Killing of Willie Jack Hagwood in Mississippi in 1939

Incident

Case summary

Willie Jack Hagwood (1908 - 1939), a railroad worker, was found dead in Holmes County, Mississippi. Hagwood's body was found by the sheriff in a river with a broken neck and iron fastened to his body. Hagwood's mother told an NAACP representative, A. W. Wells, that Hagwood was shot by police officer Charlie Live at the home of Liggie Stokes while officer John Rodgers held his gun on the other people in the house. The policemen then threw Hagwood's body into the river with weights.

Victim(s):

Willie Jack Hagwood


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Charlie Live

John Rodgers

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1939-03-04
Location: Pickens, Holmes County, Mississippi
Location type: private space - domestic
Allegation against victim: dispute over a Black woman

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

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

DOJ case ID:

158260


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
court records
death certificates
federal agency records
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