Virgil Ware: Difference between revisions

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Ware was the third of six children born to ____ and Lorene Ware, residents of [[Pratt City]]. Mr Ware was a miner employed at the [[Docena]] mine nearby. Lorene worked as a cleaning woman. Virgil, then a student at [[Sandusky Elementary School]], played tight end for his 8th grade football team. He also helped deliver coal for extra money. He was planning to go to college to study to become a lawyer. He and his brothers [[Melvin Ware|Melvin]] and [[James Ware|James]] had just secured a newspaper delivery route soon before he died.
Ware was the third of six children born to ____ and Lorene Ware, residents of [[Pratt City]]. Mr Ware was a miner employed at the [[Docena]] mine nearby. Lorene worked as a cleaning woman. Virgil, then a student at [[Sandusky Elementary School]], played tight end for his 8th grade football team. He also helped deliver coal for extra money. He was planning to go to college to study to become a lawyer. He and his brothers [[Melvin Ware|Melvin]] and [[James Ware|James]] had just secured a newspaper delivery route soon before he died.


Virgil rode with James to their uncle's scrapyard near Docena that Sunday to look for a bicycle they could fix up to split the route. They did not find one, and were riding back to their house when Sims, riding with his friend [[Michael Lee Farley]], and holding Farley's new .22 revolver, closed his eyes and fired a few shots to "scare" the boys.
Virgil rode with James to their uncle's scrapyard near Docena that Sunday to look for a bicycle they could fix up to split the route. They did not find one, and were riding back to their house just after 5:00 P.M. when Sims, riding with his friend [[Michael Lee Farley]], and holding Farley's new .22 revolver, closed his eyes and fired a few shots to "scare" the boys. Virgil was hit in the chest and cheek and died from his wounds.


Farley and Sims had earlier attended an anti-immigration rally at which Farley's pastor, Ferrell Griswold, denounced the bombing, but asserted the State's right to preserve segregation. An effigy of Bobby Kennedy, then-Attorney General, was burned at the rally. Afterward, Farley and Sims heard about a white teen, [[Dennis Robertson]], who was nearly killed by a brick thrown by a black teenager during the day. They claimed to have been warned by friends that two boys on a bicycle were throwing rocks at whites, and Farley claimed to have seen rocks in their hands as they approached on his motor scooter. They drove off with Sims thinking he may have hit Ware in the leg, so they asked a friend to hide the gun. Found by detectives the next day, Farley denied involvement, but Sims confessed in tears.
Farley and Sims had earlier attended an anti-immigration rally at which Farley's pastor, Ferrell Griswold, denounced the bombing, but asserted the State's right to preserve segregation. An effigy of Bobby Kennedy, then-Attorney General, was burned at the rally. Afterward, Farley and Sims heard about a white teen, [[Dennis Robertson]], who was nearly killed by a brick thrown by a black teenager during the day. They claimed to have been warned by friends that two boys on a bicycle were throwing rocks at whites, and Farley claimed to have seen rocks in their hands as they approached on his motor scooter. Farley handed Sims his revolver and Sims fired, holding the gun in his left hand. They drove off with Sims thinking he may have hit Ware in the leg, so they asked a friend to hide the gun.


The two were both charged with first-degree murder. Sims was convicted on the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter -- the same charge to which Farley later pleaded. Judge [[Wallace Gibson]] suspended their sentences and gave them two years' probation for their "lapse".
A description of "two white boys on a red motorbike" went out over police radio. [[Mountain Brook Police Department|Mountain Brook police]] officer [[Paul Couch]], who was driving through [[Forestdale]] and came up behind two boys riding such a bike and noted the plate number. He passed the tip to [[Jefferson County Sheriff's Office|Sheriff's]] detectives [[E. Dan Jordan]] and [[J. A. McAlpine]], who were working the case.  The tip led them to Farley. Another informant connected Farley and Sims to the shooting. The next day the two boys were questioned separately in their homes. Farley denied involvement, but Sims confessed in tears, and claimed that he did not intend to hit the boys.
 
The two were arrested that day and both were charged with first-degree murder. Sims was convicted on the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter -- the same charge to which Farley later pleaded. Judge [[Wallace Gibson]] suspended their sentences and gave them two years' probation for their "lapse". Both men later apologized to the Ware family and asked for forgiveness.


