One of 20 people whose names were not reported
He was one of about twenty Black men in the custody of the State of Alabama who died on January 31, 1936, at the Scottsboro Prison Camp. That winter morning they were locked inside a caged transfer truck to be taken out to shovel snow and ice, and gasoline in the truck caught fire. Trapped behind the cage, the men could not escape the flames. Officials blamed the prisoners themselves, and the state later paid each family between $1,000 and $1,500. His name has been lost.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident. Officials blamed the prisoners for the fire, and the state later settled with the families for $1,000 to $1,500 each, per columnist John Archibald's account of the 1936 news reports.
Reported by: 1936 news accounts as described by columnist John Archibald (reporters).
Lawsuit: John Archibald's column reports that the state settled with the families for $1,000 to $1,500 each, but gives no exact amount.