In 1947, prosperous farmer Henry "Peg" Gilbert, a married African-American father who owned and farmed 100 acres in the county, was arrested and charged with harboring a fugitive by officials from neighboring Harris County, Georgia, in the case of Gus Davidson. Also African American, the latter man was charged in the shooting death of a white farmer. Four days later Gilbert was dead, shot while held in jail by the Harris County Sheriff, in what he said was self-defense. In 2016 the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project of Northeastern University reported on this death in custody. They found that Gilbert had been beaten severely before his death, and shot five times. They asserted he had been detained and killed because of his success as a farmer.
In 1947 prosperous farmer Henry "Peg" Gilbert a married African-American father who owned and farmed 100 acres in the county was arrested and charged with harboring a fugitive by officials from neighboring Harris County Georgia in the case of Gus Davidson Also African American the latter man was charged in the shooting death of a white farmer Four days later Gilbert was dead shot while held in jail by the Harris County Sheriff in what he said was self-defense In 2016 the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project of Northeastern University reported on this death in custody They found that Gilbert had been beaten severely before his death and shot five times They asserted he had been detained and killed because of his success as a farmer