GUILTY OF ASSAULT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19667, 8 December 1933, Page 6

GUILTY OF ASSAULT

DEATH SENTENCE ON NEGRO United Press Association—By Eloctrlo Telegraph—Copyright DECATUR (Alabama), Dec. 6. The Jury to-day convicted Clarence Norris, the second of the seven negroes who underwent a third trial for criminal assault on white girls. The sentence automatically carries the death penalty. The fate of the five remaining has been postponed pending the appeal of Patterson, who was condemned to death on December 1, and Norris. TA message from Decatur (Alabama), of November 19, stated that the third trial of seven negro youths charged with criminal assault on two white girls started under unusual tension The case has become or.r not only of national, but also c international, lnteitest, threatening to rival tl- of Sacco and Vanzet i. The youths were twice convicted and sentenced o death, bu the Com. uinlstsupported defence twice gained retrials, once on Supreme Court reversal. The injectlo: of Cor lunism Into the case so c.raged Ih- local populace that mob revenge, not onlv against the negroes, but also their New York legal advisers, was continually threatened. During the litigation troops were called out to protect them. "Defence committees' have been organist.’, throughout the world, and have repeatedly demonstrated before American Embassies and Consulates. It Is alleged that the attacks took place in a rnllwav goods ear while In transit. The defenders of the negroes claim that the girls are of immoral character, and acn: ■, the negroes to hid- their own delinquencies. However, in the minds of Alabama people theli . Justice win. on trial against alien" influences, and th-v rlemsnde nonVlctim- nr. - »rth er.fenee-s 1