Killing of John L. Thomas in Texas in 1949

Incident

Case summary

John L. Thomas, age 22, a worker in a pulpwood business, was killed in 1949 by William Taft “Chick” Pipes, William Barnett and police officers E.L. Henry, Thomas Birmingham, and possibly others. Thomas was employed by Pipes. Pipes came to Thomas’s home and fired him over a pay dispute; the two had an altercation in Thomas’s yard. Afterwards, Pipes rounded up Barnett and the police officers to hunt down Thomas. They fatally shot Thomas as he allegedly resisted arrest. Grand jury declined to indict.

Victim(s):

John L. Thomas


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

James Alton Barnett

Thomas Martin Birmingham

Elvin Elemuel Henry

William Taft Pipes

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1949-05-17
Location: Carthage, Panola County, Texas
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: dispute over a paycheck; fighting a white man

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

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

FBI case ID:

Dallas 44-125

Dallas 44-171

DOJ case ID:

144-75-50


Document(s):
federal agency records
military documents - closed
news articles - closed
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