In the fall of 1970, Jesse Hill Ford had lived in Humboldt, Tennessee, for more than a decade, and he had become well-known in the town. He had also become financially successful after several years of struggle.

He and his family lived on the edge of town in a large two-story house that the Fords had built on 27 acres of land. They enjoyed entertaining friends and visitors in their imposing spacious residence.

But all was not rosy. The Fords’ marriage was shaky and their son, Charles, was being threatened and harassed due to his position as captain of the high school football team which was torn – as was the town – by racial dissension.

On the night of Nov. 16, Charles was socializing with friends in town when the Fords noticed that a car had pulled into their driveway and parked.

Afraid that the car’s unknown occupants were there to waylay Charles when he came home, Jesse (who was an avid hunter) grabbed a 30-06 rifle and headed out the door.

His wife, Sally, urged him to stay inside and call the police, but Jesse refused. He feared that Charles might face danger before the police arrived.

As he neared the car, Ford fired a warning shot into the air. Getting no response from the car’s occupants, Ford approached the vehicle from the rear and began to beat on the trunk with the butt of his gun.

The automobile began moving away, and Ford fired a shot at it. As the car came to a stop, a young woman and a small child exited it screaming. Ford then went back into the house and called the police.

When the officers arrived, they found the driver of the car, 21-year-old African American Henry Doaks, dead from a bullet wound in his head. The next day, the district attorney had Jesse Hill Ford arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Ford did not know it yet, but his life was never going to be the same again – as we will see next week.