Young Reynolds Smith

 In Memory Of Martin Reynolds Smith:  An Early Victim Of Vehicular Homicide.

  

 

It’s easy to miss the small plaque located on Lumpkin Street in Five Points.  I had passed by it hundreds of times before I stopped to read it.  The plaque reads:

"In Memory

of

Martin Reynolds Smith

Son of

Mr. And Mrs.

J. Warren Smith

Who Was Instantly

Killed here by a speeding auto truck on November 15^th, 1922

May 22, 1916 – November 15, 1922"

The first time I read the plaque I didn’t notice the last line.  I pictured Martin Reynolds as a college student who was out walking with his friends when he was hit by truck.  But this was not the case.  Reynolds, as he was called, was only six years old.

Reynolds was the second child of J. Warren and Alda Reynolds Smith.  Mr. Smith was the president of the Georgia National Bank.  The family lived on Milledge Circle. 

Reynolds was riding his bicycle in the Five Points area when he was struck by a delivery truck driven by John Miner.  Miner was an employee of Athens Engineering Company and had been working for the company for five years.  He was returning to Athens.  According to Miner Reynolds was “snaking.”  Snaking is riding from one side of the street to the other.  Some eyewitnesses state that Miner was speeding.  At least according to the newspaper accounts all the eyewitnesses agree that the accident was unavoidable.  Reynolds was killed instantly.  Miner, who was African-American was rightfully afraid and returned to his place of employment where he immediately reported the accident.  He was told to turn himself into the Sheriff’s Office.  Miner was later arrested and initially charged with murder.   On January 15^th, 1923 Miner was charged by the Grand Jury.  Miner pleaded guilty and was given the minimum sentence of one year in the chain gang.  He was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to one year in “the gang.” (Athens Banner, Jan. 18, 1923)

This is the first case docketed in the Superior Court in Clarke County where someone was charged in connection with a death caused by an automobile accident.   Also, the sentence imposed on Miner was the first imposed in connection with vehicular homicide.  (Athens Banner, Jan. 18, 1923)  

The memorial plaque is located at the base of the utility pole.  You can see it the bottom right hand of the photo.  The white building in the photo is the celebrated Five and Ten Restaurant