1937 – The Tragic Meade Saga Continues 

It was a strange and unusual scene.  On Tuesday, July 27, 1937, Edna Mae Spears Meade was carried into the courtroom of Johnson Circuit Court on a hospital cot to testify in a murder trial.  Because of her weakened condition from a bullet wound only 13 days before, Mrs. Meade was accompanied by her physician, Dr. W. E. Akin, and nurse Virginia DeLong. 

Edna Mae Spears Meade was testifying in the murder trial of her brother-in-law Taylor Meade.  Taylor Meade shot and killed Dora Spears, Edna Mae’s mother, on July 7.  He shot and seriously wounded Edna Mae in the same incident. 

One is tempted to say that these tragic events began on a hot summer day in July, 1937...the date on which, in fact, they did occur.  However, it would be far more accurate to report that the wheels of destiny, which preceded and may have even predetermined the death of Dora Spears and the wounding of Edna Mae Meade began several years earlier. 

Edna Mae Spears Meade was the widow of Hobart Meade, the man found in his car at the Barnetts Creek bridge on December 15, 1935, dead of a bullet to the head.  Taylor Meade was Hobart Meade’s brother.  Both men were sons of C. C. “Crate” Meade, a Jennies Creek farmer who had prospered from the development of oil and gas in the county. 

Hobart Meade pursued a career in the banking business, joining the staff of Paintsville National Bank in 1923.  During the next 12 years he served in numerous positions at the bank, including auditor, cashier and teller.  It was Hobart who identified Wilson Jennings as one of those who robbed Paintsville National Bank in March of 1932.  Jennings and his former wife, Nellie, were indicted and acquitted for the murder of Hobart Meade. 

Current records reveal little information on the life of Taylor Meade, except that arising out of his trial for murder. 

Dora Spears, widow of John L. Spears, was visiting in the home of her daughter, Edna Mae, when Taylor Meade entered the home and shot both women.  In her testimony at Taylor Meade’s trial, Edna Mae stated that Taylor had made numerous advances to her since her husband’s death.  When Meade told her he would divorce his wife and marry Edna Mae, the young widow informed her brother-in-law that such an action was impossible.  She would not marry him.  He reportedly responded that before he would allow her to marry anyone else he would kill both her and the man. 

Nothing in the testimony suggests that there was any advance warning of Taylor Meade’s murderous intentions on July 7 when he entered his deceased brother’s home on Walnut Avenue in Stafford Addition.  When he had fired his shots, Taylor Meade rushed out of the house and down the creek bank behind the house.  He then ran along Paint Creek toward the Big Sandy River where he found a telephone at the home of Lonnie Castle.  By this time, the dead and wounded women had been found and dozens of men, armed with guns, clubs and other weapons were in hot pursuit, threatening to shoot on sight.  It was thought that the fleeing man was insane. 

Taylor Meade called Frank Chandler, assistant cashier at Second National Bank, and a prominent and influential man.  Taylor asked Chandler to send officers to get him so the searchers would not harm him. 

Meanwhile, James Turner “T” Copley and his father, Samuel Copley, neighbors of Mrs. Meade, heard the shots and found Mrs. Meade lying in her yard, with a bullet wound in her chest.  It was not until Copley carried Mrs. Meade into her house that he found Mrs. Spears lying on the floor shot in the back of the neck.  Mrs. Spears died of her wound.  Edna Mae Meade eventually made a full recovery. 

On Thursday, July 22, 1937, Taylor Meade was found guilty of the murder of Dora Spears by a jury of seven women and five men, in spite of a spirited insanity defense.  His punishment was fixed at life imprisonment with a recommendation for no pardon and no parole.  Ironically, the trial of Wilson Jennings for the murder of Hobart Meade was scheduled to begin the following week.  It was postponed.