Cobbler and radio host Frank Morris was awakened on the night of Dec. 10, 1964, when an armed duo broke the windows of his shoe shop in Ferriday, LA. As a respected community member and successful businessman serving black and white customers, a black man like Morris was a textbook target for racial violence in the region he served, which had a heavy Ku Klux Klan presence.
The armed intruders spread gasoline around the exterior of Morris’ shop-residence and then broke the windows to throw gasoline inside. They then threw a match and ignited the building while threatening Morris with a shotgun, telling him to stay inside.
He eventually escaped but his body was completely burned. He was taken to the hospital by Ferriday police and interviewed by the FBI while heavily sedated. Morris eventually entered a coma and died four days after the crime.
No charges were ever filed in the case.