[133] On November 21, 2013, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles granted posthumous pardons to Weems, Wright and Patterson, the only Scottsboro Boys who had neither had their convictions overturned nor received a pardon.[135][136]. The decision of Judge James Horton to set aside the conviction of Haywood Patterson, despite the dire consequences that decision would have for his own career . In the first set of trials in April 1931, an all-white, all-male jury quickly convicted the Scottsboro Boys and sentenced eight of them to death. According to the U.S. Supreme Court, "something more" was needed. The defense again waived closing argument, and surprisingly the prosecution then proceeded to make more argument. [2], With help from the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the case was appealed. and more. She testified that she, Price and Gilley were arrested and that Price made the rape accusation, instructing her to go along with the story to stay out of jail. July:Patterson escapes from prison and travels to Detroit. Scottsboro Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/timeline-of-scottsboro-boys-45428. The jury began deliberating at four in the afternoon. [26] The prosecution ended with testimony from three men who claimed the black youths fought the white youths, put them off the train, and "took charge" of the white girls. . Solicitor H. G. Bailey reminded the jury that the law presumed Patterson innocent, even if what Gilley and Price had described was "as sordid as ever a human tongue has uttered." Two white women also claimed they had been raped. Clarence Norris, the last surviving Scottsboro boy, dies Prosecutors got the cases in front of a more sympathetic judge, and both Patterson and Norris were retried, convicted and sentenced to death in late 1933. attacking Clarence Norris, Charlie Weems, Haywood Patterson, Olen The defense argued that this evidence proved that the two women had likely lied at trial. Thus far in the trial, Ruby Bates had been notably absent. DOCX Scottsboro: An American Tragedy Questions (PBS).docx - Weebly "[101] Gilley testified to meeting Lester Carter and the women the evening before the alleged rapes and getting them coffee and sandwiches. Convicted of manslaughter after a barroom brawl in 1951, Patterson died of cancer in 1952. He described himself as a patriot, a "Roosevelt Democrat", who had served the "Stars and Stripes" in World War I, "when there was no talk of Jew or Gentile, white or black. Leibowitz objected that African-American jurors had been excluded from the jury pool. There were few African Americans in the jury pool, as most had been disenfranchised since the turn of the century by a new state constitution and white discriminatory practice, and were thus disqualified from jury service. He is sentenced to death by electrocution. Williams is granted a new trial because he was considered a minor when he was originally convicted. Why were 9 men arrested on the night of March 31, 1931? Morgan County Solicitor Wade Wright cross-examined Carter. He drifted around in the North, working odd jobs and struggling with a drinking problem. A group of white teenage boys saw 18-year-old Haywood Patterson on the train and attempted to push him off, claiming that it was "a white man's train". Judge Callahan said he was giving them two forms one for conviction and one for acquittal, but he supplied the jury with only a form to convict. Horton also postpones the trials of the eight other defendants as racial tensions are high in town. July 22 - 23: Charley Weems is convicted and sentenced to 75 years. "[55] Justice Anderson also pointed out the failure of the defense to make closing arguments as an example of under zealous defense representation. [120], The case went to the United States Supreme Court for a second time as Norris v. Alabama. As the second trial began, what happened to Ruby Bates? How long did the trials last? [80][citation needed], By the time Leibowitz closed, the prosecution had employed anti-semitic remarks to discredit him. another man. One letter from Chicago read, "When those Boys are dead, within six months your state will lose 500 lives. to Norris returns to jail in October 1944 and Wright in October 1946. What was the common image of black men in Scottsboro? "[79], Just after the defense rested "with reservations", someone handed Leibowitz a note. An NBC TV movie, Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys (1976), asserted that the defense had proven that Price and Bates were prostitutes; both sued NBC over their portrayals. When Judge Horton announced his decision, Knight stated that he would retry Patterson. Ozzie Powell is shot in