Killing of Sam Taylor in Virginia in 1949

Incident

Case summary

Sam Taylor, age 35, a farmer, was killed in 1949 by Frank Clayton in Ballsville, Powhatan County, Virginia. Initially reported as a gang lynching, prosecutor William R. Blandford argued, with the endorsement of the NAACP, that Taylor was stabbed to death by a white bootlegger named Frank Clayton during a drinking party in the home of Allen Liggon. Trial jury convicted.

Victim(s):

Sam Taylor


Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals:

Frank Clayton

Perpetrator group type: [ ]

Date of incident: 1949-12-31
Location: Ballsville, Powhatan County, Virginia
Location type: private space - domestic
Allegation against victim: attempting to stop a white man from raping a white woman; dispute over money

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

Criminal process
Arrest: yes
Charge/indictment/information: [ ]
Grand jury: yes
Trial: yes
Conviction: yes
Sentence: 20 years


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