Killing of Tobe Falkner in Mississippi in 1952

Incident

Case summary

Tobe Falkner (1888 - 1952), a tenant farmer and WWI veteran who had served overseas, was killed by a group of police officers in Newton County, Mississippi. Falkner had been accused of wounding Curtis Stephens in an argument. Opinion varied about the source of the dispute, with some claiming it was over a cow.. Commissioner T. B. Birdsong, sheriff Hansel Reeves, and patrolman G. E. James were reported to have been among the group of officers who fired shots and tear-gas into Falknerā€™s house, where he was hiding, in a violent and lengthy standoff and shootout.

Victim(s):

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:
Perpetrator group type: police, posse, mob

Date of incident: 1952-02-20
Location: Lawrence, Newton County, Mississippi
Location type: victim's home
Allegation against victim: injuring a white man; dispute with a white man

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

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


Document(s):
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