When journalist and author Jason Harmon began digging into the alleged crimes of Sheriff Ralph Baker four years after the lawman's death, his research led Harmon to "marijuana moonshiner" Dave McElyea. In Harmon and McElyea's book When Money Grew on Trees, McElyea describes Baker in great detail as a law officer on the take. Other, more powerful men suspected something similar because the FBI was investigating Baker for corruption at the time of his death.

On the other hand, other powerful men lauded him as an exemplary law officer in Baker's obituary: "The 1998 funeral for Madison County Arkansas Sheriff Ralph Baker was attended by more than 2,000 people of all walks of life; from fellow lawmen to bikers and outlaws, everyone filed past the sheriff's open casket. Even Bill Clinton, a sitting president, sent a letter that was read at the service. 'Ralph Baker was a wonderful person,' the president of the United States wrote. 'I'll never forget the support he's given me since the beginning of my career.' The Rev. Roy Cain asked aloud during the service, 'How can a man be sheriff of Madison County for twenty-five years and have this many people present? This is a miracle! This is a mystery!'

How indeed? Who was Ralph Baker? Listen to this episode of the Chronicles and decide for yourself.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.