Killing of Madison Harris in Georgia in 1946

Incident

Case summary

Madison Harris, 21, a domestic laborer and WWII veteran, was killed in 1946 by T. H. Purl, a streetcar motorman in Atlanta, Georgia. Witnesses claimed Harris had disembarked from the trolley when Harris shot him. Purl claimed the young man flashed a gun on the streetcar, then got off. Grand jury declined to indict. A Recorder’s Court judge cleared Purl. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Madison Harris

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Thomas H. Purl

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1946-04-10

Location: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia

Location type: public conveyance

Allegation against victim: having a gun

Coroner process

Coroner/inquest: yes

Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process

Arrest: yes

Charge/indictment/information: no

Grand jury: yes

Trial: [ ]

Conviction: [ ]

Sentence: [ ]

Document(s):
death certificates

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