Killing of Shadrack Thompson in Virginia in 1932

Incident

Case summary

Shadrack Thompson (1893-1932), a laborer, died, likely via lynching in Marshall, Fauquier County, Virginia. For two months, Thompson had been sought for allegedly attacking Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Baxley, a white couple, in their home. A farmhand named Noah Kenney found Thompson’s body hanging from a tree. A mob gathered and set the body on fire; on the scene was deputy sheriff W.W. Pearson. The coroner, Dr. George H. Davis, ruled the hanging a suicide. Virginia’s attorney C.W. Carter concurred. News reports noted that there was evidence of brutality, including a bullet hole to the head and mutilation of the body.

Victim(s):

Alleged perpetrators/other named individuals: [ ]
Perpetrator group type: mob

Date of incident: 1932-09-15
Location: Linden, Warren County, Virginia
Location type: private space - agricultural or industrial
Allegation against victim: attacking a white person; attempting to rape a white man

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

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


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