George Clemmons: Hot Dogs & Murder Accusations

During the first few decades of the 20th century, Greek restaurants were commonly known for serving hot dogs. The Charlotte News (NC), March 6, 1913, mentioned that "hot dogs" were one of the "necessaries of a Greek restaurant." If you research the history of hot dogs in any region of the country, you're likely to find Greeks playing a part. I recently related the tale of Hot Dog Joe, a Greek immigrant who became a national celebrity because of his fight against a hot dog prohibition.

Now, I'm going to tell a darker tale, about a violent owner, a Greek immigrant, of a hot dog restaurant in Tennessee. There were accusations of murder, assault, and bootlegging. And in the end, he apparently vanished.

On October 3, 1920, G.H. Kirby, a structural steel worker, stopped at a hot dog restaurant owned by George Clemmons, a Greek immigrant. Clemmons refused to sell Kirby any sandwiches, and by the end of their confrontation, Kirby was shot twice. Kirby eventually succumbed to his injuries and Clemmons was charged with murder.

Before discussing the resolution of the murder charge, let's first go back about 27 years, to the summer of 1893, when Clemmons was much younger and working as a fruit vendor. The first newspaper apparently mentioning Clemmons was the Nashville Banner, July 14, 1893. On the evening of July 11, Nicholas Gamblis (also referred to in other sources as John Gambales), was shot and killed. George Clemmons was arrested and charged with his murder. Gamblis, a Greek immigrant, was also a fruit vendor. 

The Nashville Banner, July 18, 1893, reported that a preliminary trial had been held that morning. A number of witnesses testified for the prosecution, including Officer Terry who observed Clemmons running down the street, carrying a pistol. Clemmons stated to him, "I will kill you" although he was arrested with violence. Joe Andrews, a bar-keeper, stated that Nicholas entered his saloon, seeking a cigar. Clemmons came in shortly thereafter and grabbed Nick. They argued, scuffled and Clemmons shot Nicholas. They apparently both went outside, where Nicholas was shot a second time. The defense didn’t present any witnesses and Clemmons was remanded to jail without bond.

The Tennessean, September 24, 1893, then mentioned that Clemmons had been indicted by the grand jury for the murder of Nick Gemelis. However, the Nashville Banner, November 6, 1893, added that Clemmons had been indicted once again by the grand jury because it was thought that the old indictment might have been defective as name of the victim was wrong. A trial was scheduled for December 10, but would be put off until March 12, 1894.

On the first day of the trial, the Tennessean, March 13, 1894, reported that about an hour before the shooting, Clemmons was in the saloon, drinking and flourishing his pistol, claiming he was going to kill a man who was lying about him. However, Clemmons didn't mention that man's name. The murder weapon was a .45 Colt revolver.  

The Tennessean, March 14, 1894, reported on the second day of the trial, noting that the trial wa nearly over. Clemmons testified in his defense, through an interpreter, as Clemmons only spoke a little English. He stated that he had known Nick for about 4-5 months. It was also noted that Nick weighed about 200 pounds while Clemmons only weighed about 143. Clemmons also stated there were financial troubles between he and Nick’s brother. Nick interfered in this matter and allegedly threatened Clemmons a few previous times. At the saloon,  Nick pulled a knife so Clemmons show him in self defense.  

For the third day of the trial, the Tennessean, March 15, 1894, reported that Clemmons had previously sought peace warrants against Nick as Clemmons feared he might be killed.

The verdict was announced! The Journal & Tribune, March 16, 1894, stated that Clemmons was found guilty of murder in the first degree, the jury having deliberated for only an hour. The article provided more description of the underlying matter. It was claimed that George Vlahake owed Clemmons a small amount of money and Clemmons sued, receiving a judgment. However, Nick was able to stay the execution, which angered Clemmons. Both Clemmons and Nickwere said to be “well-to-do, having accumulated considerable money.” It was also claimed that Clemmons and Nick had quarreled over the location of a fruit stand. Clemmons appealed the conviction.

However, about six months later, the Nashville Banner, September 22, 1894, reported that Clemmons decided to drop his motion for a new trial. He was thus sentenced to 10 years at hard labor.

