Letter from Eloise H. Lawrence in Elmira, New York, to Gov. B. M. Miller in Montgomery, Alabama.

Letter from Eloise H. Lawrence in Elmira, New York, to Gov. 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

Eloise Lawrence, a student of criminology, writes to the Governor that she hopes some of the funding for institutions of punishment could be better used for education in matters of "social intelligence." She hopes that in the future the state will not be so fast to treat people criminally or to give the death sentence.

Lawrence, Eloise H.

Alabama Governor, Scottsboro Case appeals to the Governor, SG004238, Folder 13, Alabama Dept. of Archives and History

1933-04-12

Letter

English

United States--New York--Elmira

Elmira
APR
8 PM
1933
N. Y.


Gov. B. M. Miller
Montgomery, Alabama.


April 12, 1933.
Gov. B. M. Miller 410 James st.,
Montgomery, Alabama. Elmira, N.Y.

Dear Governor Miller :

I am writing to
assist, if I can, in sparing the
lives of the Scottsboro colored boys.
I believe the boys are
innocent, and as a student of
criminology, it seems to me
much better to devote some of
the money, that state institutions
of punishment require, to education
in the schools - along the line of
social intelligence. And until this
has had sufficient time to prove
its' worth, all states show consider-
ation with criminals that <u>are</u>
criminals because of ignorance.


And, at the same time, those states
also hesitate to deal out a death
sentence, where there is not
certainty of guilt.
My interest is real
in this case and I trust it
may turn out for the best.


Very respectfully yours,
Eloise H. Laurence.