Killing of Rose Torrence in Georgia in 1953

Incident

Case summary

Rose Torrence, age 40, a hair products manufacturer, was killed in 1953 in Atlanta, Georgia. Several years earlier, Torrence and her husband had moved to a “white section” of the city and their house was bombed. The day before her death, Torrence had completed arrangements to move to another white neighborhood. Her beaten body was found in a sewer. Her tenant, a 45-year-old Black construction worker named Major Bailey, was twice tried for her murder. Both trials ended in mistrials.

Victim(s):

Rose Torrence

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Major Bailey

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1953-01-19

Location: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia

Location type: public space - urban

Allegation against victim: buying a home in a white neighborhood; dispute over money

Coroner process

Coroner/inquest: [ ]

Finding of no legal responsibility: [ ]

Criminal process

Arrest: yes

Charge/indictment/information: [ ]

Grand jury: yes

Trial: yes

Conviction: no

Sentence: [ ]

Document(s):
advocacy group resources

news articles - closed

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