Killing of Theodore Wesley Samuels in Alabama in 1944

Incident

Case summary

Theodore Wesley Samuels (1908 – 1944), an army private, was killed by police officers in Mobile County, Alabama, when he was home on a thirteen-day furlough.. A pub owner refused to serve a beer to Samuels because he appeared intoxicated. Three police officers called to the scene demanded that Samuels produce his furlough papers. As he attempted to locate them the officers beat him and then, claiming that they were under attack, shot and killed him as he fell into a ditch. Investigations undertaken by the War Department and the Department of Justice did not lead to prosecution or sanction.

Victim(s):

Theodore Wesley Samuels


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

John Waldrop

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1944-04-15
Location: Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: exhibiting drunkenness; disorderly conduct; resisting arrest; attacking a police officer

Coroner process
Coroner/inquest: [ ]
Finding of no legal responsibility: [ ]

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: [ ]
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]

DOJ case ID:

144-3-9


Document(s):
census records - closed
death certificates
federal agency records
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
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