Killing of W. C. Williams in Louisiana in 1938

Incident

Case summary

W.C. Williams, age 19, was killed in 1938 at the hands of a lynch mob of more than 300 in Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana. The mob tortured Williams until he “confessed” to the murder of Robert M. Blair and the assault of Blair’s woman companion, and then hung Williams from a tree and shot him. 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: mob, police

Date of incident: 1938-10-13
Location: Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Location type: public space - rural
Allegation against victim: murdering a white man; assaulting a white woman

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
federal agency records
news articles - closed
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