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HISTORY: THE SCOTTSBORO TRIALS*          

On March 25, 1931, a freight train was stopped in Paint Rock, a small town in Alabama. Nine young African-American men who had been riding the rails from Tennessee to Alabama were arrested. Two white women, one underage, accused the men of raping them while on the train. Within a month, one man was found guilty and sentenced to death. A series of sensational trials followed based on the testimony of the older woman, a known prostitute. The prostitute was attempting to avoid prosecution under the Mann Act, which prohibited taking a minor across state lines for immoral purposes, like prostitution. Although none of the men were executed, a number of them remained on death row for many years. The last defendant was released in 1950. There are several striking parallels between Tom Robinson’s trial in To Kill a Mockingbird and the Scottsboro trials, as seen in the following chart.

The Scottsboro Trials	Tom Robinson's Trial
The trials took place in th 1930s.	The trial occurs in the 1930s.
The trials took place in northern Alabama.	The trials takes place in southern Alabama.
The trials began with a rape charge made by white women against African-American men.	The trial begins with a rape charge made by a white woman against an African-American man.
The poor white status of accusers was a critical issue.	The poor white status of Mayella is a critical issue.
The central figure was a heroic judge, James E. Horton, a member of the Alabama Bar who overturned a guilty jury verdict against the African-American men.	The central figure is Atticus Finch, lawyer, legislator, and member of the Alabama Bar, who defends an African-American man.
The first juries failed to include any African Americans, a situation which caused the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the guilty verdict.	The verdict is rendered by a jury of poor white residents of Old Sarum.
This judge went against public sentiment in trying to protect the rights of the African-American defendants.	Atticus arouses anger in the entire community in trying to defend Tom Robinson.
The jury ignored evidence; for example, that the women suffered no injuries.	The jury ignores evidence; for example, that Tom has a useless left arm.
Attitudes about Southern women and poor whites complicated the trial.	Attitudes about Southern women and poor whites complicate the trial.

*Special thanks to One Book One Chicago for the information on this page. Used with their permission.