Killing of Bobbie Hall in Georgia in 1943

Incident

Case summary

Bobbie Hall (1912 - 1943), a mechanic, was killed by Sheriff Claude Screws and deputies Frank Edward Jones and Jim Bob Kelley on the county courthouse lawn in Baker County, Georgia. The policemen arrested Hall on a phony warrant. They killed him because he had previously appeared before a grand jury to recover a pistol that Sheriff Screws had wrongfully taken from him. At a federal trial a jury convicted Screws, but the conviction was overturned by an important Supreme Court opinion challenging jury instructions on the federal civil rights crimes law.

Victim(s):

Bobbie Hall

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Frank Edward Jones

Jim Bob Kelley

Claude Screws

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1943-01-30

Location: Newton, Baker County, Georgia

Location type: public space - urban

Allegation against victim: stealing tires; successfully appealing to the local grand jury for the return of a pistol confiscated by the sheriff

Coroner process

Coroner/inquest: [ ]

Finding of no legal responsibility: [ ]

Criminal process

Arrest: yes

Charge/indictment/information: yes

Grand jury: yes

Trial: yes

Conviction: no

Sentence: [ ]

DOJ case ID:

144-19M-4

Civil lawsuits/claims filed: yes

Document(s):
advocacy group resources

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