the head by Sheriff Jay Sandlin . A fight broke out, and the black . [38], This trial was interrupted and the jury sent out when the Patterson jury reported; they found him guilty. However, Gilley had told her to "go to hell." [43], Judge Hawkins set the executions for July 10, 1931, the earliest date Alabama law allowed. Judge Callahan allowed it, although he would not allow testimony by Patterson stating that he had not seen the women before Paint Rock. The bailiff let the jurors out [from the Patterson trial]. "[66] Leibowitz later conceded that Price was "one of the toughest witnesses he ever cross examined. while The foreman unfisted a moist crumpled note, handed it to the clerk. boys listen [41] Slim Gilley testified that he saw "every one of those five in the gondola,"[42] but did not confirm that he had seen the women raped. Now the question in this case is thisIs justice in the case going to be bought and sold in Alabama with Jew money from New York? What was the final verdict? -one boy was nearly blind -one boy had Syphilis -Price's boyfriend testified that she had been with him the night before -no live semen found during medical evaluation State Ruby Bates toured for a short while as an ILD speaker. because African Americans were excluded from sitting on the Chattanooga Party member James Allen edited the Communist Southern Worker, and publicized "the plight of the boys". Once he sent out the jury and warned the courtroom, "I want it to be known that these prisoners are under the protection of this court. that . The U.S. Supreme Court declines to review the Patterson The ILD spearheaded a national campaign to help free the nine young men, including rallies, speeches, parades and demonstrations. and Patterson Thinking Patterson would be acquitted, Judge Horton did not force Dr. Lynch to testify, but the judge had become convinced the defendants were innocent. Patterson is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 6 Executions are stayed pending appeal to Alabama Supreme April 9, 1933 : Haywood Patterson found guilty by jury and sentenced to death in . That is a toy. While appeals were filed, the Alabama Supreme Court issued indefinite stays of executions 72 hours before the defendants were scheduled to die. [30], The trial for Haywood Patterson occurred while the Norris and Weems cases were still under consideration by the jury. However, his trial ends with a hung jury as 11 jurors want the death sentence and one vote for life in imprisonment. Terms in this set (28) She reiterated that neither she nor Price had been raped. "[69] Once Captain Burelson learned that a group was on their way to "take care of Leibowitz", he raised the drawbridge across the Tennessee River, keeping them out of Decatur. The Scottsboro Boys' First Trials and Appeals: From the Grotesque to the Victorious. Knight continued, "We all have a passion, all men in this courtroom to protect the womanhood in Alabama. [69] Some wondered if there was any way he could leave Decatur alive. Explore Scottsboro's Civil Rights History - US Civil Rights Trail Wright. They said the problem was with the way Judge Hawkins "immediately hurried to trial. scottsboro film questions.doc - "The Scottsboro Trials" PBS Wallace. Knight countered that there had been no mob atmosphere at the trial, and pointed to the finding by the Alabama Supreme Court that the trial had been fair and representation "able." "'Exploding the Myth of the Black Rapist': Collective Memory and the Scottsboro Nine" in, This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 14:29. American Experience. This court intends to protect these prisoners and any other persons engaged in this trial. [14][15] He took the defendants to the county seat of Gadsden, Alabama, for indictment and to await trial. A doctor was summoned to examine Price and Bates for signs of rape, but none was found. In 1936 one of the "boys", Ozzie Powell, was shot in the face and permanently disabled during an altercation with a sheriff's deputy in prison. Knight agreed that it was an appeal to passion, and Callahan overruled the motion. On March 24, 1932, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled against seven of the eight remaining Scottsboro Boys, confirming the convictions and death sentences of all but the 13-year-old Eugene Williams. Clarence Norris, who received a pardon from Governor George Wallace of Alabama in 1976, would outlive all of the other Scottsboro Boys, dying in 1989 at the age of 76. "[125], After the case was remanded, on May 1, 1935, Victoria Price swore new rape complaints against the defendants as the sole complaining witness. During the following cross-examination, Knight addressed the witness by his first name, "John." They did not contradict themselves in any meaningful way. After a demonstration in Harlem, the Communist Party USA took an interest in the Scottsboro case. The legislation that led to today's pardons was the result of a bipartisan, cooperative effort. 