Gerald Chatham

Gerald Chatham
Gerald Chatham
Born	February 17, 1906; Hernando, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	October 9, 1956 (aged 50); Sumner, Mississippi

Gerald Weissinger Chatham (February 17, 1906 – October 9, 1956) was an American lawyer, best known for acting as lead prosecutor in the Emmett Till case in 1955.

Biography

Chatham was born in

heart attack a year after its completion.^[1]

His son, Gerald Chatham Jr., who was 11 years old at the time of the trial, would later serve two terms as district attorney in the same district as his father.

Emmett Till trial

Chatham was aided by Robert B. Smith III and James Hamilton Caldwell Jr. during the trial, which started on September 19, 1955. He understood the national attention that the case was attracting, but said that he was "not concerned with the pressure and agitation which the trial ... produced, either within or outside the state of Mississippi".

all-white jury

to look past prejudice to bring justice to the crime. Nevertheless, a not guilty verdict was delivered on September 23, after just 67 minutes of deliberation.

References

^ Brennan, Tom (August 25, 1985), "Emmett Till: More Than A Murder", The Clarion-Ledger, archived from the original on 2010-10-28
ISBN 0-8139-2122-8

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[clarion-1] Brennan, Tom (August 25, 1985), "Emmett Till: More Than A Murder", The Clarion-Ledger, archived from the original on 2010-10-28

[2] ISBN 0-8139-2122-8

[1]