Killing of Duffy Barksdale in South Carolina in 1933

Incident

Case summary

Duffy Barksdale, a tenant farmer, was killed in 1933 by Willie King and officer Caldwell Weir in Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina. Barksdale had received a federal farm loan of $130. Barksdale refused to endorse the check to B.L. King, Sr. It is unclear why King. felt entitled to the money. B.L. King, along with his son Willie and officer Weir, came to the field where Barksdale was working. Willie and Weir fatally shot Barksdale in the presence of Barksdale’s sons James, 21, and Robert, 17. James and Robert were convicted of criminal assault and sentenced to a year on a chain gang. A grand jury “quashed” the case against King and Weir.

Victim(s):

Duffy Barksdale


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

L. L. Copeland

B. L. King Sr.

William King

Carl Weir

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1933-05-22
Location: Clinton, Laurens County, South Carolina
Location type: victim's workplace
Allegation against victim: borrowing money through the government instead of through a landlord; refusing to sign his federal farm loan over to a white man

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

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


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
federal agency records
news articles - closed
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