Killing of Walter Henry in North Carolina in 1931

Incident

Case summary

Walter Henry, age 39, a laborer, was killed in 1931 by a white man in Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina. Based on his own extensive inquiries, William Henry, Walter’s brother, tried to piece together what happened in a letter to the NAACP. He believed that one R.L. Goff fatally shot Walter because he was allegedly a “prowler.” Coroner’s jury cleared Goff.

Victim(s):

Walter Henry


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

R. L. Goff

John Pettigrew

Perpetrator group type: police

Date of incident: 1931-03-29
Location: Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina
Location type: private space - domestic
Allegation against victim: prowling outside a white man's home; holding a job and property white men wanted; being too prosperous

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

Criminal process
Arrest: no
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: [ ]
Trial: [ ]
Conviction: [ ]
Sentence: [ ]


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