William Shifrin

Released
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:1920s
State:New York
Support
Labor Organizing
William Shifrin

Biography

William Shifrin, a member of the New York butchers' union, was indicted for manslaughter after killing, in self-defense, one of five knife-wielding strike-breakers sent against the union during the September 1928 Hebrew Butchers' Union strike. The ILD's Labor Defender took up his defense with a "Shifrin Defense Fund," and he was acquitted at trial.

Case

Charges: Manslaughter.
Arrested: September 1928
Incarcerated: September 1928
Sentence: Held under high bail pending trial — reported "behind the bars" by October 1, 1928, with the defense committee still seeking bail in early November 1928 — then acquitted and freed. The exact acquittal/release date is not documented. Verdict as recorded: No — acquitted at trial. He had pleaded not guilty on November 3, 1928 (his attorney asking for release on $15,000 bail); the jury accepted the self-defense case. Charges as recorded: Manslaughter — for killing, in self-defense, one of five knife-wielding strike-breakers sent by the Hebrew Butchers' Union machine during the September 1928 butchers' strike.
Convicted: No — acquitted

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