The Scottsboro Boys

Scottsboro Boys Arrested

Mar 25, 1931

VideoThe Scottboro boys get in a fight with a group of white men and were arrested on charges of assault. Rape charges are later added when 2 girls falsing accuse them. Sources:
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/scottsboro-boys-trial-and-defense-campaign-1931-1937
http://jackiewhiting.net/Collab/CivRts/ScottsBoys.htm
photo: creative commons

Scottboro Boys Indicted

Mar 30, 1931

indict The Grand Jury indicts all 9 Scottboro boys for rape. Sources:
http://jackiewhiting.net/Collab/CivRts/ScottsBoys.htm
photo:creative commons

Trial Begins

Apr 6, 1931

Trial begins in Scottsboro held by judge A.E.Hawkins. Sourses:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/sb_chron.html
Photo:http://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/589429

8 Boys Convicted

Apr 7, 1931

The trial of Roy Wright ends in a mistrial, while the other 8 boys are tried, convicted, and sentenced to death. Sources:
http://jackiewhiting.net/Collab/CivRts/ScottsBoys.htm
Photo:http://darrow.law.umn.edu/photo.php?pid=937

Alabama Supreme Court

Mar 24, 1932

The court affirms the convicton of 7 of the boys by a vote of 6-1. Because Eugene Wiliams was a juvenile, his case was reversed. Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/timeline/
photo:http://www.whitehousehistory.org/presentations/the-half-had-not-been-told-me/white-house.html

Powell vs Alabama

Nov 7, 1932

The convictions of the Scottsboro boys is reversed by the Supreme court in a vote of 7-2 becasue Alabama failed to provide proper assistance of counsel. Sources:
http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/timelines/a/Timeline-Of-Scottsboro-Boys.htm
Photo:http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-1456

Patterson & Powell

Jan 23, 1933

Haywood patterson, for the 4th time, is convicted of rape and senteced to 75 years in prison. The next day Ozzie Powell is shot in the head while attempting to attack Deputy Sheriff Edgar Balock. Sources:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_chron.html
Photo:http://scottsboroboystrial.blogspot.com/2010/05/ozzie-powell.html

Haywood Patterson

Apr 9, 1933

Haywood Patterson is found quilty and is sentenced to death by electric chair. This trial was later set aside by Judge Horton and Patterson was granted a new trial. Sources:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/sb_acct.html
Photo:http://www.wnyc.org/story/250323-scottsboro-civil-rights-milestone/

Patterson & Norris

Dec 1, 1933

Both Patterson and Norris are tried then convicted of rape. They are senteced to death which is later to be overturned in 1935. Sources:
http://www.whitehousehistory.org/presentations/the-half-had-not-been-told-me/white-house.html
Photo:http://tokillamockingbirdprojectpage.pbworks.com/w/page/22329428/Signs%20of%20the%20Times%20%20Civil%20Rights%20Collage

Conviction and Realses

Jul 1, 1937

Norris, Wright, and Weems are convicted of rape/assault and senenced to years in prison. Wright, Wiliams, Mongomery, and Roberson were realsed after charges were dropped against them. Sources:
http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/timelines/a/Timeline-Of-Scottsboro-Boys.htm
Photo:http://homer.gsu.edu/blogs/library/2010/11/12/hell-in-georgia-for-angelo-herndon-communist-organizer/scottsboro-boys/

Paroled

Period: Jan 8, 1944 to Apr 1, 1947

Weems, Norris, powell, & Wright are paroled. When Norris and Wright violate their paroles they are returned to prison, they later paroled again. Wright dies in August of 1959. Sources:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/sb_chron.html

Patterson

Jul 17, 1948

Haywood Patterson escaped prison for the second time and spends the next 3 years living underground. Sources:
http://homer.gsu.edu/blogs/library/2010/11/12/hell-in-georgia-for-angelo-herndon-communist-organizer/scottsboro-boys/
Photo:http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/SB_bPATT.html

Patterson

Dec 1, 1950

BiographyHaywood Patterson is now involved in a barroom fight and ends up killing the other man in what he claims was self defence. This resulted in Patteson being charged with murder. Haywood Patterson is later convicted of manslauter and sentenced to 6-15 years. He passes away in August 1952 from cancer less than one year after returning to prison. Sources:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/sc
Photo:http://www.africanafrican.com/negroartist/SCOTTSBORO BOYS1/

Clarence Norris

Oct 25, 1976

Biograpgy Norris is pardoned by AL Governor George Wallace. Clarence
Norris becomes they last living Scottsboro boy dying at age 76 on January 23 1989. Sources:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/scottsboro/peopleevents/p_norris.html
Photo:http://thescottsboroninecase.weebly.com/the-case.html

Scottsboro Boys Finally Free

Apr 19, 2013

Timeline VideoRobert Bently signs the legislation officially pardonign and exonerating ALL nine Scottsboro boys. Sources:
http://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2013/04/governor-bentley-signs-scottsboro-boys-legislation/
Photo:http://www.examiner.com/article/update-on-governor-robert-bentley-and-alabama-s-scientific-future