Josephus C. Vines

Josephus C. Vines (July 10, 1873 – July 19, 1964) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Brighton, Alabama as a member of the Prohibition Party. In 1955, he faced legal trouble after killing a man, but was not indicted by a grand jury.

Josephus C. Vines
Mayor of Brighton, Alabama
In office
1905 – June 1, 1906
Preceded byL. W. Buell
Succeeded byE. B. Knight
Personal details
Born(1873-07-10)July 10, 1873
Jefferson County, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJuly 19, 1964(1964-07-19) (aged 91)
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Resting placeBrighton Cemetery
Political partyProhibition
Spouse(s)4
Children7
MotherCornelia Carrie Stephens
FatherRobert A. W. Vines

Early life

Josephus C. Vines was born in Jefferson County, Alabama on July 10, 1873, to Robert A. W. Vines and Cornelia Carrie Stephens.[1][2] On October 12, 1898, he married Anges Loftus and following her death he would remarry three more times during which he had seven children. In 1900, he successfully applied for a teaching certificate in Jefferson County along with six other people out of thirty six applicants who applied during the March examinations.[3]

Politics

During the 1900s he served as mayor of Brighton for two or three terms.[4][5] In 1905, he defeated incumbent Mayor L. W. Buell by two votes.[6] Although it was speculated that Vines would run for reelection he stated on March 31, 1906, that he would not seek another term and on June 1, his term ended after he gave the oath of office to his successor, E. B. Knight.[7][8]

Murder and later life

On July 16, 1955, Vines found Tim Scott, a bookkeeper, drinking on his doorstep in Orlando, Florida and claimed to have accidentally shot and killed him intending to bluff him believing that his .32 revolver was empty.[9] He pleaded innocent to charges of first-degree murder and had a civil suit filed against him by Edward Hanlon on behalf of Davis Lou Scott, Tim Scott's wife, for $126,412.48.[10] He was released on a $10,000 bond and on October 13, the Orange County Circuit Court Grand Jury chose to not indict Vines.[11][12][13]

In November 1955, he was hit by a truck and was later hospitalized for a possible heart condition in December.[14] On July 19, 1964, Vines died in Orlando, Florida where he had lived since 1937.[2]

Electoral history
1905 Brighton, Alabama mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Prohibition Josephus C. Vines 39 52.70%
Democratic L. W. Buell 35 47.30%
Total votes 74 100.00%

References
  1. "Robert A. W. Vines - Southern Dynasties". sites.google.com.
  2. "Mr. Josephus Vines". The Orlando Sentinel. July 21, 1964. p. 9. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Seven Successful". The Birmingham News. April 28, 1900. p. 5. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Ex-Brighton mayor shoots 'drinking stranger' to death". The Birmingham News. July 17, 1955. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Notes". April 7, 1905. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Brighton Election". The Birmingham News. April 29, 1905. p. 11. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Municipal Affairs Active At Brighton". The Birmingham News. March 31, 1906. p. 9. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Mayor And Board To Take Office". The Birmingham News. June 1, 1906. p. 9. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Prohibitionist Finds Stranger Drinking on Steps, Kills Him". The Courier-Journal. July 17, 1955. p. 24. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Vines Enter Innocent Plea, Extended Jail Stay Protested". The Orlando Sentinel. July 21, 1955. p. 21. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Vines Bound To Grand Jury, Released On Bond In Slaying". Orlando Evening Star. July 27, 1955. p. 8. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Orlando Jurors Free Aged Man In Slaying". Pensacola News Journal. October 14, 1955. p. 21. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Shooting Figure In Local Hospital". The Orlando Sentinel. December 28, 1955. p. 17. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Vines Admitted To Hospital For Heart Checkup". Orlando Evening Star. December 27, 1955. p. 5. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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