Killing of Joseph Roland in South Carolina in 1941

Incident

Case summary

Joseph Roland (1920 - 1941), a laborer, was killed by James T. Harris in Charleston, South Carolina. Harris, who was a driller at the navy yard, claimed that a Black man on the street “made a pass” at his 12 year-old niece. Harris and his brother chased the Black man but lost him. The brothers then walked back to a café. There, a fight ensued between the brothers and a group of Black men in which Harris stabbed Roland. A coroner reported that Roland was not the man who had been chased by the brothers. The Harris brothers were arrested.

Victim(s):

Joseph Roland


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Roy V. Harris

James T. Harris

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1941-09-13
Location: Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
Location type: private space - commercial
Allegation against victim: making a pass at a white girl

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

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


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