Killing of Wesley Johnson in Alabama in 1937

Incident

Case summary

Wesley Johnson, a 19-year-old farm hand, was killed in 1937 by a mob in Henry County, Alabama. Johnson was charged with assaulting a white woman, taken from the Henry County jail, hung from a tree and shot by a mob. Sheriff J.L. Corbitt was charged with failing to protect Johnson. Apparently grand jury declined to indict. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Wesley Johnson


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Mose Bond

Hes Bond

Rupert Bond

Louis Corbett

Bob Kirkland

Tom McCoy

John White

Grant Whitten

Cratas Whitten

Eck Wood

Ove Wright

Perpetrator group type: mob, police

Date of incident: 1937-02-01
Location: Tumbleton, Henry County, Alabama
Location type: private space - domestic
Allegation against victim: raping a white woman; being in a consensual relationship with a married white woman

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

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


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
federal agency records
news articles - closed
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