Timeline: Scottsboro Boys

Mar 25, 1931

Arrest

Scottsboro boys are arrested on charges of assault. Rape charges are added against all nine boys after accusations are made by Victoria Price and Ruby Bates.

Mar 30, 1931

Grand Jury

Grand jury indicts the boys for rape.

Apr 7, 1931

Punishment

Clarence Norris, Charlie Weems, Haywood Patterson, Olen Montgomery, Ozie Powell, Willie Roberson, Eugene Williams, and Andy Wright are tried and convicted, and sentenced to death but Roy Wright ends in a mistrial when some jurors hold out for a death sentence.

Jan 5, 1932

Denies

Ruby Bates, rape victim, denies that she was raped in a letter to Earl Streetman.

Mar 4, 1932

Review the Case

The Alabam Supreme Court announces that they will review the case.

Jan 29, 1933

A New Lawyer Attained

Samuel S. Leibowitz, a New York lawyer, is retained to defend the Scottsboro boys.

Apr 9, 1933

Patterson Guilty

After Haywood Patterson's second trial, he was found guilty by jury and sentenced to death by electric chair.

May 7, 1933

People Protesting Around the Nation

Many people around the nation started protesting the Alabama trials.

Period: Nov 17, 1933 to Dec 25, 1933

Patterson and Norris Trial

Patterson and Norris are tried for rape, convicted, and sentenced to death.

Apr 1, 1935

Supreme Court Reviews Convictions

After the Supreme Court reviewed the most recent Scottsboro convictions, they overturn the convictions of Norris and Patterson because African Americans were not able to sit on the juries during their trials.

Jul 5, 1937

Convictions

Clarence Norris is convicted of rape and sentenced to death. Andy Wright is convicted and sentenced to 99 years for rape. Charlie Weems is convicted and sentenced to 75 years. Ozzie Powell pleads guilty to assaulting the sheriff and is sentenced to 20 years.

Jul 5, 1938

Reduction in Norris' Sentence

Clarence Norris' death sentence is reduced to life in prison by Governor Graves.

Aug 18, 1938

Pardon Board

Alabama Pardon Board declines to Pardon Patterson and Powell.

Period: Nov 16, 1938 to Jun 29, 1946

Paroles

After Governor Graves interviews the Scottsboro Boys, he denies all pardon applications and Charlie Weems, Norris and Andy Wright, and Ozzie Powell are put on parole.

Sep 29, 1951

Patterson

Patterson is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 6 to 15 years. He dies of cancer less than a year later.

Jul 29, 1977

"Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys"

Victoria Price's suit against NBC for its movie "Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys," which she claimed defamed her and invaded her privacy, is dismissed. Price dies five years later.

Apr 19, 2013