Killing of Willie Wheeler Johnson in Georgia in 1931

Incident

Case summary

Willie Wheeler Johnson, age 27, a delivery man, died in 1931 in a prison in Clarke County, Georgia. According to the death certificate, he died of tuberculosis. Johnson’s death was documented in the book Georgia Nigger by John L. Spivak, which sparked the NAACP to request that Georgia Governor R. B. Russell investigate the torture and abuse of imprisoned people in Georgia.

Victim(s):

Willie Wheeler Johnson


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals: [ ]
Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1931-02-22
Location: Athens, Clarke County, Georgia
Location type: carceral location
Allegation against victim: [ ]

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
state agency records - closed
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