Clarence Norris Estate Seeks Restitution

"WAFF NEWS Ch 48 -  Scottsboro, Alabama - The estate of Clarence Norris is now seeking damages from the state for being wrongfully imprisoned. Hartline said the state passed a law in 2001, which allows people who receive pardons for being wrongfully accused to be eligible for $50,000 or more for each year spent in jail before the pardon was issued... 
Hartline said they are petitioning the state for 15 years, which equals a minimum of $750,000."  http://www.waff.com/story/25122195/estate-of-scottsboro-boy-sues-for-wrongful-imprisonment

Read the petition filed on behalf of Norris' estate here. Summary  |  Supporting documents



University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law Bio on Clarence Norris, Sr.- "Clarence Norris died in Bronx Community Hospital on Janurary 23, 1989 at the age of seventy-six.  He was, as the title of a book he helped write suggested, the last of the Scottsboro Boys."

"Norris was the second of eleven children born to Georgia sharecroppers.  He attended school only to second grade, then at age seven began working in the cotton fields.  Norris had a job in a Goodyear plant, working up to sixteen hours a day, when his girlfriend left and he decided to hit the railroad tracks."

"When Norris, who had been one of those involved in the train fight with white boys, was accused of rape he thought he "was as good as dead."  According to Norris, on the night before the first trial, he was removed from his cell, beaten and told to turn state's evidence if he wanted to save his life.  At the first trial in Scottsboro, Norris testified that theother blacks raped Price and Bates and that he alone was innocent: "They all raped her, everyone of them." "

"Norris's second conviction was overturned by the U. S. Supreme Court in the landmark case of Norris vs Alabama, which found Alabama's system of excluding blacks from jury rolls to violate the Fourteenth Amendment.  Norris was convicted a third time in 1937 (in what Norris termed "a Kangaroo Court"), and again sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison by Governor Graves.  Norris was bitter over developments which left him and four others in prison, while four boys were released.  He believed that he was paying the price for their freedom.
Norris fought often in prison.  One incident in 1943 landed him ten days in the hole with only a blanket, bread, and water.  Another incident brought on a beating with a leather strap. "

"Norris was first paroled in 1944.  He moved to New York in violation of his parole, and was returned to prison.  In 1946, he was a paroled a second time.  He got a job shoveling coal in Cleveland for three years, then moved to New York City.  Unemployed in 1956, Norris visited Samuel Liebowitz who arranged a job for him as a dishwasher. "

"In the 1960's, Norris asked the help of the NAACP in obtaining a pardon from the State of Alabama.  Norris had violated parole when he left Alabama and was a fugitive subject to parole revocation and a return to prison.  A successful full-scale campaign was mounted, and in 1976 Norris received his pardon from Governor George Wallace."  http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/scottsboro/SB_bSBs.html#The%20Scottsboro%20Boys

Alabama Heritage, Summer 2012, The Improbable Pardon of Clarence Norris: http://www.alabamaheritage.com/Scottsboro/ALH_Reidy_Awaiting%20Justice.pdf

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley Ceremoniously Signs Scottsboro Boys Pardon at the Museum in Scottsboro

The Scottsboro Defendants with their Attorney Samuel Liebowitz. Alabama National Guard flank the defendants on the left and right. University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law presentation of the case which changed American Jurisprudence: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scottsboro/scottsb.htm

 

AP-Video: The Scottsboro Boys Pardon, Decades in the Making

 

 

"The governor officially signed Senate Bill 97, legislation that allows for posthumous pardons, on April 11 so it could meet its deadline. The defendants known as the Scottsboro Boys still have to be officially pardoned by the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. The governor also signed House Joint Resolution 20, a resolution sponsored by Representative John Robinson that formally exonerates the Scottsboro Boys." http://www.theclarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6082:governor-bentley-signs-legislation-exonderating-the-scottsboro-boys&catid=42:clarion-rotation-stories&Itemid=142

 

Huntsville Times - Al.com:

