NEGROES’ TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1933, Page 5

NEGROES’ TRIAL

FOR ASSAULT ON WHITE GIRLS BIG AMERICAN SENSATION (United Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) NEW YORK, November 19. A mesage from Decatur, Alabama, states that the third trial of seven negro youths, charged with a criminal | assault on two white girls, starts toI morrow, under unusual tension. The case has become one not only of national, but international interest threatening to rival that of Sacco and : Vc-nzetti. j These seven youths have twice been I convicted and sentenced to death, but ! a Communist-supported defence, has | twice gained them re-trials, -one on a i Supreme Court reversal. The injection of Communism into the case has i so enraged the local populace that mob revenge, not only against- the negroes, but their New York legal aides, is continually threatened. Many times dur- ! ing the litigation troops have been ■called out to protect them. It may bo necessary to do so again. “Defence committees” have been organised throughout the world, and have repeatedly demonstrated- before American empassies and consulates. The alleged attacks took place in a railway goods car while in transit. , The negroes’ defenders claim -that i the two girls were of immoral character, and that they accused the negroes to hide their own delinquencies. However, in the minds of the Alabama people, their system of justice is on the triaj against “alien” influences, and they are demanding convictions and dentil sentences.