Killing of Boot Jack McDaniel and Roosevelt Townes in Mississippi in 1937

Incident

Case summary

Boot Jack McDaniel, age 26, a farmer, was killed in 1937 by a lynch mob near Duck Hill, Montgomery County, Mississippi. McDaniel and Roosevelt (Red) Townes, age 20 , were charged with the murder of George Windham, a white storekeeper. After they pleaded innocent in court, a mob seized them from the custody of Sheriff E.E. Wright and took them to a forest where hundreds of spectators watched as they were tied to a tree and tortured with a blow torch. Townes died being burned alive. McDaniel was shot and his body burned. Roosevelt Townes, about 20, a farmer, was killed in 1937 by a lynch mob near Duck Hill, Montgomery County, Mississippi. Townes and Boot Jack McDaniel, age 26, were charged with the murder of George Windham, a white storekeeper. After they entered pleas of not guilty, a mob seized them from the custody of sheriff E. E. Wright and took them to a forest where hundreds of spectators watched as they were tied to a tree and tortured with a blow torch. Townes was burned alive. McDaniel was shot and his body burned.

Victim(s):

Boot Jack McDaniel

Roosevelt Townes


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals: [ ]
Perpetrator group type: mob

Date of incident: 1937-04-13
Location: Duck Hill, Montgomery County, Mississippi
Location type: public space - rural
Allegation against victim: murdering a white man

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

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


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