Timeline: Scottsboro Boys Trial

Mar 25, 1931

The Train

Nine African-American boys boaded a train looking for work. Also on that train was a group of white men and two white women, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates. One of the white men stepped on the hand of a black boy, and they got into a fight. At the next stop the nine boys were kicked off; Price and Bates claimed that they were raped by the boys. https://www.google.com/search?q=naacp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SL08Uue0L5LJ4APY_YCACA&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=845&dpr=1#q=scottsboro+bo

Mar 30, 1931

Boys are Indicted

A grand jury indicts all nine of the "Scottsboro Boys." http://newsone.com/2356741/scottsboro-boys-pardoned/

Apr 1, 1931

Representing the Scottsboro Boys

Apr.- Dec.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the International Labor Defense (ILD) battle for the right to represent the Scottsboro boys. (Later in January 19 1932, the NAACP withdrew from the case). https://www.google.com/search?q=naacp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SL08Uue0L5LJ4APY_YCACA&sqi=2&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=845&dpr=1#q=NAACP+&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=wvt_zdo-bmMIaM%3A%3BkSlyTbC3dRQnxM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fuhnaacp.org%252Fwp-conte

Apr 6, 1931

Eight of Nine Boys are Sentenced to Death

6th- 9th
The first eight boys are tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. The case of Roy Wright, who was 13, ended in a hung jury because 11 sought the death sentence, but one juror wanted life imprisonment. http://fineartamerica.com/featured/scottsboro-boys-in-jefferson-county-everett.html

Jan 5, 1932

Bates Recants her Testimony

Ruby Bates denies being raped in a letter she wrote to her boyfriend. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/SB_BBates.html

Nov 7, 1932

Rights Were Violated

The Surpreme Court ruled that the defendants rights were violated (right to due process) under the 14th ammendment because they were denied the right to counsel. The cases were then remanded to the lower court. http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-5935

Apr 6, 1933

Bates Testifies for Both of the Women

Ruby Bates testifies for herself and Victoria Price that they deny being raped. There was also scientific evidence that they were both with their boyfriends the night before the fight on the train. http://whatthefluffy.wordpress.com/2011/03/25/755

Nov 1, 1933

Biased Judge

Nov.- Dec.
Judge William Callahan was very biased during the trial of tow of the Scottsboro Boys, Haywood Patterson and Clarence Norris. He forgets to explain how to give a non-guilty verdict to the jury (until he is reminded) in Pattersons' trial and does not ask the mercy of God upon Norris at the end of his trial. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottsboro_Boys

Oct 1, 1934

Police Arrest of Two Lawyers

Two lawyers that were associated with the International Labor Defense were arrested by Nashville police. The lawyers were intending to bribe Victoria Price with $1,500 to change her testimony; the lawyers were never convicted. http://whnt.com/2012/04/12/scottsboro-drug-investigation-leads-to-rape-arrest

Apr 1, 1935

Scottsboro Boys Deprived

The Surpreme Court finds that the lack of African-Americans in the jury damages the defendants of their right to equal protection that is guaranteed in the 14th ammendment. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/sb_acct.html

Jan 24, 1936

Powell Attacks Deputy

Ozie Powell slashes Deputy Edgar Blalock's throat while being transported back to Birmingham Jail. Sheriff Jay Sandlin shoots Powell in the head after stopping the car. Both Powell and Blalock survived. https://www.google.com/search?q=ozie+powell+and+deputy+attack&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=17M8UtDmHe6v4APO5oGIDw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=845&dpr=1#facrc=_&imgrc=7TvTcdgu2B4_eM%3A%3B8VcE9Fmnf5jSnM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fupload.wikimedia.org%252Fwikipedia%252Fen%252F3%252F3a%252FPowell%252C_

Jul 23, 1937

Rape Charges are Dropped

23rd-24th
Powell pleads guily to assulting the deputy and is sentenced 20 years. The rape charges against him are dropped. On the 24th, the rapes charges against the last four defendants are dropped. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_scotts.html

Aug 24, 1952

Patterson Dies

Haywood Patterson died from cancer while still in jail. http://law.jrank.org/pages/2894/Scottsboro-Trials-1931-37--Legal-Lynching-Victims-Capitalist-Justice.html

Aug 1, 1959

Wright dies

After killing his wife, Roy Wright killed himself. No actual date is known for the death of Wright. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_RWRI.jpg