November 1, 1958, Jack Dobbins was murdered by John Mahon in Charleston, South Carolina. Dobbins attended a Halloween Party with several friends, and reportedly left the party at 2am. He went to Club 49, a mixed bar where he met Mahon. They had a few drinks, but left Club 49 to go to the Elbow Cocktail Bar. Mahon was denied entry because he did not meet their dress code.
They went to Dobbins' house. Later that morning, the maid Elizabeth Brant found Dobbins naked and dead on the living room sofa. Dobbins' housemate Edward Otey called the police.
The autopsy revealed that Dobbins had been struck nine times with a brass candlestick, but the coroner found no signs to indicate a struggle had taken place. This suggests that it was a surprise attack on Dobbins.
Mahon turned himself into the police, admitting to the murder, but claiming self defense. He alleged that Dobbins served him whiskey and made improper advances to him. Mahon said he ran upstairs and grabbed a candlestick, using it to kill Dobbins.
Mahon went to trial on December 9, 1958 (that was quick), and the all-male jury found him not guilty under the argument of self-defense. There was never an indication that Dobbins had "forced himself" on Mahon.
The verdict caused the gay community to distrust the justice system. Billy Camden, a member of the Charleston gay community, said "...those in Charleston looking to maintain the old social order of veiled white supremacy and racial segregation".
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