Killing of James Hays in North Carolina

Incident

Case summary

James Hays (1899-1936), a farmer, died in Lee County, North Carolina. Death certificate lists the death as an “accident” caused by a “blow to head with unknown object.” A letter by one Garland McIntyre to the NAACP states that Hays’ body was found between the tracks of the Seaboard Airline Railroad in South Sanford, North Carolina, and that Emanuel McReer (spelling unclear) and James Sawyer Lee were arrested. The letter further states that a grand jury indicted and that a trial court acquitted Lee.

Victim(s):

James Hays


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

James Sawyer Lee

Emanuel McGeer

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: on or before 1936-04-11
Location: Sanford, Lee County, North Carolina
Location type: public space - urban
Allegation against victim: [ ]

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

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


Document(s):
advocacy group resources
death certificates - closed
Data Fields
To learn more about data fields, refer to the data dictionary.
Cite this Page
Refer to how to cite.