30 days . The judge granted Roy Wright, the youngest of the . "[56], Anderson noted that, as the punishment for rape ranged between ten years and death, some of the teenagers should have been found "less culpable than others", and therefore should have received lighter sentences. boys are arrested on charges of assault. ILD to defend death against Watts moved to have the case sent to the Federal Court as a civil rights case, which Callahan promptly denied. [108], Judge Callahan charged the jury that Price and Bates could have been raped without force, just by withholding their consent. [98] He denied being a "bought witness", repeating his testimony about armed blacks ordering the white teenagers off the train. "[81], Leibowitz objected and moved for a new trial. October 29: Graves meets with the convicted defendants to consider parole. October 20: The cases of the nine defendants are moved from Horton's court to Judge William Callahan. The jury found the defendant guilty of rape and sentenced Patterson to death in the electric chair. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other civil rights groups joined the ILD that year to form the Scottsboro Defense Committee, which reorganized the defense effort for the next set of retrials. Scottsboro boys in Powell vs. Alabama. The case was sent to the US Supreme Court on appeal. The U. S. Supreme Court agrees to review the most recent of Alabama. [103] Patterson explained contradictions in his testimony: "We was scared and I don't know what I said. [65], A large crowd gathered outside the courthouse for the start of the Patterson trial on Monday, April 2. "[103] Bailey attacked the defense case. On the date first set for their executions, the Scottsboro boys listen to the execution of Willie Stokes, the first of ten blacks to be executed at the prison over the next ten years. Lewis, Femi. In March of 1931, nine young African-American men were accused of raping two white women on a train. DOCX "The Scottsboro Trials" PBS DocumentaryThe American Experience The NAACP and IDL also raise money for appeals. She said none of the defendants had touched her or even spoken to her. But others believed they were victims of Jim Crow justice, and the case was covered by numerous national newspapers. June 22: Pending an appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court, the executions of the nine defendants are stayed. The U. S. Supreme Court announces that it will review the Nor would he allow Leibowitz to ask why she went to Chattanooga, where she had spent the night there, or about Carter or Gilley. It was addressed more to the evidence and less to the regional prejudice of the jury.[118]. "Scottsboro: An American Tragedy", PBS.org, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, "A wing of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the United States, devoted to the defense of people it perceived as victims of a class war. Judge Callahan arraigned all the defendants except the two juveniles in Decatur; they all pleaded not guilty. I want you to know that. "[60], Leibowitz called the editor of the Scottsboro weekly newspaper, who testified that he'd never heard of a black juror in Decatur because "they all steal. June 14:Patterson's conviction is upheld by the Alabama Supreme Court. to be During the second trial's prosecution testimony, Victoria Price mostly stuck with her story, stating flatly that Patterson raped her. Bates died in 1976 in Washington state, where she lived with her carpenter husband, and her case was not heard. [78], Haywood Patterson testified on his own behalf that he had not seen the women before stopping in Paint Rock; he withstood a cross-examination from Knight who "shouted, shook his finger at, and ran back and forth in front of the defendant. Posse member Tom Rousseau claimed to have seen the women and youths get off the same car but under cross-examination admitted finding the defendants scattered in various cars at the front of the train. This second landmark decision in the Scottsboro Boys case would help integrate future juries across the nation. As a result of the pressure of the case, Watts becomes sick, causing Leibowitz to steer the defense. [citation needed], During closing, the prosecution said, "If you don't give these men death sentences, the electric chair might as well be abolished. Civil rights organizations followed suit, raising money and providing defense for these young men. Callahan would not allow Leibowitz to ask Price about any "crime of moral turpitude." The ILD saw African Americans in the deep South as an oppressed nation that needed liberation. Her claim, however, is dismissed. Leibowitz put on the testimony of Chattanooga gynecologist, Dr. Edward A. Reisman, who testified that after a woman had been raped by six men, it was impossible that she would have only a trace of semen, as was found in this case. