Killing of James Cordie Cheek in Tennessee in 1933

Incident

Case summary

James Cordie Cheek, about 17, was killed in 1933 in Maury County, Tennessee. Cheek was accused of attempting to attack a white girl. The grand jury declined to indict him in connection with that allegation, and he was released from jail. A mob then kidnapped Cheek from the home of relatives, tortured and lynched him. There were no grand jury indictments.

Victim(s):

James Cordie Cheek


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Andrew Allen

Hubert Boatwright

Carl Damastus

[given name unknown] Denton

James Douglas

Dad Gillam

Robert Hancock

Dawes Hancock

Austin Harlan

Bert Irwin

F. M. Landers

Red Miller

Henry Carl Moore

[given name unknown] Pugh

Perpetrator group type: police, mob

Date of incident: 1933-12-15
Location: Columbia, Maury County, Tennessee
Location type: public space - rural
Allegation against victim: attacking a white girl

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

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


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
death certificates - closed
federal agency records
news articles - closed
scholarly works
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