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 accused of raping two white women on a train.on 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 Scottsboro Boys were indicted by an all-white jury.all-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.

WrightWright’’s trial was declared a mistrial.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 menmen’’s innocence, 8 of the 9 were 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.

ScottsboroScottsboro MockingbirdMockingbird Took place in the 1930sTook place in the 1930s Took place in northern AlabamaTook place in northern Alabama Began with a charge of rape made by Began with a charge of rape made by

white women against African American white women against African American menmen

The poor white status of the accusers The poor white status of the accusers a was a critical issue.a was a critical issue.

A central figure was a heroic judge, a A central figure was a heroic judge, a member of the Alabama Bar who member of the Alabama Bar who overturned a guilty jury verdict against overturned a guilty jury verdict against African American men.African American men.

This judge went against public This judge went against public sentiment in trying to protect the sentiment in trying to protect the rights of the African American rights of the African American defendants.defendants.

The first juries failed to include any The first juries failed to include any African Americans, a situation which African Americans, a situation which caused the U.S. Supreme Court to caused the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the guilty verdict.overturn the guilty verdict.

The jury ignored evidence, for The jury ignored evidence, for example, that the women suffered no example, that the women suffered no injuries.injuries.

Attitudes about Southern women and Attitudes about Southern women and poor whites complicated the trialpoor whites complicated the trial

Occurs in the 1930sOccurs in the 1930s Takes place in southern AlabamaTakes place in southern Alabama Begins with a charge of rape made by Begins with a charge of rape made by

a white woman against an African a white woman against an African American man.American man.

The poor white status of Mayella is a The poor white status of Mayella is a critical issue.critical issue.

A central figure is Atticus, lawyer, A central figure is Atticus, lawyer, legislator and member of the Alabama legislator and member of the Alabama bar, who defends an African American bar, who defends an African American man.man.

Atticus arouses anger in the Atticus arouses anger in the community in trying to defend Tom community in trying to defend Tom Robinson.Robinson.

The verdict is rendered by a jury of The verdict is rendered by a jury of poor white residents of Old Sarum.poor white residents of Old Sarum.

The jury ignores evidence, for The jury ignores evidence, for example, that Tom has a useless left example, that Tom has a useless left arm.arm.

Attitudes about Southern women and Attitudes about Southern women and poor whites complicate the trial of poor whites complicate the trial of Tom RobinsonTom Robinson