The Scottsboro Boys Timeline

How It All Started

Mar 25, 1931

Eugene Williams, Roy Wright, Andy Wright, Olen Montgomery, Charlie Weems, Clarence Norris, Haywood , Ozie Powell and Willie Powell were all accused of raping two women Ruby Bates and Victoria Price. The boys were on a train travling to find work when a white male stepped on one of the boys' hands. A fight broke out and shortly after the train stopped, Ruby and Victoria claimed they wer sexually assaulted by the young black men.

The Scottsboro Boys Timeline

Period: Mar 25, 1931 to Jan 23, 1989

Death Threats

Mar 26, 1931

The boys were nearly lynched by an angry mob.

NAACP

Jan 1, 1932

The NAACP draws from the Scottsboro Boys Case.

Ruby Bates Confession

Apr 6, 1933

Ruby Bates denies any account of sexual assault and comments that she was with Victoria Price the whole train ride.

Death Sentence

Nov 1, 1933

November-December the death sentence for Patterson and Norris was finallized.

Victoria's Bribe

Oct 1, 1934

Two lawyers were arrested in Nashville for bribing Victoria Price with $1,500 to change her story. The lawyers never did get convicted.

Norris v. Alabama

Apr 1, 1935

The U.S. Surpreme Court rules that not having black jury roles wasn't giving the young men their equal rights.

Charges

Jul 24, 1935

Sexual assault charges dropped from Olen Montgomery, Willie Roberson, Eugene Williams, and Roy Wright.

Additional African American Jurors

Dec 1, 1935

The U.S Supreme Court adds Allan Knight Chalmers and made him chairman and Clarence Watts an attorney to co-council.

Patterson

Jan 23, 1936

Patterson was gound guilty and was given 75 years in prison.

Norris

Jul 12, 1937

July 12-16 Norris is given death sentence and Watts becomes ill from stress, pressure, and prison conditions.

Wright

Jul 20, 1937

July 20-21 Wright is given conviction and 99 years in prison.

Weems

Jul 22, 1937

July 22-23 Weems given 75 years in prison and conviction.

Powell

Jul 23, 1937

July 23-24 Powell pleads guilty to assaulting the white men and is given 20 years in prison. The sexual assault charges are dropped.

Released

Jan 1, 1944

Andy Wright and Clarence Norris were released on parole and continue on and off parole throughout the year.

Patterson

Dec 1, 1951

Patterson was convicted and sentenced 6 to 15 years for manslaughter.

Patterson

Aug 1, 1952

Patterson dies of cancer.

Roy Wright

Aug 1, 1959

Roy Wright dies.

Clarence Norris

Jan 1, 1989

Clarence Norris dies.