"SCOTTSBORO, Alabama - Nine boys lined the center aisle of Joyce Chapel United Methodist Church, each waiting his turn to walk to the alter rail.
One-by-one the black youths moved forward, some shuffling their feet, nervous at the thought of speaking in front of so many people, others stepping confidently to the task at hand.
At the rail, each would light one of nine white candles, then turn to the people crowding the pews and announce in whose memory it was lit." http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/04/the_black_and_white_of_the_sco.html

"Clarence Norris Jr. was able to fill in some pieces of his childhood this morning when Gov. Robert Bentley signed historic legislation posthumously exonerating the nine young men known as the Scottsboro Boys, one of whom was Norris' father, a man he never knew." http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/04/post_1132.html

(Fair Use - educational not for profit)"al.com" photo by/Bob Gathnay

Slide Show of event: http://photos.al.com/huntsville-times/2013/04/scottsboro_boys_legislation_1.html

 

Early Scottsboro Boys Museum history photo-video

 

(Photo video by Garry Morgan)

Video of the Pardon Event


(You Tube video by Left in Alabama)

Sheriff Matt Wann, a brave man and the untold story, secrets and questions, the story of a murder. UPDATE: May 25, 2019

The continuing saga of the Scottsboro Boys case. The Story of Jackson County Sheriff Matt Wann and his murder raises questions due to local stories concerning involvement of the Ku Klux Klan in Sheriff Wann's murder in the early morning hours of May 3, 1932. He saved the lives of the 9 Scottsboro Defendants on the night of March the 25th, 1931 from an angry mob of Ku Klu Klan by preventing them from lynching the defendants. Several local stories have been told that Sheriff Wann's murder was connected to a conspiracy by law enforcement officials and local Ku Klux Klan leadership. (Click on images for an expanded view.)
.
The truth of this case must be told. Did a conspiracy to murder the Sheriff occur or was this an insane act by one individual? A magical through his brother trajectory shoot and subsequent disappearance of Harry Hambrick? If a conspiracy did not occur, why all the stories of conspiracy by reliable citizens and officials of our community?
.
The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc., (ODMP) listing for Sheriff Matt Wann: http://www.odmp.org/officer/13823-sheriff-matt-wann The Sheriff erroneously placed the handcuffs on Harry Hambrick's brother, Arthur. It was Harry Hambrick for which the warrant for arrest was being served and who shot Sheriff Wann. This description per report from the May, 5, 1932 Jackson County Sentinel newspaper as reported by the Officers present and Arthur Hambrick. (This was one year and one month past the "Scottsboro Boys Case" Trials. )
.
Update: October 29, 2010 A search of Jackson County Circuit Court records disclosed the following information related to the case of Sheriff Wann's murder by suspect Harry Hambrick on May 3, 1932. A search was completed for the Grand Jury Records for the period 1932. Book 6 for the Summer Term of 1932 was missing. The Spring term of 1932, Book 5 was located, it ended in March of 1932. There were no other Grand Jury records after the Spring Term of 1932 that could be located.
.
The arrest warrant records for the period of 1932 were located and reviewed. There was no warrant issued for the arrest of Harry Hambrick during 1932 or any time after the May 3, 1932 date. There was also no warrant found concerning desertion which was the alleged reason Sheriff Wann was at the Hambrick home. This is very suspicious, it would be a normal act to issue an arrest warrant for the individual that was suspected of murdering the Jackson County Sheriff, particularly when there were 4 witnesses to the act of murder, 3 being law enforcement officers.