Clemmons' sentence was cut short and he was released. The Nashville Banner, January 20, 1897, noted that the Governor had pardoned him, partially because Clemmons couldn't speak English well and thus was unable to make a full defense. Plus, the Governor felt this might have actually been a case of self defense. 

His legal issues though didn't end there. The Nashville Banner, September 6, 1898, reported that Clemmons, who was still a Greek fruit dealer, had been charged with carrying and shooting a pistol within city limits. He had gotten drunk, took a horse and buggy for a ride, and fired his pistol several times on route.

A few years then passed without apparent incident, until December 1901. The Tennessean, December 31, 1901, noted that Clemmons, who will still a fruit vendor, had drawn a knife in an altercation with Nick Vradis, another Greek. Clemmons was arrested even though no serious injuries resulted.

The Tennessean, February 15, 1902, reported that Clemmons, who now owned a restaurant, which may have been the first time he started selling hot dogs, had been acquitted on a charge of assaulting W. T. Auten with intent to commit murder. Auten had claimed that Clemmons attacked him with brass knuckles but Clemmons denied using any weapon.  Clemmomns stated that he had just attempted to ejected Auten from his restaurant.

Over two years later, the Commercial Appeal, August 18, 1904, reported on the intense rivalry of two Greek restaurant owners with places almost immediately adjoining each other. Clemmons owned two restaurants on Main Street, and his rival, James Seros, owned a restaurant next to one of Clemmons' spots. Jim Pappas, the head cook at Seros' restaurant, and some of his friends dined at one of the restaurants owned by Clemmons. 

Clemmons though demanded that they leave and Pappas was apparently too slow for Clemmons. He grabbed hold of Pappas who then allegedly stuck him. Clemmons grabbed a knife and slashed Pappas on his side and left hand, but neither of the cuts were serious. Both men were arrested, and Clemmons was charged with “malicious cutting” while Pappas was charged with assault and battery.

The Commercial Appeal, November 11, 1904, then stated, “George Clemmons, a Greek who has figured in several bloody scrapes since his advent into the State, was arrested again yesterday on the charge of assault with a knife.” Clemmons would eventually be found guilty of assault & battery and fined $50, a conviction that was confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Five years later, Clemmons got into legal trouble once again. The Commercial Appeal, October 17, 1909, noted that Clemmons had been charge with drunkenness, carrying concealed weapons and assault & battery. Clemmons and John Theres, both drunk, were arrested and then jailed, While they were in a cell together, Clemmons beat up Theres, and an officer found Theres “lying on the floor in a pool of blood.”

Then, the Commercial Appeal, February 1, 1910, reported that Clemmons had been arrested two days ago on charge of attempting murder, having tried to use a knife on Klaudius Meanos. However, based on other newspaper articles, the name of the victim in this article was likely wrong, or an alias of John Calmatos.

The Nashville Banner, March 2, 1910, mentioned that after Clemmons had been arrested for assaulting John Calmatos, 32 Greeks in the community filed a petition with the court to protect them from attacks by Clemmons. “Clemmons has a notorious reputation for fighting and dozens of his countryment have at various times fallen victims to his ungovernable temper.” However, it doesn't appear that any action was taken by the court on this petition. 

A conviction! The Commercial Appeal, April 30, 1910, reported that Clemmons was convicted in the Calmatos case and sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in the county workhouse. It was claimed that the incident had originated when a black man had allegedly killed a Greek in a local street market. Clemmons then stopped at a Greek restaurant and berated the Greeks there for not seeking revenge. At some point, Clemmons then attacked Calmatos with a knife. It appears Clemmons may have done his time, as he isn't mentioned in the newspapers for almost eight years. 

Of course violence and legal troubles continued to follow Clemmons. The Chattanooga Daily Times, January 3, 1918, reported that Clemmons, a merchant at the lower end of Market Street, had an altercation with William Helmich, age 62, who was also a merchant. Clemmons was drunk and attacked Helmich, who threw him down on the pavement to avoid being shot by one of Clemmons two guns. 

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We now return to October 3, 1920 and the killing of G.H. Kirby. 

