Scottsboro Boys

How it Began

Mar 25, 1931

A Southern Railroad freight train was stopped outside Paint Rock, Alabama. Nine "teenage negroes" were arrested for assault. Rape charges where added, from the statements given by the white women, who were as well on the train.
(Victoria Price & Ruby Bates.)

Before the Jury

Mar 30, 1931

Grand jury indicts all nine Scottsboro boys for rape.
Olen Montgomery (17), Clarence Norris (19), Haywood Patterson (18), Ozie Powell (16), Willie Roberson (16), Charlie Weems (16), Eugene Williams (13), & Brothers Andy (19) and Roy Wright (13).

Decisions

Apr 6, 1931

On April 6-9, before Judge A. E. Hawkins, Clarence Norris and Charlie Weems are convicted and sentenced to death.
Haywood Patterson was convicted and sentenced to death.
Olen Montgomery, Ozie Powell, Willie Roberson, Eugene Williams, and Andy Wright are also convicted & sentenced to death. For Roy Wright, at only age13, the jury asked for only life imprisonment, but a vote ended up giving him the death penalty as well.

Evidence Arises

Jan 5, 1932

Ruby Bates (one of the rape victims) denies that she was raped in a letter she had sent to her boyfriend, Earl Streetman.

Bigger Than Need Be

May 1, 1932

The U.S Senate announced they were going to look over the case of the Scottsboro Boys.
Later in November ,The Supreme Court, voted to reverse the convictions of the Scottsboro boys. The grounds of reversal are that Alabama failed to provide adequate assistance required by the process of the 14th Amendment.

Indecisive Judgment

Jun 22, 1933

After many protests and rebellious group actions, Judge Horton sets Haywood Patterson's conviction aside to grant a new trial. Only for this to quickly be dropped after the case is transfered to a new judge in October. Haywood Patterson and Clarence Norris are tried for rape, convicted, and sentenced to death in November.

Bribed?

Oct 1, 1934

Two lawyers are charged with charges stating they had attempted to bribe Victoria Price in order to change her testimony.

U.S Senate

Jan 1, 1935

The U. S. Supreme Court agrees to review the most recent Scottsboro convictions.

Attacking

Jan 24, 1936

Ozzie Powell was shot in the head by Sheriff Jay Sandlin while he was attacking Deputy Sheriff Edgar Blalock by slicing his throat with a knife. (both the sheriff and Ozzie live)

Charges for 4 of the Boys

Jul 1, 1937

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

4 boys released.

Jul 24, 1937

Roy Wright,
Eugene Williams,
Olen Montgomery &
Willie Roberson were released after every charge was dropped against them.

Rape Charges

Jul 27, 1937

Rape charges against the Scottsboro Boys are dropped.

Thanks Governor

Jul 5, 1938

As for Clarence Norris's death sentence, it was reduced to life in prison by Governor Graves.

Paroled

Jun 1, 1946

Norris, Andy Wright & Ozzie Powell are paroled.
(paroled: release of a prisoner temporarily or permanently before the completion of a sentence).

Manslaughter

Sep 1, 1951

Life becomes rough for boys in prison especially for Haywood Patterson. He becomes involved in a fight resulting in killing a another man; he is later charged with murder.
Patterson is convicted of manslaughter and is sentenced to 6-15 years more in prision. He dies of cancer less than a year later.

Last Survivor

Jan 23, 1989

At age 76, Clarence Norris, the last surviving Scottsboro boy dies.

Long Overdue

Apr 13, 2013

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley signs legislation finally pardoning all nine Scottsboro Boys.