Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-07-23

III was IIIC 1l11tI11 cb4l-W IAIOC
celebrated Scottsboro case, TO
boys in March, 1881, on a fra
white girls who were hoboing on a
freight train.
A few minutes after the jurors
returned the death verdict against
Norris they were laughing up
roariously as they started toward
the clerks office to get their pay
and before they were out of ear
shot of the court room.
Weems Case Postponed
Norris, who sat deadly calm and
still during the short, rushed trial,
showed the first sign of emotion
when he leaned forward as soon
as the horrible words, ave find
the defendant guilty and fix his
punishment at DEATH" were read
by John H. Green, clerk of the
court. Samuel Leibowitz, chief Of
defense counsel, announced imme-
diately that an appeal would be
taken.
The case of Charlie Weems
which, in accordance with the time
table schedule set by Judge w. w.
"Speed" Callahan, was to come up
the same day that Norris trial
ended, July Is, was postponed for
a week because of the illness of
Clarence Watts, Huntsville, Ala,
attorney aiding the defense. Watts
told the court that the long, hard
hours fixed by Callahan and the
sultry weather had been more than
his constitution could stand.
Judge Callahan pressed him as
to whether he felt he could pro-
coed on Monday, July 10, in the
trial of Andy Wright. Watts re-
piled he would have to consult his
doctor.
Judge Aus PROSECUTION
The jury began its "deibera-
lions" at IL a. m, taking an hour
out for lunch, and reported its
verdict at 2:48. 1t was the quick
est verdict since the original coun-
try fair trials at Scottsboro, which
the United States Supreme Court
reversed because the defendants
were not permitted adequate rep
resentation by counsel.
Judge Callahan charged the
jury in two-hour speech in which
he labelled himself the best law
yer on the side of the prosecu-
ton. He closely paralleled the
prejudiced charges he has deliv-
cred to the juries in the three
other Scottsboro cases over which
he has presided.
He actually convicted Norris on
every count, no matter on which
part of the train he was or what
he did. He covered all POSSIBLE
ties of excluding any testimony
that would free the boy. In legal
Technology he condemned any
Negro of rape who took part in
the fight with a group of white
boys on the train.
At the end of his charge to the
jury, Clarence Watts, Alabama
born attorney, exclaimed:
'"That is an indictment of a
race!"
Callahan also glorifed the testi-
mony of Victoria Price and en-
deavored to Offset testimony dam
aging to her reputation. R. S.
Watson and L. Wallace, two for
mer deputy sheriffs of Huntsville,
the home town of Mrs. Price, had
testified that her reputation was
such that they would not believe
n6T uuucT OdLu' NealloIldAl IOAu IliC
jury:
"a woman of bad character could
tell the truth. All you have to find
out is whether she did tell it"
He added that it was necessary
that her testimony be corroborated.
He also gave his own rebuttals for
many of the charges the defens
had him read to clear Norris.
Impudently indicting the Negro
people as a race of "rapists," Cal
lahan told the jury that social and
racial characteristics may be con-
sidered by the jury"
Girls Story Contradictory
The main witness for the State
was Victoria Price who, fiustered
and fidgety under cross examina-
ton, involved herself in a mess of
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