1964 Klan suspect dies, Olen Burrage, who was acquitted in the case of three civil rights workers killed by Ku Klux Klansmen in Mississippi in the 1960s, has died. He was 82. — PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (AP) —
Burrage died Friday at a hospital, the McClain-Hays Funeral Home Chapel said. The funeral home did not release a cause of death.
Burrage owned land in Neshoba County in central Mississippi where the three civil rights workers were buried under an earthen dam after KKK members killed them in 1964. He said he knew nothing about the killings and was acquitted of conspiracy in 1967.
The FBI called its investigation "Mississippi Burning" — which was later used as the title for a 1988 film loosely based on the case.
Among the others charged with conspiracy in 1967, seven were convicted. None served more than six years in prison. The jury deadlocked on charges against a local minister, Edgar Ray "Preacher" Killen.
Killen was accused of orchestrating the killings. He was charged again in 2005 with killing Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney and convicted on three counts of manslaughter. Killen is serving a 60-year prison sentence.
Ben Chaney, the younger brother of James Chaney, met with Justice Department officials in 2009 and asked them to pursue charges against Burrage and other suspects before they died, but Burrage was never charged again.
After learning of Burrage's death, Ben Chaney told the Clarion-Ledger newspaper, "I am disappointed. Wow! I'm very disappointed."
Burrage's funeral was set for Sunday. His death was first reported by the Clarion-Ledger newspaper (http://on.thec-l.com/1117H8h).
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Judul: 1964 Klan slayings suspect dies, at age 82
Artikel di Publish 12:11 AM
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Artikel di Publish 12:11 AM
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