Vernon dahmer death photos

The Vernon F. Dahmer Collection consists of copies of newspaper clippings and programs dating from to , and 24 photographs taken during the fifth trial of Sam Bowers.

History of death photos: Teaching Activity. Retrieved November 16, Honors and recognition [ edit ]. On the night of January 10, , the Dahmer home was the target of a fire bomb attack.

Most of the newspaper clippings were collected by the Dahmer family between and , and follow events surrounding the bombing of their home, community support after the tragedy, and the trials of those men indicted for arson, murder, and conspiracy. Other articles in the collection were published in The Hattiesburg American, The Meridian Star, The Clarion-Ledger and The Times Picayune.

The photographs were taken and donated by local resident, David Shemper, who attended the Sam Bowers trial.

All were taken outside the Forrest County Courthouse and feature members of the Dahmer family, Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore, media representatives, and spectators.

Of particular interest in the collection are copies of a telegram sent to Mrs. Dahmer by President Lyndon B. Johnson; the program for Vernon Dahmer's funeral on January 15, ; and the program for a memorial marker dedication in Dahmer's honor on July 25,

Noncirculating; available for research.

This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Vernon Ferdinand Dahmer was born March 10, , to George and Ellen Dahmer of Forrest County, Mississippi.

He attended Bay Spring High School and in March married Ellie Jewell Davis of Rose Hill. Vernon and Ellie were the parents of seven sons and one daughter. The family home in north Forrest county was part of the Kelly Settlement area.

Vernon Dahmer was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church where he served as music director and Sunday School teacher.

A successful businessman, he was the owner of a store, a sawmill, a planing mill, and a acre farm; he also farmed commercially with additional acres planted in cotton.

Dahmer served several terms as president of the Forrest County Chapter, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and led in voter registration drives that were taking place in the 's. A voter registration book had been placed in his store in late so that those who chose to could register there.

On the night of January 10, , the Dahmer home was the target of a fire bomb attack.

As family members escaped the burning home, gunshots were fired and Vernon returned fire from withing the house. He was severely burned about the head, face, arms, and upper body before he could escape, and he died on January 11, , from the effect of burns in his respiratory tract.

The Hattiesburg area was stunned by the attack, and began an effort led by the Chamber of Commerce under William Carey College President Dr.

Ralph Noonkester to rebuild the Dahmer home. Local and state businesses such as the Masonite Corporation, Alexander Materials, and Frierson Building Materials donated materials, local unions donated their services, and unskilled labor was volunteered by students from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Fourteen men, most with Ku Klux Klan connections were indicted in connection with the attack on the Dahmer home.

Thirteen were eventually brought to trial, eight on charges of arson and murder. Four of these were convicted and one entered a guilty plea. In addition, eleven of the defendants were also tried on federal charges of conspiracty to intimidate Dahmer because of his civil rights activities. However, former Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard Sam Bowers, who was believed to have ordered the murder, was tried four times, with each trial ending in a mistrial.

Finally, in August Bowers was tried for the fifth time.

This time, on August 21, , he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Since Vernon Dahmer's death, a street in Hattiesburg has been named in his honor and a park now bears his name. On July 26, , a memorial was dedicated at the park in honor of Vernon F. Dahmer.

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Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository

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