Killing of Henry Russell in Georgia in 1932

Incident

Case summary

Henry Russell, age 43, a sharecropper, was killed in 1932 by a mob in Baker County, Georgia. Russell and landowner John Freeman got into a dispute over the price of a bale of cotton. Russell allegedly wrested a gun from Freeman and fled. Freeman got a warrant for Russell’s arrest and organized Tom Rayfield, Shug Kirsey, Pat Kirsey, Robert Barnett, and John (or George) Williams to apprehend Russell. They snatched Russell from his home, and shot him multiple times as he struggled to escape.

Victim(s):

Henry Russell


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Robert Barnett

John Freeman

Patt Kirsy

Shug Kirsy

Tom Rayfield

John Williams

Perpetrator group type: mob

Date of incident: 1932-08-27
Location: Newton, Baker County, Georgia
Location type: public space - rural
Allegation against victim: fighting with a landlord regarding crops

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 - closed
news articles - closed
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