The Journal & Tribune, October 4, 1920, noted that Clemmons, who owned a chain of small restaurants, had been charged with the murder of G.H. Kirby. Before Kirby died of his gunshot wounds, he told the police that the shooting was due to ill feeling caused by previous trouble with Clemmons, when Kirby had interfered in a free for all fight in one of Clemmons’ restaurants. Later sources would state the killing took place at a ‘hot-dog’ restaurant on lower Market Street which Clemmons owned.

The Chattanooga Daily Times (TN), October 4, 1920, reported additional details. About 3 months ago, Bill Wells and Jim Pace were in a fight with Clemmons in one of his restaurants. Kirby tried to stop the fight, which angered Clemmons. Then, on October 3, Kirby stopped by Clemmon's hot dog restaurant, but they wouldn't sell him anything. At some point, Clemmons then shot Kirby, once in the left lung and once in the stomach. 

Interestingly, when Clemmons had previously been convicted of bootlegging, and went to jail, Kirby had managed his restaurant for him, so they had been friends of a sort at one point. However, Clemmons alleged that while he was in jail, Kirby kept some money that belonged to him, and that angered him.

A whiskey violation! The Chattanooga Daily Times (TN), October 8, 1920, noted that at a preliminary trial yesterday, Clemmons was bound over to criminal court under a $5000 bond. Judge Fleming stated that he believed this was likely a case of voluntary manslaughter. When the police searched his hot dog restaurant, they found whiskey being stored there, and additional charges were then lodged against Clemmons. This would later prove to be an even greater problem than the order charge. 

The trial didn't begin until January 21, 1921. The Chattanooga Daily Times (TN), January 21, 1921, reported that Kirby, a mechanic, had come into the restaurant seeking some sandwiches. “According to Clemmons, Kirby cursed him and threatened to have him put in jail upon his refusal to sell him some sandwiches. Clemmons claims that he ordered Kirby to leave his stand three different times and each time the latter refused to go, insisting that his money was ‘as good as any one’s.’ After the third warning, Kirby, so Clemmons charges, reached for a butcher knife, and as he did so he got his pistol from underneath the counter and shot him twice, he stated, both entering the stomach.” 

George Bogel, a 12 year old boy, was at the “wiener stand” when Kirby came in and testified that Kirby wanted sandwiches but Clemmons refused. He also testified that Kirby said Clemmons would be put in the federal penitentiary if he didn’t sell the sandwiches. George saw Clemmons shoot Kirby but didn't see Kirby reach for a knife. As George was looking through the door, he didn't have a great view. 

And the next day, Clemmons was acquitted of the murder of Kirby!  

However, the Chattanooga Daily Times, January 25, 1921, noted that Clemmons pled guilty to two charges of selling liquor and the judge reserved sentencing. These charges came from the police investigation of his hot dog restaurant after the Kirby killing. 

Then, the Chattanooga Daily Times, July 16, 1921, reported that Clemmons, a Greek “hot dog” vendor, had been involved in a free for all drunken fight last week. It was thought that no charges would result for this incident, but it did resurrect the old case of his illegal sales of whiskey. No sentence had been handed down, provided Clemmons was on good behavior. However, this arrest could be considered a violation so that Clemmons might be then sentenced to a workhouse. Acquitted of a murder charge, he now couldn't defeat the two liquor violations of which he previously pled guilty.

Clemmons must have feared returning to the work house. The Chattanooga Daily Times, August 20, 1921, noted Clemmons “has been for a long time listed as an undesirable citizen by the city police department and the sheriff’s office” Clemmons sold his restaurants and left the city before being sentenced for the liquor violations, and he apparently never returned. It's unknown where he relocated, and the police had no incentive to seek him out. I've been unable to locate any other newspaper references as to his ultimate fate. 

It seems probable that Clemmons continued getting into trouble elsewhere as he had over 25 years of violence and murder accusations. Maybe he changed his name when he moved. He may have also tried to open another hot dog restaurant elsewhere, as he knew that business well. He might have also come to a violent end, if an altercation occurred and he ended up being the one shot. 

George Clemmons should have devoted all his attention to hot dogs rather than constantly getting involved in fights with other people.