The Scottsboro Trial Compare it with Tom Robinson’s trial “A Trial Account” by Douglas Linder

The Scottsboro Boys No crime in American history-- let alone a crime that never occurred-- produced as many trials, convictions, reversals, and retrials as did an alleged gang rape of two white girls by nine black teenagers on the Southern Railroad freight run from Chattanooga to Memphis on March 25, No crime in American history-- let alone a crime that never occurred-- produced as many trials, convictions, reversals, and retrials as did an alleged gang rape of two white girls by nine black teenagers on the Southern Railroad freight run from Chattanooga to Memphis on March 25, 1931.

On the train there were four black Chattanooga teenagers hoping to investigate a rumor of government jobs in Memphis hauling logs on the river and five other black teens from various parts of Georgia. Four young whites, two males and two females dressed in overalls, also rode the train, returning to Huntsville from unsuccessful job searches in the cotton mills of Chattanooga. On the train there were four black Chattanooga teenagers hoping to investigate a rumor of government jobs in Memphis hauling logs on the river and five other black teens from various parts of Georgia. Four young whites, two males and two females dressed in overalls, also rode the train, returning to Huntsville from unsuccessful job searches in the cotton mills of Chattanooga.

One of the white boys accidentally stepped on the hand of Haywood Patterson. A stone-throwing fight began between the white boys’ group of friends and the black boys’ group of friends. The black boys forced all of the white boys off the train but one, Orville Gilley. The boys who were thrown off alerted the stationmaster who called up the line. When the train stopped, a group of armed guards were waiting to take all of the black boys to jail.

Victoria Price and Ruby Bates told police at the train station that they had been gang raped by a group of black boys. Price identified six of the boys, and the police assumed the rest raped Bates. A mob gathered outside of the jail of 100 men or so to lynch the boys, but the governor of Alabama sent the National Guard in to stop them.

Haywood Patterson described the scene as "one big smiling white face." The boys’ defense attorneys were incompetent and didn’t care: Haywood Patterson described the scene as "one big smiling white face." The boys’ defense attorneys were incompetent and didn’t care: Doctors were never cross-examined Doctors were never cross-examined Bates and Price told many contradictions Bates and Price told many contradictions All of the boys but three denied ever seeing the girls; those three claimed they were beaten until they said they had raped them All of the boys but three denied ever seeing the girls; those three claimed they were beaten until they said they had raped them  All were guilty. Eight boys received the death penalty; the twelve year old received a mistrial because eleven jurors wanted death when the prosecution had asked for life because of his age.

The NAACP didn’t want to go through the publicity of the case, so the boys accepted the aid of the International Labor Defense, a Communist party group. The NAACP didn’t want to go through the publicity of the case, so the boys accepted the aid of the International Labor Defense, a Communist party group. January, 1932, the Alabama Supreme Court, by a vote, affirmed all but one of the eight convictions and death sentences – the 13 year old was declared a new trial because he shouldn’t have been tried as an adult. January, 1932, the Alabama Supreme Court, by a vote, affirmed all but one of the eight convictions and death sentences – the 13 year old was declared a new trial because he shouldn’t have been tried as an adult. United States Supreme Court overturned the convictions because the boys had been denied competent legal counsel, giving the last 7 boys a new trial. United States Supreme Court overturned the convictions because the boys had been denied competent legal counsel, giving the last 7 boys a new trial.

The boys spent two years in a deplorable prison where they got out of their cell once every two weeks. The boys spent two years in a deplorable prison where they got out of their cell once every two weeks. As their trial date approached, they were moved to the Decatur jail, a rat-infested facility that two years earlier had been condemned as "unfit for white prisoners." As their trial date approached, they were moved to the Decatur jail, a rat-infested facility that two years earlier had been condemned as "unfit for white prisoners."

"I am speaking with feeling, and I know it, because I am feeling it. I absolutely have no patience with the mob spirit, and that spirit that would charge the guilt or innocense of any being without knowing of their guilt or innocense." --Judge James Horton addressing court after hearing reports of plans for a lynching (Alabama v Patterson, Record, 3/31/33) "There shouldn't be any trial for them damn niggers- - thirty cents worth of rope would do the work and it wouldn't cost the county much." --Decatur lunchroom proprietor (Goodman, 211)

New Trial - March 30, 1933 Price was called to the stand Price was called to the stand She was an adulterer She was an adulterer She was a person of low repute, a prostitute She was a person of low repute, a prostitute She was neither crying, bleeding, or seriously bruised after the alleged gang rape She was neither crying, bleeding, or seriously bruised after the alleged gang rape the Scottsboro doctor did confirm that semen was found the girls were both calm, composed, and free of bleeding and vaginal damage

Arthur Woodall, deputy sheriff Arthur Woodall, deputy sheriff testified that he had found a knife on one of the defendants testified that he had found a knife on one of the defendants Said that the boy said he had taken it "off the white girl, Victoria Price." Said that the boy said he had taken it "off the white girl, Victoria Price." Dobbins (eye witness) answered, "She was wearing women's clothes." Everyone who had followed the case knew that Bates and Price both were wearing overalls. "Are you sure it wasn't overalls or a coat?," Judge Horton asked. "No sir, a dress," Dobbins said Other witnesses Other witnesses Defendants testified Defendants testified One sick with disease One sick with disease One who had 3 months of schooling One who had 3 months of schooling Patterson admitted in court that he had been framed Patterson admitted in court that he had been framed Men who knew the women and admitted having slept with them the day or two before the alleged rape Men who knew the women and admitted having slept with them the day or two before the alleged rape