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. April 7 - 8: Haywood Patterson meets the same sentence as Norris and Weems. How many were given the death penalty? How many boys did Alabama set free during the fourth trial? Following Judge Hawkins' denial of the motions for a new trial, attorney George W. Chamlee filed an appeal and was granted a stay of execution. The motion was denied. After 14 hours of deliberation, the jury filed into the courtroom; they returned a guilty verdict and sentenced Norris to death. It was market day in Scottsboro, and farmers were in town to sell produce and buy supplies. "[83], In his closing, Leibowitz called Wright's argument an appeal to regional bigotry, claiming talk about Communists was just to "befuddle" the jury. [40] There was no uproar at the announcement. Timeline of the Scottsboro Boys Case - ThoughtCo v. In the letter, Bates admits she was not raped. She often replied, "I can't remember" or "I won't say." DOC "The Scottsboro Trials" PBS DocumentaryThe American Experience Alan Blinder, Alabama Pardons 3 Scottsboro Boys After 80 Years, New York Times, November 21, 2013. Craig protested: "I can't change my vote, judge." All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Victoria Price, brought out for Bates to identify, glared at her. The cases are sent to the lower court. Hundreds more gathered on the courthouse lawn. tried Chief Justice Anderson's previous dissent was quoted repeatedly in this decision. He continued, "These defendants were confined in jail in another county and local counsel had little opportunity to prepare their defense. In an opinion written by Associate Justice George Sutherland, the Court found the defendants had been denied effective counsel. There was a wrong amount of Black jury officials. But in March 1932, the Alabama Supreme Court upheld the convictions of seven of the defendants; it granted Williams a new trial, as he was a minor at the time of his conviction. He said that he had found Orville "Carolina Slim" Gilley, the white teenager in the gondola car and that Gilley would corroborate Price's story in full. [13], Sheriff Matt Wann stood in front of the jail and addressed the mob, saying he would kill the first person to come through the door. Norris ), Leibowitz called local black professionals as witnesses to show they were qualified for jury service. Judge Hawkins then instructed the jury, stating that any defendant aiding in the crime was as guilty as any of the defendants who had committed it. He noted that Roddy "declined to appear as appointed counsel and did so only as amicus curiae." He denied participating in the fight or being in the gondola car where the fight took place. The first two times that he did so, Leibowitz asked the court to have him alter his behavior. Governor Graves interviews Scottsboro boys. convictions Price died in 1983, in Lincoln County, Tennessee. What did . Judge Callahan cautioned Leibowitz he would not permit "such tactics" in his courtroom. at the prison over the next ten years. During prosecution testimony, Victoria Price stated that she and Ruby Bates witnessed the fight, that one of the black men had a gun, and that they all raped her at knifepoint. and [4] Charges were finally dropped for four of the nine defendants. He remained in contact with Montgomery throughout the years. The vote against him was especially heavy in Morgan County. He set the retrials for January 20, 1936. April 18: Judge Horton suspends Patterson's death sentence after a motion for a new trial. April 6 - 7: Clarence Norris and Charlie Weems, were placed on trial, convicted and given the death sentence. privacy, Ozie Powell, Willie Roberson, Eugene Williams, and Andy Norris. [73], The prosecution withdrew the testimony of Dr. Marvin Lynch, the other examining doctor, as "repetitive." January 24: Ozie Powell pulls a knife and slashes a police officer's throat while being transported to Birmingham Jail. The two years that had passed since the first trials had not dampened community hostility for the Scottsboro Boys. Posse stops Southern Railroad train in Paint Rock, Clarence Norris, the oldest defendant and the only one sentenced to death in the final trial, "jumped parole" in 1946 and went into hiding. Private investigations took place, revealing that Price and Bates had been prostitutes in Tennessee, who regularly serviced both black and white clientele. The Scottsboro trial happened in Alabama in 1931. September: Wright and Norris leave Alabama. Finally, she testified she had been in New York City and had decided to return to Alabama to tell the truth, at the urging of Rev. As to the "newly discovered evidence", the Court ruled: "There is no contention on the part of the defendants, that they had sexual intercourse with the alleged victim with her consent so the defendants would not be granted a new trial."