Murder Victim. She was murdered by, William Zantzinger, a wealthy twenty-four-year-old white tobacco farmer, because she could not serve his alcoholic beverage fast enough. Living in the segregated South, Carroll was a barmaid in a Baltimore hotel. Using his "toy" cane, Zantzinger hit her shoulder and across the head. Within five minutes, she was unable to move her arm and with a slurred speech, ran to the hotel kitchen for help. At that point, an ambulance was called and she was taken to the then segregated Mercy Hospital. She died eight hours later at the hospital. She was the mother of at least ten children. According to the medical examiner's report, she suffered from chronic hardened of the arteries, enlarged heart, and the cane did not leave a mark on her, but she died from a cerebral hemorrhage. At first charged with murder, Zantzinger was eventually charged with the lesser crime of manslaughter. Zantzinger received 6 months in prison for the crime and a fine of $500, which was the subject of a 1964 Bob Dylan's song on the album "The Times They Are A' Changin". Dylan's song was "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." According to the October of 1963 "Times" magazine article, "Deferred Sentence," the three judges over the case deferred the start of the jail sentence until September 15th, to give Zantzinger time to harvest his tobacco crop. The judge's words as he pronounced Zantzinger's sentence confirm that Carroll's death was "caused or hastened by the defendant's verbal insults, coupled with an actual assault." Her funeral was attended by 1,600 mourners. In 2017 the Charles County Maryland Board of Commission erected in honor a memorial with a portrait of her.
Murder Victim. She was murdered by, William Zantzinger, a wealthy twenty-four-year-old white tobacco farmer, because she could not serve his alcoholic beverage fast enough. Living in the segregated South, Carroll was a barmaid in a Baltimore hotel. Using his "toy" cane, Zantzinger hit her shoulder and across the head. Within five minutes, she was unable to move her arm and with a slurred speech, ran to the hotel kitchen for help. At that point, an ambulance was called and she was taken to the then segregated Mercy Hospital. She died eight hours later at the hospital. She was the mother of at least ten children. According to the medical examiner's report, she suffered from chronic hardened of the arteries, enlarged heart, and the cane did not leave a mark on her, but she died from a cerebral hemorrhage. At first charged with murder, Zantzinger was eventually charged with the lesser crime of manslaughter. Zantzinger received 6 months in prison for the crime and a fine of $500, which was the subject of a 1964 Bob Dylan's song on the album "The Times They Are A' Changin". Dylan's song was "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll." According to the October of 1963 "Times" magazine article, "Deferred Sentence," the three judges over the case deferred the start of the jail sentence until September 15th, to give Zantzinger time to harvest his tobacco crop. The judge's words as he pronounced Zantzinger's sentence confirm that Carroll's death was "caused or hastened by the defendant's verbal insults, coupled with an actual assault." Her funeral was attended by 1,600 mourners. In 2017 the Charles County Maryland Board of Commission erected in honor a memorial with a portrait of her.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Inscription
K 40
HATTIE
HIS WIFE
MAR 3 1911
FEB 9 1963
Family Members
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