Killing of Clarence Booker in Tennessee in 1932

Incident

Case summary

Clarence Booker, about 45, a fireman at a railroad company, was killed in 1932 by B. G. Gurner, also a fireman, in Hardeman County, Tennessee. Booker was shot during an ambush while aboard a train. Grand jury indicted. Booker's killing was said to have been part of a series of killings in a campaign originating in Mississippi to intimidate Black employees to leave their jobs on railroads so white men could get the work.

Victim(s):

Clarence Booker


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

B. G. Gurner

Reedy Lee

J. Matt Lewis

Charles J. Miller

Emmett Smith

M. F. Varnado

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1932-06-06
Location: Shandy, Hardeman County, Tennessee
Location type: victim's workplace
Allegation against victim: holding jobs white men wanted

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

Criminal process
Arrest: [ ]
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: yes
Trial: yes
Conviction: yes
Sentence: a term in the state pen


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
death certificates - closed
federal agency records
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