Killing of Joe Spinner Johnson in Alabama in 1935

Incident

Case summary

Joe Spinner Johnson, a sharecropper and a leader of the Sharecroppers Union in Perry County, Alabama, was killed in 1935 by a mob in Dallas County, Alabama. Johnson was abducted from his farm by the landlord, B. J. Young and the overseer, Locke Trainer, and a vigilante gang. The gang beat him and took him to the Selma County jail. During the night, he was heard screaming with pain and several days later, his body was found in a nearby field. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

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

Date of incident: 1935-07-11
Location: Selma, Dallas County, Alabama
Location type: carceral location
Allegation against victim: engaging in union activity

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

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


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