Killing of John P. Grimes in North Carolina in 1932

Incident

Case summary

John P. Grimes, 36, a successful businessman and WWI veteran, was shot to death in 1932 by the superintendent of a county correctional farm in Hertford County, North Carolina. The superintendent claimed that Grimes resisted being taken to the sweat box. Grimes’ business success had generated antagonism among a group of white people, who used a dispute between Grimes and another Black man as an excuse to take him to court on an attempted assault charge. Grimes protested the charge in court but was nevertheless sentenced to serve a term at the county farm. He served the sentence and was then returned to the farm on an unknown charge, leading to his eventual killing.

Victim(s):

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:
Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1932-10-25
Location: Winton, Hertford County, North Carolina
Location type: carceral location
Allegation against victim: being too successful for white men; assaulting a Black man; attacking a guard; refusing to work; passing a bad check

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: yes
Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: [ ]
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
death certificates - closed
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