Image of Sheriff Wann in the Jackson County Sentinel 2 days after his death, May 5th 1932. It was alleged that Sheriff Wann was murdered by Harry Hambrick a short time after midnight on May 3, 1932 between Scottsboro and Larkinsville, Alabama while serving a warrant for the arrest of Harry Hambrick for the failure to support his wife, charged with desertion.
.
Matt Wann was a Mason and as reported he was buried with much ceremony in a Masonic burial the following Thursday, ceremonies were held at the First Baptist Church of Scottsboro.
.
Report listed in the May 5th, 1932 edition of the Jackson County Sentinel (paraphrased). "Sheriff Wann knocked on the door of the residence, no one came to the door initially. Sheriff Wann sent the officers accompanying him, Houston Dicus, Henry Jones, Wayne Phillips to the sides and rear of the home west of Scottsboro on the Larkinsville Road below the home of Miller Kelly. The house was dark, except for the light of the flashlights of the officers shinning through the windows. The report states that a man came to the door after Sheriff Wann announced that he was there to arrest Harry Hambrick. According to the news article the Sheriff asked, "are you Harry Hambrick," the man replied, "I am Hambrick," Wann replied, "you are under arrest." Sheriff Wann proceeded to place handcuffs on Hambrick. The news report states, "the man Sheriff Wann placed the cuffs on was not Harry Hambrick but his brother Arthur Hambrick."
.
The report describes the fatal event after placing the handcuffs on Arthur Hambrick, "Harry Hambrick produced a shotgun, fired over his brothers shoulder striking Sheriff Wann directly in the heart killing him." As reported in the Jackson County Sentinel Officer Jones shouted to Hambrick after the shooting, "you come out of the house with that shotgun I'll kill you." Harry Hambrick reportedly threw the shotgun onto the floor then mysteriously escaped into "the bottoms.""
.
Harry Hambrick was never captured or seen again. In the following weeks local papers tell the story of a southeastern man hunt for Harry Hambrick. He was described as follows: "A young man age 20, 5ft. 8in. tall, weight 130 pounds, has light hair, freckles, tattooing described as a woman on one arm and a heart on the other. He is talkative, very friendly, easily acquainted with strangers, appears younger than his appearance. He is of above average intelligence and easily mistaken for a farm boy of 16 or 17 years of age and did not have a "criminal appearance."" The local newspaper goes on to describe the magical Hambrick as "in a class of shrewd criminals... he may be hiding locally or distant places."
.
There is the question, why were charges never brought forth to try Hambrick in absentia, after all, there were several witnesses, namely the law officers present? Justice has not been served in this case.

Sheriff Matt Wann, Sheriff of Jackson County 1931-1932. Photo posted in the Sheriffs Office lobby in the Jackson county courthouse.

.

Sheriff Wann was survived by his wife Stella Rorex Wann and children Billie Jack and Robert Wann. Earnest Parks was appointed Guardian ad Litem for the minor children, Will Book 16, Pages 339-340.

.

Clarence Norris - In the book, "The Man From Scottsboro," by Dr. Kwando M. Kinshasa, who interviewed Clarence Norris prior to his death, Norris relates that Sheriff Wann was one of the white men that was responsible for saving the Scottsboro defendants lives. (Bio of Dr. Kinshasa- http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/faculty/kwando-mbiassi-kinshasa  Unfortunately, the link is no longer active.) Active link, "An Interview with Dr. Kwando M. Kinshasa, John Jay College"   http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2007/FEB/html/cov-drkwando.html

.

Norris reported that Sheriff Wann stood in the door of the jail and told the mob that he would kill any of them that attempted to take his prisoners. Norris also reported in the book that Sheriff Wann was murdered for his efforts of keeping the mob from lynching the defendants.

Reports from citizens and news reports. - A mob of Ku Klux Klan and angry whites had gathered outside the jail the night of the "Scottsboro Boys" arrest on March 25th 1931. The mob had the intentions of breaking the prisoners out of jail and lynching the prisoners as had occurred in Marion, Indiana 5 months previous. Sheriff Wann contacted the Governor the night of March 25th and requested the assistance of the National Guard.

.

The National Guard arrived on March 26, 1931 and lent support to the Jackson County Sheriff until the decision was made to transport the prisoners to Gadsden, Alabama as their security could not be assured at the Jackson County Alabama Jail.

.

Allegations of Conspiracy to Murder. There are allegations that a conspiracy occurred related to Sheriff Wann's murder due to him not allowing a mob to lynch the Scottsboro Defendants. As the story goes, law enforcement officials were connected to the local Ku Klux Klan and the Klan leadership was angry that Sheriff Wann would stand in the way of "Klan justice."

.

Inquiry to the Sheriff 's Office reveals there are no Reports of Investigation relating to this case.

.

Other information gained in this research. In accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama at the time, it was reported that Coroner A.H. McAnelly became the acting Sheriff. Additional reports indicated that a petition would go forward to the Governor for the appointment of Mrs. Wann as the Sheriff, that never occurred, T.W. McBryde was appointed Sheriff.

