Killing of Elijah Myles in Louisiana in 1947

Incident

Case summary

Elijah Myles (1926-1947), a rubbish collector, was killed by Ferdinand Mohr, a city dump foreman, in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to newspaper accounts, Mohr claimed that he shot Myles in self defense, though a police pathology report determined that Myles was shot from behind. It was reported that Myles had refused to pay a kickback in a junk-yard racket. Mohr was cleared by a grand jury.

Victim(s):

Elijah Myles


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Ambrose Collingon

Ferdinand Mohr

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1947-07-18
Location: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Location type: victim's workplace
Allegation against victim: refusing to pay a kickback for salvaged junkyard material; attacking a white man

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

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: no
Grand jury: yes
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]


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