Defense's final and most dramatic witness Ruby Bates – had been in hiding, returned from New York to tell the truth Ruby Bates – had been in hiding, returned from New York to tell the truth said that there was no rape said that there was no rape the accusations of rape were made after Price told her "to frame up a story" to avoid morals charges the accusations of rape were made after Price told her "to frame up a story" to avoid morals charges Knight made accusations that her new versions of events had been bought with new clothes and other Communist Party gifts Knight made accusations that her new versions of events had been bought with new clothes and other Communist Party gifts

"Take the evidence, sift it out and find the truths and untruths and render your verdict. It will not be easy to keep your minds solely on the evidence. Much prejudice has crept into it. It has come not only from far away, but from here at home as well. "I have done what I thought to be right as the judge of this court no matter what the personal cost to me might be..." "There have been some statement in regard to whether or not some other person thinks this way or that, or whether or not public opinion is one way or the other. "Gentlemen, that hasn't anything to do with it-- what outside opinion or public opinion is, or whether or not the ideas of somebody else may be one way or the other… "I know the juries of this county…nor do they let petty prejudices enter into the trial of the case. "You are not trying whether or not the defendant is white or black-- you are not trying that question; you are trying whether or not this defendant forcibly ravished a woman. “…under oath sitting in the jury box taking the evidence and considering it, leaving out any outside influences. "Things may vex you. I might say that the court may have been vexed about a great many things…they do not affect me whatever or the great principle which the court desires to see done, and that is to see justice done in this case..."

The jury pronounced Patterson guilty and sentenced him to death Safely back in New York after the trial Liebowitz said of the jury that had just found his client guilty: "If you ever saw those creatures, those bigots whose mouths are slits in their faces, whose eyes popped out at you like frogs, whose chins dripped tobacco juice, bewhiskered and filthy, you would not ask how they could do it." Safely back in New York after the trial Liebowitz said of the jury that had just found his client guilty: "If you ever saw those creatures, those bigots whose mouths are slits in their faces, whose eyes popped out at you like frogs, whose chins dripped tobacco juice, bewhiskered and filthy, you would not ask how they could do it." Ruby Bates returned East with Liebowitz, then became the leading lady at ILD-sponsored Scottsboro rallies, where she would beg forgiveness, plead for justice for "The Boys," and join in singing The Internationale. Ruby Bates returned East with Liebowitz, then became the leading lady at ILD-sponsored Scottsboro rallies, where she would beg forgiveness, plead for justice for "The Boys," and join in singing The Internationale.

Judge Horton overruled verdict and granted new trial; prosecution had trial moved to new non-sympathetic judge Judge Horton overruled verdict and granted new trial; prosecution had trial moved to new non-sympathetic judge New witness, Gilley, and new judge, Callahan New witness, Gilley, and new judge, Callahan Patterson said of Callahan, "He couldn't get me to the chair fast enough." Patterson said of Callahan, "He couldn't get me to the chair fast enough." Both defendants were sentenced to death. Liebowitz angrily promised to appeal the verdicts "to Hell and back." Both defendants were sentenced to death. Liebowitz angrily promised to appeal the verdicts "to Hell and back." February 15, 1935, United States Supreme Court – appeals granted February 15, 1935, United States Supreme Court – appeals granted

Fourth trial - jury sentenced him to seventy- five years in prison rather than giving him the death sentence – first time in Alabama history for rape crime Fourth trial - jury sentenced him to seventy- five years in prison rather than giving him the death sentence – first time in Alabama history for rape crime Ozie Powell slashed the neck of a deputy sheriff while being transported. He was shot in the head, lived but with brain damage. Ozie Powell slashed the neck of a deputy sheriff while being transported. He was shot in the head, lived but with brain damage. Possible compromise, but Knight died, and trials continued Possible compromise, but Knight died, and trials continued Four boys, including two youngest, were released after six years – the others received death penalty or life in prison Four boys, including two youngest, were released after six years – the others received death penalty or life in prison

How did it all end? Between 1943 and 1950, four of the boys were paroled; Patterson escaped in Between 1943 and 1950, four of the boys were paroled; Patterson escaped in Patterson and Norris wrote books about their experiences. Patterson and Norris wrote books about their experiences. By 1989, all of the boys were dead. By 1989, all of the boys were dead. “ “ Because of indifferent jurors and career-motivated prosecutors, the self-serving and groundless accusations of a single woman were allowed to change forever the lives of nine black teenagers who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

one of the most shameful examples of injustice in our nation's history one of the most shameful examples of injustice in our nation's history makes clear that in the Deep South of the 1930's, jurors were not willing to accord a black charged with raping a white woman the usual presumption of innocence makes clear that in the Deep South of the 1930's, jurors were not willing to accord a black charged with raping a white woman the usual presumption of innocence Jurors were seen laughing as they emerged from the juryroom Jurors were seen laughing as they emerged from the juryroom “Evil rarely comes in the form of monsters but rather in the form of normal people who…are indifferent to the human consequences of their actions” “Evil rarely comes in the form of monsters but rather in the form of normal people who…are indifferent to the human consequences of their actions”