Killing of Amos Starr in Alabama in 1947

Incident

Case summary

Amos Starr, 38, a brick mason, was killed in 1947 by police officer Cecil Thrash in Tallassee, Alabama. Starr had testified against Thrash in a federal prosecution for bootlegging. He was moved out of the area, but Thrash got a warrant against him, arrested him and killed him. The DOJ tried Thrash; a jury acquitted him. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Amos Starr


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Little Benjamin Meadows

Cecil Orris Thrash

Otis H. Ward

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1947-10-25
Location: Tallassee, Elmore County, Alabama
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: illegally selling whiskey

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: yes
Finding of no legal responsibility: yes

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: yes
Trial: yes
Conviction: no
Sentence: [ ]

FBI case ID:

Bureau 44-1941

Mobile 44-25

Atlanta 44-252

DOJ case ID:

144-2-17

144-2-29


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
coroner's reports
court records
death certificates
federal agency records
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