Killing of Govan Ward in North Carolina in 1935

Incident

Case summary

Govan Ward, 25, was killed in 1935 by a lynch mob in Louisburg, Franklin County, North Carolina. According to a letter from the NAACP to President Roosevelt, Ward was “known to have been insane” and had a history of violence, and the authorities had failed to care for him. Before he was lynched, Ward was arrested for allegedly attacking his cousin and for killing a white farmer. Despite efforts by the NAACP and state authorities no one was held responsible.

Victim(s):

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:
Perpetrator group type: police, mob

Date of incident: 1935-07-30
Location: Franklin County, North Carolina
Location type: public space - rural
Allegation against victim: murdering 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
death certificates - closed
federal agency records
news articles - closed
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