Killing of Will Dawkins in North Carolina in 1942

Incident

Case summary

Will Dawkins (1892 - 1942), a carpenter, was killed by a posse in Richmond County, North Carolina. Dawkins allegedly fatally shot his wife, her two sisters, and one of the sisters’ son. Police chief John B. Fallow sought to arrest Dawkins for the killings but he had fled. The posse found Dawkins in a swamp and fatally shot him. An essay on this case, researched and authored by a CRRJ student, is available on request.

Victim(s):

Will Dawkins


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

[given name unknown] Carpenter

Perpetrator group type: posse, police, mob

Date of incident: 1942-05-06
Location: Hamlet, Richmond County, North Carolina
Location type: public space - rural
Allegation against victim: killing his wife, three other relatives, and police chief John B. Fallow

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

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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