this day in crime history: august 25, 1967

John DuMond History, True Crime, , , , , , , , ,
A Mauser C96 pistol similar to the one used to kill George Lincoln Rockwell in 1967.
A Mauser C96 pistol similar to the one used to kill George Lincoln Rockwell in 1967.

On this date in 1967, George Lincoln Rockwell, founder and head of the American Nazi Party, was shot and killed while leaving a shopping center parking lot in Arlington, VA. John Patler, 29, a former member of Rockwell’s organization was arrested at a bus stop half a mile from the scene of the crime. He had discarded the gun in a nearby creek. Patler had been expelled by the Nazis several months earlier. He was tried and convicted of the murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was paroled in 1975.

Further reading:

BBC – ‘American Hitler’ shot dead

Wikipedia – George Lincoln Rockwell

The Free Lance Star: December 16, 1967 – Patler Convicted, Faces 20 Years

8 thoughts on “this day in crime history: august 25, 1967”

  2. But his real crime was misuse and abuse of a beautiful Mauser Broomhandle by committing a murder with it and then THROWING IT IN A CREEK!
    Some people have no shame.

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  3. John D.:
    I agree w/ Old 1811 – the Mauser is a nice pistol.
    History channel had some show (Nazis in America) featuring Rockwell…whatta LOON!!!

    One might say that although Patler had NO sense when it came to care of an historic firearm, he DID practice a form of “urban renewal”.

    Good post.

    Stay safe.

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