Killing of W. D. Register in Texas in 1938

Incident

Case summary

W. D. Register, 40, owner of several oil wells in East Texas, was killed in 1938 by John H. Smith, a white store owner, and a mob in Wood County, Texas. Register had allegedly shot and killed his own wife, a farm employee named Leonard Huey, and a white man named Newell Ellison, and also wounded another white man, Roy Allen. A mob formed and opened fire on Register. A bullet fired by Smith killed Register.

Victim(s):

W. D. Register


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

John Smith

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1938-07-13
Location: Hawkins, Wood County, Texas
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: running amok; killing three people and shooting several others

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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news articles - closed
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