Killing of Caleb Hill Jr. in Georgia in 1949

Incident

Case summary

Caleb Hill Jr., 28, a chalk miner, was killed in 1949 by two men in Wilkinson County, Georgia. County Sheriff George Hatcher arrested and jailed Hill, allegedly for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The Sheriff left the jail unguarded and the keys on his dining room table. Two white men kidnapped Hill from the jail cell and shot him. Dennis Lamar Purvis and Malcolm Vivian Pierce were arrested in connection with the killing. Grand jury declined to indict.

Victim(s):

Caleb Hill Jr.

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

George Hatcher

Malcolm Vivian Pierce

Dennis Lamar Purvis

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1949-05-30

Location: Irwinton, Wilkinson County, Georgia

Location type: public space - rural

Allegation against victim: shooting at a sheriff during an arrest at the New Harlem Club (or Ceola's Place); creating a disturbance; resisting arrest

Coroner process

Coroner/inquest: yes

Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process

Arrest: [ ]

Charge/indictment/information: [ ]

Grand jury: yes

Trial: [ ]

Conviction: [ ]

Sentence: [ ]

FBI case ID:

Atlanta 44-305