Killing of Oliver Maxey in Mississippi

Incident

Case summary

Oliver Maxey, age 60, a plantation and store owner, was killed in 1934 by unknown person(s) in Ashland, Benton County, Mississippi. Robert Jones and Smith Houey were on trial for the robbery and murder of white grocery store owner Connie Gillespie. They were lynched by a mob before the trial. The prosecutor claimed that Jones and Smith had confessed to Gillespie’s murder and had named Maxey as the “mastermind” behind the robbery. Maxey died of gunshot wounds.

Victim(s):

Oliver Maxey


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

Date of incident: [ ]
Location: Benton County, Mississippi
Location type: [ ]
Allegation against victim: murdering a white man

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: [ ]
Finding of no legal responsibility: [ ]

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


Document(s):
death certificates
state agency records
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