Scottsboro Alabama

The case of the Scottsboro Boys arose in Alabama during the 1930s, when nine black youths ranging in age from thirteen to nineteen, were accused of raping two white women, one of whom would later recant. The trials, in which the boys were convicted and sentenced to death by all-white juries despite the weak and contradictory stories of the prosecution witnesses, are regarded as one of the travesties of the American justice system. The case quickly became an international cause célebre and the boys were represented by the Communist Party's legal defense organization. The death sentences, originally scheduled to be carried out quickly, were postponed pending appeals that took the case all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court, which overturned the sentences. Scottsboro Florists, Flowers, Florist Shops - Alabama (AL) You can find a local flower shops & florists in Scottsboro, Alabama (AL) listed in our florist. Despite the fact that one of the women later denied being raped, the retrials resulted in convictions. All of the defendants were eventually acquitted, paroled, or pardoned (besides one who simply escaped), some after serving years in prison. The trial of the fictional character Tom Robinson in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired by this case.

The beginnings

On March 25, 1931, a fight broke out between black and white hobos riding in a car of a Southern Railway freight train. All the white men and boys, except Orville Gilley were forced to jump off. When the train stopped in Paint Rock, Alabama, the nine black youths were arrested on charges of assault. Click here for descriptions and pictures of Scottsboro, Alabama area Bed & Breakfasts and Country Bed & Breakfasts located in the Scottsboro, Alabama Area: 2 B&Bs located in Scottsboro: 1 B&B.