Killing of Robert Cotton in Tennessee in 1940

Incident

Case summary

Robert Cotton, a deckhand on a steamer, went missing in 1940 in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. According to a letter from the CIO labor union to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Cotton had hired a lawyer to secure back wages from the company. The CIO suggested that Cotton was “disappeared” by Warner-Tamble and was likely killed by drowning.

Victim(s):

Robert Cotton


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

C. C. Culp

Herman Tamble

Russell Warner

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1940-09-12
Location: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee
Location type: victim's workplace
Allegation against victim: [ ]

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

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

DOJ case ID:

144-19-12


Document(s):
death certificates
federal agency records
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