Killing of Benjamin Franklin Seldon in Tennessee in 1947

Incident

Case summary

Benjamin Franklin Seldon, 35, a railroad worker, was killed in 1947 by John R. Strong, a special agent of the Illinois Central Railroad, in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. Strong claimed that he shot Seldon when Seldon lunged at him and tried to grab his blackjack. A letter to the NAACP indicates that a trial jury acquitted.

Victim(s):

Benjamin Franklin Seldon


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

John R. Strong

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1947-04-20
Location: Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee
Location type: public conveyance
Allegation against victim: sleeping in a railroad station; attacking 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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