.

Sheriff Wann owned 126 acres in Township 4, Range 8 east, section 18 Jackson County Alabama, just northeast of Pisgah, Al. town limits, Deed Book 74, page 386. Sheriff Wann had money on deposit in the Tennessee Valley Bank which Mrs. Wann attempted to be reimbursed via a claims process after the bank's failure. A case is recorded in Will Book 16 pages 339-340. The index lists the cases erroneously as being in Book 17. Also, there was a Case involving Mrs. Wann as the Executrix of Matt Wann's estate concerning the Federal Land Bank. This case is indexed as being in Deed Book 87, page 408, the case record could not be located. The records on page 408 or adjacent pages do not pertain to the "Wann" case.

.

There is an old saying, "the truth is always better than fiction." Such is the story concerning the murder of Jackson County Sheriff Matt Wann. For Sheriff Wann and the law enforcement community of Jackson County, the truth must be revealed for justice to occur. For the citizens of Jackson County, our history must reflect the truth concerning the continuing saga of the case known as the "Scottsboro Boys Trials."

.

An Ode to a Sheriff from "The Odes" in part,

A story of an Odd Fellow from the heart.

*

The restless wings of time hath brought

the parting moment near.

The bell that tolls the midnight chime,

will knell a glorious day-

The memory of a forgotten time,

shall never fade away.

.

Farewell ye Brothers true and bold!

This day to you shall be.

O'er prejudice and slander old;

The Day of Victory;

And they who barr'd our infant way

Shall cheer our mighty youth,

And own the noble power to-day,

Of Friendship, Love and Truth.

.

The story of Matt Wann is told,

So the "Pale Face" may n'er agin be so bold,

Thus-this story of murder is told.

Poem by Garry Morgan in part and in part from the Odd Fellows, "The Odes". 

Update:  While researching the Matt Wann story I came across this obituary for Matt Wann's son Robert E. "Bob" Wann. http://www.ajc.com/news/robert-e-bob-wann-971074.html "On Feb. 10, 13 World War II veterans received France's highest honor for the roles they played in the liberation of that country in 1944 and 1945. Staff Sgt. Robert E. "Bob" Wann was one of the recipients of the Legion of Honor...Nearly four months after receiving his medal, Mr. Wann of Decatur died Friday from complications of melanoma at VistaCare Hospice. He was 92. A funeral was held Tuesday at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home, which handled arrangements." Date of article, Wednesday June 8, 2011.

Sheriff Wann would have been proud of his son.  (This update 12/23/2011)

UPDATE -  May 25, 2019 - 1930 Census Info on Matt Wann - Matthew L. Wann, Estimated Birth Year 1877, at the time of Sheriff Wann's murder in 1932, he would have been near 55 yars of age.   https://www.fold3.com/image/158739537?rec=158739597

Scottsboro, Alabama - May 25, 2019 - A ceremony was held at the Scottsboro Boys Museum in Scottsboro, Alabama in memory of Jackson County Sheriff Matt Wann. Sheriff Wann's grandson and his family members were in attendance. Sheriff Wann's photo and history were placed on the museum's Wall of Remembrance of those who defended the 9 Scottsboro Defendants known as "The Scottsboro Boys." A Jackson County Sheriff's Department representative was in attendance.

Juneteenth Celebration at the Scottsboro Boys Museum

Dr. and Ms. Kinshasa receive a special gift, museum history and scrap book, from the Scottsboro Boys Museum Historian, Garry Morgan. (Photo by Darlene Korab)

Many thanks to Ms. Darlene Korab for answering the call for help in the photo department.

Dr Kwando Kinshasa visits Scottsboro, Huntsville Times pictures and story: http://media.al.com/breaking/photo/scottsboro-boys-15b8636e0b68c047.jpg http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/06/historian_hopes_to_bring_scott.html

Congressional Candidate Steve Raby, Democrat, 5th Congressional District was present with his family on Saturday at the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center. Steve is a down to earth person, a family man who cares about our area. I was very impressed with Mr. Raby.

