Famous Enfield M1917 Rifle

[Marine A5 Sniper]

I came across this while checking some appeals cases on Findlaw.

Medgar Evers was shot by Byron De La Beckwith VI with an Enfield M1917 rifle serial number 1052682 on 12 June 1972. Another item I was unaware of was that Byron De La Beckwith VI was a Marine, just as were Lee Harvey Oswald and Charles Whitman. I wonder where that rifle is now?

Jim:1948:

[mdoerner]

You mean 1963, right? If not in evidence, probably destroyed.

Mike Doerner

[Marine A5 Sniper]

Sorry, I put the year of the appeal on the post. It was indeed 1963 and I remember seeing the news flash that day (I lived in Mississippi then).

The rifle was in private hands before the last trial, and Beckwith is dead. I presume it went back into private hands.

Since Beckwith never claimed ownership, I presume the previous owner could have claimed it. I don't think they destroy weapons that have known owners. Jack Ruby's brother got his pistol, which I think he auctioned.

Jim

[emmagee1917]

In the '80s I had a Ruger Super Blackhawk stolen. Got a call from the police in some far away city around 2000 or so. They called to let me know they had recovered my pistol after all those years. They then told me they were cutting it up. I told the cop " yea, right" , and that he and his department were worse than the thieves , at least the thieves didn't lie about stealing the gun.
Chris

[Marine A5 Sniper]

Wow, what reason did they give for destroying YOUR firearm?

jim

[emmagee1917]

They had it , they could , and they knew it was not likly for me to hire a lawer in another state to fight to recover a $250-300 firearm. I'm sure the destroyed pistol is resting in some cop's gun safe as we speak. Chris

[Marine A5 Sniper]

I have a PDF book on the Emmagees. Have you read it?

Jim:1948:

[emmagee1917]

...I have not seen it . Chris