Scottsboro Trial Timeline

Train Ride

Mar 25, 1931

Nine African-American teenagers along with two white girls leave a train where police are already waiting. The police had been waiting because the nine teenagers had gotten into a fight earlier that day on the trian with seven white men. When they all left the train, the two girls claimed the nine teenagers had raped them. Images From: "Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos)." Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. <http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/project

Scottboro Trial

Period: Mar 25, 1931 to Apr 19, 2013

PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_scotts.html
"The Trials of The Scottsboro Boys." The Trials of The Scottsboro Boys. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/scottsb.htm "Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos)." Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_imag.html

Trials Begin

Apr 6, 1931

Scottsboro, Alabama. Judge A. E. Hawkins

Sentenced Death But Placed Behind Bars

Apr 11, 1931

The nine teenagers were given the sentence of death but guards put them in jail instead.

Ruby Bates Letter

Jan 5, 1932

Ruby Bates sends a letter saying that she was not raped. Ruby Bates (Image) Found at: "Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos)." Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_imag.html

U.S. Supreme Court Reviews Case

May 1, 1932

Second Trial

Mar 27, 1933

Haywood Patterson is granted a second trial and is given the sentence of death to the electirc chair in April.

One Of Many Protests

May 7, 1933

Thousands of people march in Washington in protest against the Scottsboro Trials. Image From: "Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos)." Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_imag.htmlD.jpg

Another Trial

Jun 22, 1933

Haywood Patterson is given another trial and his sentence is pushed aside again.

Scottsboro Defense Committee is organized.

Dec 1, 1935

More information on this Event

Fourth Sentence

Jan 1, 1936

Haywood Patterson is tried a fourth time for rape and is given a sentence of seventy-five years in jail.

Released From Jail

Jul 24, 1937

Four of the nine men were released after their charges were lifted. This included Roy Wright, Olen Montgomery, Eugene Williams, and Willie Roberson. Image From: "Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos)." Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_imag.html

Clarence Norris's Sentence

Jul 5, 1938

Clarence Noriss's sentence to death is reduced to sentence to life.

Patterson Escapes Prison

Jul 1, 1948

Haywood Patterson escapes prison but is returned shortly after being arrested by the FBI in 1950.

Patterson Charged With Murder

Sep 1, 1951

Haywood Patterson is charged with murder after killing a man in a fight in December of 1950. He is given a sentence of 6-15 years in jail but dies not too long after. Haywood Patterson (Image) From: "Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos)." Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_imag.html

Last Living Scottsboro Boy Dies

Jan 23, 1989

Clarence Norris dies at 76 years old. Clarence Norris (Image) Found at:
"Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos)." Images of Scottsboro (trial-related Photos). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_imag.html