 | |
| Date | January 22, 1976 |
|---|---|
| Location | Dawson Terrell County, Georgia |
| Also known as | Dawson 5, The Dawson Five |
| Deaths | Gordon B. Howell Jr. |
| Suspects | 5 |
| Accused |
|
| Charges | Murder |
| Verdict | Charges dropped (did not go to trial) |
The Dawson Five were defendants in a criminal court case in Dawson, Georgia, where they were charged with the murder of a white customer in a roadside convenience store. The five young black men, one of whom was a juvenile, became known as "The Dawson Five": Roosevelt Watson, Henderson Watson, J. D. Davenport, Johnnie B. Jackson, and George Poor.[1]
On January 22, 1976, Gordon B. Howell Jr. was shot during a robbery of Tiny's Grocery, located at Bridges Crossroads near Dawson.[2] On December 19, 1977, after over a year of imprisonment, time in the national spotlight, and contentious pretrial hearings; District Attorney John Irwin announced that he was dropping all charges against the five defendants, after a ruling by the presiding Judge Geer that voided Roosevelt Watson's forced confession.[1] The court dropped the charges after finding evidence of police misconduct, including coerced confessions, intimidation, and improper identification procedures.[1]
- ^ a b c Wicker, Tom (August 14, 1977). "Still 'Terrible Terrell'". The New York Times.
- ^ "Life and Death: Dawson, Georgia". dbs.galib.uga.edu. Workform: Peabody Awards Collection Archives.