Letter from Anne Pierce in New York City, to Honorable B. M. Miller in Montgomery, Alabama.

Letter from Anne Pierce in New York City, to Honorable B. M. Miller in Montgomery, Alabama.

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

A Southern woman living in New York, Anne Pierce argues that, whether the Scottsboro Boys are guilty, their treatment in jail is "a relic of medieval torture quite indefensible." She writes that handling the youth in this manner does not help prevent future crimes, but just meets violence with violence.

Pierce, Anne

Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004235, Folder 13, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History

1931-11-10

Letter

English

United States--New York--New York

ANNE PIERCE
61 WEST NINTH STREET
NEW YORK CITY
STUYVESANT-NINE 2050

Scottsboro
November 10, 1931



Honorable B.M. Miller
Montgomery
Alabama

Dear Sir:

As a Southern woman, may I add my word of protest on behalf
of the boys involved in the Scottsboro case ? It adds no-
thing to the fair reputation of the South to treat boys,
whatever their color, in such a manner. To deny them access
to their parents and to have them continually witness exe-
cutions, this seems to be a relic of mediaeval torture quite
indefensible and without purpose even if they are guilty and
most outrageous if they are not. In the latter case they will
be released to struggle with public life with this imprint
upon them.

In this day of psychology and child welfare and the study of
youth, it is certainly very retroactive for an intelligent
State to handle its youth in this manner, whatever their be-
havior. I wish, therefore, to add the protest of a Southern
woman, although I live at present in New York, against the
unintelligent handling of such matters. History proves that
it does nothing to prevent future crime but only increases
resentment and misunderstanding. Niether from the individual
nor from the social point of view can anything be said for
meeting violence with violence in such a manner.


Yours truly,
<u>Anne Pierce</u>

AP:ED