Scottsboro boys Timeline

Scottsboro boys arrested

Mar 25, 1931

Scottsboro boys get arrested on charges of assault and rape.

Scottsboro boys timespan

Period: Mar 25, 1931 to Jan 23, 1945

Scottsboro boys convicted for rape

Mar 30, 1931

The judge convicts the nine Scottsboro boys for rape.

Scottsboro boys sentenced to death

Apr 7, 1931

Judge A.E Hawkins sentences all the Scottsboro boys to death, but this ends in a mistrial. Some jurors still held out for the death sentence even though life in prison was already settled.

NAACP and International Labor Defense fight for rights to represent Scottsboro boys

Dec 1, 1931

The NAACP and the ILD fight to gain rights so they can both represent the Scottsboro boys in the trial.

Haywood Pattterson sentenced to death in Electric Chair

Apr 9, 1933

Haywood Patterson, one of the nine Scottsboro boys, is sentenced to die in the electric chair after his second trial.

Haywood patterson and Clarence Norris are convicted once again of rape and sentenced to death

Dec 4, 1934

Two of the Scottsboro boys are yet again tried for rape and are sentenced to death, which is affirmed by Alabama Supreme Court.

Haywood patterson convicted for fourth time

Jan 23, 1936

Haywood patterson is convicted for rape for the fourth time, and is sentenced to 75 years in prison

Ozzie Powell shot in the head

Jan 24, 1936

Ozzie Powell, another of the nine Scottsboro boys, is shot in the head by the Sheriff while trying to attack the deputy.

The convictions begin again

Jul 1, 1937

Andy Wright is sentenced to 99 years in prison, Charlie Weems is sentenced to 75 years. Clarence Norris is sentenced to death. However, all of the charges were dropped on Roy Wright, Eugine Williams, Olen Montgomery, and Willie Roberson.

Governor Graves Interview

Oct 20, 1938

Governor Graves interviews the Scottsboro Boys. After this interview, The boys who had charges dropped were put on parole.

Parole Time!

Sep 13, 1943

Charlie Weems, Clarence Norris, Andy Wright, and Ozzie Powell are all put on Parole instead of the charges dropped

Back to prison

Oct 10, 1946

Andy Wright gets returned to prison.

Prison Break!

Jul 20, 1948

Haywood Patterson escapes from prison.

Patterson is Back!

Dec 15, 1951

Patterson gets charged with manslaughter because of a barroom fight resulting in another man's death. he is sentenced to 6-15 years in prison

The Last of the Scottsboro Boys

Jan 23, 1989

Clarence Norris, the last surviving of the boys, dies at 76 years old.