Killing of William Whitehorn in Tennessee in 1944

Incident

Case summary

William Whitehorn (1896-1944), a sharecropper, was killed by Hardeman County deputy sheriff Harold Wilson in Whiteville, Hardeman County, Tennessee. Whitehorn was at the horse-trading yards of Community Trade Day when he bumped into Wilson. When he tried to apologize, Wilson knocked him to the ground and stomped on his face. Wilson then followed Whitehorn and ambushed him as he exited through the rear entrance. Wilson beat Whitehorn to the ground and then fatally shot him.

Victim(s):

William Whitehorn


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Harold Wilson

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1944-02-21
Location: Whiteville, Hardeman County, Tennessee
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: resisting arrest; accidentally bumping into a police officer

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

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


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