George Dinning facts for kids

George Dinning (born around 1857, died 1930) was an American man who had been enslaved. He lived in Simpson County, Kentucky. In 1897, he bravely defended his home from a group of armed men. During this event, he shot and killed the son of a wealthy white landowner.

George Dinning was found guilty of manslaughter, which means causing someone's death without planning to. However, the Governor of Kentucky, William O'Connell Bradley, soon gave him a pardon. This meant his punishment was forgiven. After this, Dinning did something amazing: he successfully sued members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) because of what happened.

Many people across the country followed his story in newspapers. People had different opinions about whether he was guilty or innocent. It was very unusual for a Black man to sue white people in court, especially the KKK. A newspaper at the time said this outcome was "sensational." It showed a new way to deal with lawless groups that were common in the South.

George Dinning's Story

After he gained his freedom, George Dinning worked hard and saved enough money to buy his own farm in Simpson County.

On January 27, 1897, a group of about 25 armed white men came to Dinning's farm. They accused him of stealing farm animals and told him he had to leave the county within 10 days. Dinning said he was not a thief. He also said that many people in the county would say he was a good person.

The group became angry when Dinning stood up for himself. They started shooting at his house and wounded him twice. Dinning went inside, got his own gun, and fired back at the group. He accidentally killed one man, who was the son of a rich local landowner. The group then ran away.

The next day, Dinning turned himself in to the local police. While he was in police care, the group returned to his farm. They forced his family out of their home, stole their belongings, and then burned the house to the ground.

Protection and Trial

The sheriff in Simpson County moved Dinning to Bowling Green and later to Louisville. This was done to keep him safe from being attacked by an angry crowd. Governor Bradley sent a group of state soldiers to protect Dinning during his trial.

Many people thought Dinning would be found innocent. This was because he had acted in self-defense to protect himself and his home. However, the jury found Dinning guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to seven years of difficult prison work.

A Governor's Pardon

Right after the conviction, Governor William O'Connell Bradley's office received many requests for him to help Dinning. These requests came from both Black and white people, including some who had fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War.

Dinning's lawyer, Augustus E. Willson, formally asked for a pardon. Just 10 days after the conviction, Governor Bradley granted it. Governor Bradley said that Dinning had acted reasonably given the situation. He also said it was a shame that no one from the attacking group was charged with a crime.

Suing for Justice

After being set free, George Dinning moved to Indiana. He hired a lawyer named Bennett H. Young, who was a well-known war hero. Dinning filed a federal lawsuit against some of the men from the group who had attacked him. These men had been identified during his trial.

The trial took place in Louisville. The court decided that Dinning should receive $50,000 in damages. This was a large amount of money at the time. However, the men he sued were poor farmers, so Dinning was only able to collect a small part of that money.

It was truly groundbreaking that a Black man successfully won a case against members of the KKK in court. A newspaper at the time called the result "sensational." It showed a completely new way to deal with and punish lawless groups that were common in the Southern states.

In 2021, an author named Ben Montgomery wrote a book about George Dinning's case. It is called A Shot in the Moonlight: How a Freed Slave and a Confederate Soldier Fought for Justice in the Jim Crow South.

Images for kids

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  George Dinning, 1899