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Race, Rape, and Clarence Darrow: The Spectacular Last Case of the Legendary Attorney

Thomas Powell

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Clarence Darrow Delivering His Closing Argument In The Scottsboro Boys Trial Honor Killing: Race Rape And Clarence Darrow S Spectacular Last Case

Honor Killing: Race, Rape, and Clarence Darrow's Spectacular Last Case

by David E. Stannard

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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In 1934, Clarence Darrow, the legendary attorney, took on his final case: defending a black man accused of raping a white woman in a small Southern town. The trial was a sensation, and Darrow's closing argument was one of the most powerful and moving speeches of his career.

The case involved nine black teenagers who were accused of raping two white women on a train in Alabama. The trial was moved to Decatur, Alabama, a town with a population of just over 5,000 people. The jury was all white, and the judge was a former Confederate soldier.

Darrow argued that the boys were innocent and that they had been falsely accused by the white women. He pointed out that there was no physical evidence to support the women's claims and that the boys had been coerced into confessing. He also argued that the trial was unfair because the jury was all white.

The jury found the boys guilty, and they were sentenced to death. Darrow appealed the verdict, but the Supreme Court upheld the convictions. The boys were eventually released from prison after serving 10 years.

Darrow's closing argument was a powerful and moving plea for justice. He argued that the boys were innocent and that they had been denied a fair trial. He also spoke out against the racism that was rampant in the South at the time.

"We are living in a country where the color of a man's skin determines whether he is guilty or innocent," Darrow said. "This is a crime against justice."

Darrow's closing argument is still considered one of the most powerful and moving speeches in American history. It is a reminder of the importance of fighting for justice and equality.

The Trial

The trial of the Scottsboro Boys began on March 25, 1931. The jury was selected from a pool of white men, and the judge was a former Confederate soldier. The prosecution presented its case first, calling the two white women to the stand. The women testified that they had been raped by the boys on a train.

The defense then called its witnesses, including the boys themselves. The boys testified that they had been falsely accused and that they had been coerced into confessing. They also presented evidence that there was no physical evidence to support the women's claims.

The jury deliberated for several hours before finding the boys guilty. The boys were sentenced to death.

The Appeals

Darrow appealed the verdict, arguing that the boys had been denied a fair trial. The Supreme Court initially upheld the convictions, but Darrow continued to appeal. In 1932, the Supreme Court reversed its decision and Free Downloaded a new trial.

The second trial was held in Decatur, Alabama, in 1933. The jury again found the boys guilty, but this time they recommended mercy. The judge sentenced the boys to life in prison.

Darrow continued to appeal the verdict, but the Supreme Court upheld the convictions. The boys were eventually released from prison after serving 10 years.

Darrow's Closing Argument

Darrow's closing argument was one of the most powerful and moving speeches of his career. He argued that the boys were innocent and that they had been denied a fair trial. He also spoke out against the racism that was rampant in the South at the time.

"We are living in a country where the color of a man's skin determines whether he is guilty or innocent," Darrow said. "This is a crime against justice."

Darrow's closing argument is still considered one of the most powerful and moving speeches in American history. It is a reminder of the importance of fighting for justice and equality.

The Legacy of the Scottsboro Boys Trial

The Scottsboro Boys trial was a landmark case in American history. It helped to raise awareness of the racism that was rampant in the South at the time. It also helped to pave the way for the civil rights movement.

The boys were eventually exonerated, but their case is still a reminder of the injustices that African Americans have faced in this country. It is also a reminder of the importance of fighting for justice and equality.

Honor Killing: Race, Rape, and Clarence Darrow's Spectacular Last Case

by David E. Stannard

4.6 out of 5