The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys When Harper Lee was a child, the When Harper Lee was a child, the

Scottsboro Trials took place in Scottsboro Trials took place in Alabama.Alabama.

These trials are commonly thought to These trials are commonly thought to be the inspiration for be the inspiration for To Kill a To Kill a MockingbirdMockingbird, though Lee denies this., though Lee denies this.

Nine black youths (ages 12-19) were Nine black youths (ages 12-19) were accused of raping two white women on accused of raping two white women on a train.a train.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys On March 25, 1931, the nine black On March 25, 1931, the nine black

young men, as well as several white young men, as well as several white young men, rode a train illegally.young men, rode a train illegally.

The boys got into a fight, and the The boys got into a fight, and the white boys were kicked off the train.white boys were kicked off the train.

They told station masters at the They told station masters at the closest stop they had been beaten by closest stop they had been beaten by the black boys. Police arranged to the black boys. Police arranged to arrest them at the next station.arrest them at the next station.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys At the next stop, to avoid being At the next stop, to avoid being

punished themselves, Ruby Bates and punished themselves, Ruby Bates and Victoria Price – both prostitutes -- Victoria Price – both prostitutes -- claimed the black boys raped them.claimed the black boys raped them.

Bates later recanted her story.Bates later recanted her story. On March 30, 1931, all of the On March 30, 1931, all of the

Scottsboro Boys were indicted by an all-Scottsboro Boys were indicted by an all-white jury.white jury.

Trials began a few days later, with Trials began a few days later, with several boys on trial at once.several boys on trial at once.

Ruby Bates and Victoria Price in 1931Ruby Bates and Victoria Price in 1931

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys Because their parents could not Because their parents could not

afford good lawyers, all were afford good lawyers, all were convicted and sentenced to death – convicted and sentenced to death – even 13-year-old Roy Wright.even 13-year-old Roy Wright.

Wright’s trial was declared a mistrial.Wright’s trial was declared a mistrial. The cases quickly became famous, The cases quickly became famous,

causing rallies and riots.causing rallies and riots.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys The Alabama Supreme Court upheld The Alabama Supreme Court upheld

the convictions of all the boys except the convictions of all the boys except Eugene Williams, who was tried as an Eugene Williams, who was tried as an adult at 13.adult at 13.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys In November, the U.S. Supreme Court In November, the U.S. Supreme Court

overturned all the convictions on the overturned all the convictions on the ground that due process was not ground that due process was not followed.followed.

The State of Alabama had not provided The State of Alabama had not provided legal counsel to any of the defendants.legal counsel to any of the defendants.

The new trials began in March 1933, The new trials began in March 1933, with each defendant tried separately.with each defendant tried separately.

There was a total of four rounds of trials.There was a total of four rounds of trials.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys Haywood Patterson sentenced to 75 Haywood Patterson sentenced to 75

years, escaped, wrote a book, later years, escaped, wrote a book, later arrested.arrested.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys Clarence Norris sentenced to death, Clarence Norris sentenced to death,

sentence commuted, later wrote sentence commuted, later wrote book about his ordeal.book about his ordeal.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys Andy Wright sentenced to 99 years, Andy Wright sentenced to 99 years,

paroled, arrested again.paroled, arrested again.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys Charlie Weems sentenced to 75 Charlie Weems sentenced to 75

years, served 20.years, served 20.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys Ozzie Powell pled guilty to assaulting Ozzie Powell pled guilty to assaulting

a sheriff, rape charges were dropped, a sheriff, rape charges were dropped, sentenced to 20 years after being sentenced to 20 years after being shot in head during escape attempt.shot in head during escape attempt.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys Olen Montgomery had all charges Olen Montgomery had all charges

dropped because he was nearly blind dropped because he was nearly blind and had been found alone at the end and had been found alone at the end of the car at the time of the alleged of the car at the time of the alleged crime.crime.

The Scottsboro BoysThe Scottsboro Boys Willie Roberson had Willie Roberson had

all charges dropped all charges dropped because he was because he was suffering so badly suffering so badly from syphilis at the from syphilis at the time of the alleged time of the alleged crime that he could crime that he could hardly walk.hardly walk.

Summary:Summary:Nine African American young men Nine African American young men were accused of raping two white were accused of raping two white women. In spite of evidence of the women. In spite of evidence of the men’s innocence, 8 of the 9 were men’s innocence, 8 of the 9 were sentenced to death. After many sentenced to death. After many

appeals, new trials, and Supreme appeals, new trials, and Supreme Court involvement, 4 were freed and Court involvement, 4 were freed and

the rest served long prison terms.the rest served long prison terms.

There are several parallels There are several parallels between the Scottsboro trials and between the Scottsboro trials and the case that takes place in the case that takes place in To Kill To Kill

a Mockingbird.a Mockingbird.

Think about them. Think about them.

* We’ll come back to these notes * We’ll come back to these notes when we near the end of the book when we near the end of the book

and revisit this set of trials.and revisit this set of trials.