8 - “Effort to Reopen Renfro Case Fails”
[Key-finder - Case#CA32]
SAN QUENTIN PRISON RECORDS:
Leo True Renero
San Quentin Prison ID = 64432
MUSEUM COMMENTARY:
Granted, we’re a pro-Medical Cannabis museum and as such we can be expected to take a somewhat contrairian view to what was happening during the Reefer Madness era. But still, this particular case seems to be so egregious that it should make everyone viewing the deals sick to their stomachs. According to the Narc’s (as per newspaper accounts):
Mr. Leo True Renfro (a negro, an note that the reports are real big on this fact), with a prior criminal history, was a major player in a “White Slavery Ring” operating in San Francisco as well as other parts of California. And at the time of his arrest (he was only arrested after a high speed chase through the city of Bakersfield), had in his possession a quality of Marihuana. Yes, Marihuana, the killer drug that the newspapers were all talking about. Etc.
Ok, that’s what the narc’s were saying, but as well all know the narc’s have a tendency of not always telling it the way it is. The facts as we see it are as follows:
Yes, Mr. Renfro did have a prior conviction, but as one can see from his prison files, that was for being gay. Next, he had just gotten into the golden state (from Minnesota) less than a week before. Yet somehow, were expected to believe that he was a big time player in the “White Slavery Racket” operating out of San Francisco and elsewhere in the state is beyond us. Simply put; You Figure, or what is that other expression, DO THE MATH!
Next, yes there was a “High Speed” chase through the streets of a major California city, however, the fact that there were around seven police bullets found in Mr. Renfro’s car does go a ways to explain why that was so. And as for the “Weed of Madness” that was allegedly found in the car. Mr. Renfro says that it was planted, and given the extremely small quantity of it (almost enough to fill a matchbox), his story seems about right.
Look, when a Mayor (who just happened across the street, where then the car search was happening), is one of the star witnesses against the; -- Well, this should make one a bit skeptical about what really happened.
Thus, while it is admitted that only a superficial investigation (mostly through newspaper articles) was done, still it is enough to determine that the only thing Mr. Renfro, was guilty of was of DWB (Driving While Black). This plus the fact that he was an uppity Gay Negro didn’t help any either.
All pictures – Courtesy of www.Ancestery.com
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