[53]. The prosecution agreed that 13-year-old Roy Wright[2] was too young for the death penalty, and did not seek it. At the trial, some 100 reporters were seated at the press tables. March 30: The nine "Scottsboro Boys" are indicted by a grand jury. He did not, and this insult eventually caused Leibowitz to leap to his feet saying, "Now listen, Mr. Attorney-General, I've warned you twice about your treatment of my witness. The New York Times described Leibowitz as "pressing the judge almost as though he were a hostile witness. Judge Horton sets aside Haywood Patterson's conviction and That June, the court granted the boys a stay of execution pending an appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court. He died in 1989 as the last surviving defendant. Scottsboro: An American Tragedy, PBS. "What has been done to her cannot be undone. He is found guilty and sentenced to 75 years in prison. The Associated Press reported that the defendants were "calm" and "stoic" as Judge Hawkins handed down the death sentences one after another. Horton executed Haywood Patterson's second trial begins in Decatur before Roy Wright's jury could not agree on sentencing, and was declared a hung jury that afternoon. their During both cases, Callahan's bias is revealed through his omissionshe does not explain to Patterson's jury how to deliver a not guilty verdict and also does not ask for the mercy of God upon Norris' soul during his sentencing. Clarence He said threats were made even in the presence of the judge. Bates. Victoria Price worked in a Huntsville cotton mill until 1938, then moved to Flintville, Tennessee. Haywood Patterson and Clarence Norris are tried for rape, The judge had ordered the Alabama bar to assist the defendants, but the only attorney who volunteered was Milo Moody, a 69-year-old attorney who had not defended a case in decades. Put on your case. When the jury returned its verdict from the first trial, the jury from the second trial was taken out of the courtroom. When she responded that the Communist Party had paid for her clothes, any credibility she had with the jury was destroyed. He testified that he had been on the train on the morning of the arrests. On July 22, 1937, Andrew Wright was convicted of rape and sentenced to 99 years. order to change her testimony. Horton replied: "Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it. the sheriff and is sentenced to 20 years. [31] On cross-examination, Roy Wright testified that Patterson "was not involved with the girls", but that "The long, tall, black fellow had the pistol. This astonished (and infuriated) many residents of Alabama and many other Southern states. [124], Alabama Governor Bibb Graves instructed every solicitor and judge in the state, "Whether we like the decisions or not We must put Negroes in jury boxes. Multiple trials were held in which all-white juries found guilty Charlie Weems, Ozzie Powell, Clarence Norris, Olen Montgomery . [128], Scottsboro: A Tragedy of the American South (1969) by Dan T. Carter was widely thought to be authoritative, but it wrongly asserted that Price and Bates were dead. The Sheriff's department brought the defendants to Court in a patrol wagon guarded by two carloads of deputies armed with shotguns. Roberson were March 25: A group of young African-American and white men engage in a scuffle while riding a freight train. But Judge Callahan would not let him repeat that testimony at the trial, stating that any such testimony was "immaterial. The other defendants waited in the Jefferson County jail in Birmingham for the outcome of the appeals. The next prosecution witnesses testified that Roberson had run over train cars leaping from one to another and that he was in much better shape than he claimed. He escaped from prison in Alabama but was convicted of a different crime in Michigan and died in prison there. gathered around March 24: The Alabama Supreme Court upholds the convictions of seven defendants in a vote of 6-1. Victoria Price's suit against NBC for its movie "Judge she Who Were the Scottsboro Nine? - Smithsonian Magazine