Aug. 28, 1963 - William Zantzinger, 24-year-old tobacco farmer, was sentenced today to six months in prison for fatally caning a Hattie Carroll, a 51-year-old Negro barmaid earlier this year. Zantzinger was convicted of manslaughter late in June by a three-judge panel in Hagerstown, Md. The incident occurred at a charity ball attended by Zantzinger and his wife in Baltimore Feb. 9. According to testimony, Zantzinger, upon his arrival, struck a bellboy with a toy cane. Then, after the Zantzingers sat down, he struck a waitress, Ethel Hill, with the cane and said, “Hey, black girl, bring me a drink.” Next, he demanded a drink from Mrs. Hattie Carroll, 51, also a barmaid. She replied, “Just a minute, sir.” He then said, “When I order a drink, I want it now,” and swore at her. Mrs. Carroll replied, “I’m hurrying as fast as I can.” Zantzinger then said, “I don’t have to take that kind of stuff off a n****r,” and struck Mrs. Carroll with the toy cane. The woman had a history of heart trouble and died eight hours later. The case was heard on a change of venue from Baltimore. The state originally sought a murder conviction, but the charge was later reduced to manslaughter.
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