Killing of Joe Nathan Roberts in Georgia in 1947

Incident

Case summary

Joe Nathan Roberts, 23, a lumber company worker and Navy veteran, who was pursuing radio studies at Temple University, was killed in 1947 by a mob in Burke County, Georgia. The mob shot him to death, the NAACP files state, “because he refused to say ‘yes, sir’ and ‘no, sir’ to white residents of Sardin.”

Victim(s):

Joe Nathan Roberts


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Otis Cliett

C. L. McNarrell

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1947-05-29
Location: Sardis, Burke County, Georgia
Location type: victim's home
Allegation against victim: refusing to say "yes, sir" and "no, sir" to whites; shooting at a police officer; workplace dispute

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

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


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