In the 1990s U. S. District Judge [[Willie James Ware]], a Birmingham native then on the bench in San Jose, California, claimed that he had been inspired to pursue justice when his brother Virgil was shot off the handlebars of his bicycle. It was quickly revealed that Judge Ware was not Virgil's brother. After admitting to the lie, he withdrew his nomination to the Circuit Court and was publicly reprimanded by the Judicial Council of the Northern District Court of California.
In the 1990s U. S. District Judge [[Willie James Ware]], a Birmingham native then on the bench in San Jose, California, claimed that he had been inspired to pursue justice when his brother Virgil was shot off the handlebars of his bicycle. It was quickly revealed that Judge Ware was not Virgil's brother. After admitting to the lie, he withdrew his nomination to the Circuit Court and was publicly reprimanded by the Judicial Council of the Northern District Court of California.
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* Padgett, Tim and Frank Sikora (September 22, 2003) "[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1005718,00.html The Legacy of Virgil Ware]." ''TIME'' Magazine
* Padgett, Tim and Frank Sikora (September 22, 2003) "[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1005718,00.html The Legacy of Virgil Ware]." ''TIME'' Magazine
* Copeland, Larry (May 3, 2004) "[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-05-03-birmingham_x.htm A martyr gains history's embrace]." ''USA Today''
* Copeland, Larry (May 3, 2004) "[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-05-03-birmingham_x.htm A martyr gains history's embrace]." ''USA Today''
* Ruisi, Anne (January 18, 2009) "Ex-Jeffco deputy proud of role in nabbing teens who killed black youth in 1963." ''Birmingham News''


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ware, Virgil}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ware, Virgil}}

Revision as of 13:22, 18 January 2009

Virgil Ware (born 1950 - died September 15, 1963) was shot in the chest and face while riding on the handlebars of his brother's bicycle on Docena-Sandusky Road on the afternoon following the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. His killer was teenager Larry Joe Sims.

Ware was the third of six children born to ____ and Lorene Ware, residents of Pratt City. Mr Ware was a miner employed at the Docena mine nearby. Lorene worked as a cleaning woman. Virgil, then a student at Sandusky Elementary School, played tight end for his 8th grade football team. He also helped deliver coal for extra money. He was planning to go to college to study to become a lawyer. He and his brothers Melvin and James had just secured a newspaper delivery route soon before he died.

Virgil rode with James to their uncle's scrapyard near Docena that Sunday to look for a bicycle they could fix up to split the route. They did not find one, and were riding back to their house just after 5:00 P.M. when Sims, riding with his friend Michael Lee Farley, and holding Farley's new .22 revolver, closed his eyes and fired a few shots to "scare" the boys. Virgil was hit in the chest and cheek and died from his wounds.

Farley and Sims had earlier attended an anti-immigration rally at which Farley's pastor, Ferrell Griswold, denounced the bombing, but asserted the State's right to preserve segregation. An effigy of Bobby Kennedy, then-Attorney General, was burned at the rally. Afterward, Farley and Sims heard about a white teen, Dennis Robertson, who was nearly killed by a brick thrown by a black teenager during the day. They claimed to have been warned by friends that two boys on a bicycle were throwing rocks at whites, and Farley claimed to have seen rocks in their hands as they approached on his motor scooter. Farley handed Sims his revolver and Sims fired, holding the gun in his left hand. They drove off with Sims thinking he may have hit Ware in the leg, so they asked a friend to hide the gun.

A description of "two white boys on a red motorbike" went out over police radio. Mountain Brook police officer Paul Couch, who was driving through Forestdale and came up behind two boys riding such a bike and noted the plate number. He passed the tip to Sheriff's detectives E. Dan Jordan and J. A. McAlpine, who were working the case. The tip led them to Farley. Another informant connected Farley and Sims to the shooting. The next day the two boys were questioned separately in their homes. Farley denied involvement, but Sims confessed in tears, and claimed that he did not intend to hit the boys.

The two were arrested that day and both were charged with first-degree murder. Sims was convicted on the lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter -- the same charge to which Farley later pleaded. Judge Wallace Gibson suspended their sentences and gave them two years' probation for their "lapse". Both men later apologized to the Ware family and asked for forgiveness.

In the 1990s U. S. District Judge Willie James Ware, a Birmingham native then on the bench in San Jose, California, claimed that he had been inspired to pursue justice when his brother Virgil was shot off the handlebars of his bicycle. It was quickly revealed that Judge Ware was not Virgil's brother. After admitting to the lie, he withdrew his nomination to the Circuit Court and was publicly reprimanded by the Judicial Council of the Northern District Court of California.

References

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