Killing of Ralph Gray in Alabama in 1931

Incident

Case summary

Ralph Gray (1881 - 1931), a member of the sharecropper’s union and himself a sharecropper, was killed by Sheriff Kyle Young, Deputy Sheriff A. J. Thompson and a posse in Tallapoosa County, Alabama. Police officers went to break up a sharecroppers union’s meeting where Gray was on picket duty. A gun battle ensued, the sheriff shot, and Gray left on the road. He was taken home and in his bed when a posse broke into his house and shot him to death. A number of Black men were criminally charged with assault with intent to murder in connection with these events. No whites were charged.

Victim(s):

Ralph Gray


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

J. H. Alford

J. M. Gantt

Bob J. Slay

A. Jack Thompson

W. G. Wallace

J. M. Wilson

J. Kyle Young

Perpetrator group type: police, mob, posse

Date of incident: 1931-07-16
Location: Camp Hill, Tallapoosa County, Alabama
Location type: unknown - rural
Allegation against victim: shooting and wounding police officers who raided an International Labor Defense meeting

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

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


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