Anthony Michael "Tony" Spaulding (20 October 1933 – 18 April 1998) was a Jamaican attorney-at-law and politician. A political firebrand, he served as a vice president of the People's National Party (PNP), Member of Parliament for the Saint Andrew Southern constituency, and Minister of Housing under Prime Minister Michael Manley.
Early life and education
Spaulding was born in Kingston in 1933 as the eldest son to family of would-be staunch PNP supporters. His father Frank Spaulding served three terms as Mayor of Kingston in the 1960s. His brother Winston Spaulding Q.C., is an attorney-at-law, and a member of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) who has served in several governmental capacities such as Member of Parliament, Minister of Justice, Minister of National Security and Attorney General.
In his youth, Spaulding attended Wolmer's Boys School and was a batsman for the cricket team. He then pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree on Liberal Arts at Howard University in Washington D.C.
During his time a Howard, Spaulding was especially active on campus. This is evidenced by his membership in the Eta Sigma Phi (National Classics Honor Society) fraternity, the International and Philosophy clubs. He also served as president of the Classics Club, vice president of the Caribbean Association, and appeared on the Dean's Honor Roll in 1956.
In 1958, Spaulding was selected to the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges list, which recognizes distinguished individuals nominated from 700 colleges and universities. He graduated cum laude that same year.
After graduating from Howard, Spaulding was admitted to the bar at Inn's Temple. he returned to Jamaica in July 1961.
Attorney-at-law
Spaulding practiced law occasionally with his mentor Dudley Thompson, representing clients as a criminal defence attorney. In April of 1962, Spaulding appeared as counsel for boxer Ralph Stephenson also known as "Kid Ralph" and George Taylor who were charged jointly with attempted murder after an incident in which an upholsterer Granville Allen was shot. Allen testified that he came upon a political meeting on March 26 at the intersection of Harris and Georges street in Saint Andrew, when he was identified as a supporter of a rival political party. Allen was then hit with a stone and instructed to leave by a police corporal which he did. Allen also testified that the next morning he confronted the mother of the person who had accused him the day prior on Moore Street, and was afterwards shot at by Stephenson and Taylor when he went to his mother's home at Sparrow Street. Both Stephenson and Taylor were acquitted by an all-male jury in June of 1962. Spaulding would later represent Stephenson on charges of manslaughter in a truck accident involving the death of two 8-year old boys.
In December 1966, Spaulding represented George "Feathermop" Spence who was acquitted of a charge of arson and rioting after the accused set fire to the West Lane business place of Louis Rashford in Kingston. Spence was a political enforcer for Spaulding and the PNP, and accompanied Prime Minister Manley on his historic trip to Cuba in July 1975 as part of an unofficial group. Spence was also a subject of an enquiry into overpayment of contracts by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation that same month. Spence was murdered at his shop in west Kingston on December 12, 1975.
In November 1967, Spaulding along with his brother Winston, served as defense counsel for Loban Campbell who was acquitted of the charge of fatally shooting Albert Brown in August of 1966 on Chestnut Lane. Two witnesses testified that Winston "Burry Boy" Blake, who was later described as a political enforcer for the PNP, subdued the victim as he was shot, although the first witness stated that the given testimony was untrue after being shown her deposition by Spaulding. It was also suggested in court that the first witness resided in a house acquired through then Minister of Development and Welfare Edward Seaga.