Letter in Oakland, California, to Hon. The Governor of Alabama.

Dublin Core

Title

Letter in Oakland, California, to Hon. The Governor of Alabama.

Subject

Scottsboro Trial, Scottsboro, Ala., 1931; African Americans--Civil rights--Alabama; African Americans--Imprisonment--Alabama; Miller, Benjamin Meek, 1864-1944

Description

This anonymous letter suggests that African Americans should have never come to the United States, but that the people of Alabama could "wipem all out in a few days." The sender insists that the Scottsboro Boys be given a new trial so that they could be "framed up" on a more difficult charge than rape.

Creator

Author unknown

Source

Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004234, Folder 32, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History

Date

1931-06-20

Format

Letter

Language

English

Coverage

United States--California--Oakland

Text Item Type Metadata

Transcription


Scottsboro

Oakland in California
20 june 1931
Hon. The Governor
of Alabama

A wide public interest, and justifiably public,
has been aroused in the case of eight to be
burned following what has been alleged to have
been a framing a Scottsboro.
Of course, it would have been better if no
niggers had occupied this land of ours-but
what effect can the killing of only eight pos-
sibly have? That's not even retail killing;
I am sure the gallant people of Alabama could
wipem all out in a few days. This idea that
legal process should be used is as old fashioned
as Shakespere, who in 2 Henry VI had the cardinal
say of duke Humphrey
That he should die is worthy policy,
But yet we want a color for his death;
'Tis meet he be condemned by course of law.
That's all right for small or individual deals
as here in 1917 when those who had been annoyed
by Mooney got their genial little district attorney
to pin a horrible crime on him and associates.
But in your case there is not even a crime in
credible evidence. We all know that an unsupported
mention of rape against a nigger is as good as
conviction-that's too easy, it does no credit to
the state of Alabama to have such a charge framed.
I respectfully suggest you recommend the
attorney general agree to a new trial, in which
they can be framed on a more difficult base.

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