The Juneteenth celebration at the Scottsboro Boys Museum & Cultural Center was a memorable event. 75 people ate with us for this Juneteenth celebration. BBQ rib plates, hamburgers, hot dogs and polish sausages were enjoyed by many participants. We started cooking the ribs at 9AM, by 10AM the smell of hickory smoked BBQ filled the air around the museum. An ominous threat of rain and a thunderstorm passed us by to the south. The Reverend R. L Shanklin prepared and cooked the ribs. I cooked the hot dogs, burgers and sausages. Rev. Shanklin's ribs were extraordinary, marinated overnight, cooked just right and continuously basted with just the right combination of sauce. Needless to say, we sold out of ribs. Many thanks to the following ladies: Ms. Cheryl Snodgrass Caffey for preparing the baked beans, and potato salad; Ms. Louise Johnson for coleslaw; Ms. Elizabeth Johnson for deviled eggs; ladies serving food were: Mayor Ann Martin, Ms. Betty Price and Ms. Loretta Stevens. A special thanks to Mr. Byron Green for all of his help and for bringing the "Big BBQ Cooker" and Mr. Tommy Miller of Scottsboro Meats for his "Big Cooker."

A very special thanks goes out to Mrs. Lynda Hodges who prepared food, flowers and table settings on Friday night to welcome Dr. and Mrs. Kinshasa to Scottsboro.

Many Thanks to the numerous retail businesses in Scottsboro who made contributions toward our event: Flowers Bread, Golden Flake Potato Chips, Little Debbie Pastries, Maples Rugs ( Thank you Mrs. Maples for the rug contribution. Many more thanks for your financial support of the museum.) Purity Ice Cream, Scottsboro Meat Market (Tommy Miller has a great grill for BBQing tons of food.) and WalMart, WalMart has made several contributions to us-,many thanks!

Mr. Charles Elliot provided opening prayer, Ms. Cheryl Snodgrass Caffey spoke about the meaning of the Juneteenth event. Mr. and Mrs. Gary Spears were presented with a gift of appreciation for their service to the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center.

Other speakers included Ms. Sheila Washington and Dr. Kenneth Pitts provided closing prayer. There were several singers to grace the halls of Joyce Chapel. Every time folks sing, the old Chapel enhances the beautiful sound of archipelago voices. Singers included Mr. Alex Ellison, Howard Branford and Mr. Franklin McDaniels. Mr. McDaniels brought his harmonica and once again the beautiful melodious notes resonated within the walls of the museum and chapel.

45 people stayed for Dr Kinshasa's presentation. Dr. Kinshasa is a moving speaker, he related to the group about the interview of Clarence Norris. He told of Norris' ordeals as related to him by Mr. Norris. In the video Mr. Norris spoke bluntly about his experiences on death row in Jim Crow Alabama. He spoke of Attorney General Knight and the Judges.

Dr. Kinshasa's account of the raid at Harper's Ferry was equally interesting. He told of the 5 African Americans who were on the raid with John Brown. One of the African Americans was Lewis Sheridan Leary. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Sheridan_Leary

He spoke about the 4 states of the Union which the Emancipation Proclamation did not apply which slavery was legal. They were Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky and Missouri, those states did not secede from the Union but practiced slavery.

Of equal interest was the revelation concerning Adolph Hitler sending an envoy to the southern states to study the justice system of the Jim Crow South.

Dr. Kinshasa's theme was that of the "exit, voice and loyalty framework" as it applies to African Americans and the Scottsboro Boys. "Exit, voice and loyalty" is a process which reflects a political community and peoples migration from tyranny. An oppressed people will flee an area of oppression to have their voice heard while remaining loyal to their cause and people. Such is the case of the Scottsboro Boys. As one examines the Scottsboro Boys mothers and families stricken by the horrors of tyrannical Jim Crow white supremacy, the framework of "exit, voice and loyalty" becomes very clear, particularly since the mothers of the Scottsboro Defendants traveled around the world in the attempts to gain justice and freedom for their children. Clarence Norris and Haywood Patterson escaped to tell their story. The Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center will continue to present the history of their struggles. As George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

>

 

Widow of the Last ‘Scottsboro Boy’ Dies

" Scottsboro Boys" under guard by the Alabama National Guard, April 1931.

Clarence Norris picture as it appeared in Life Magazine.

Link: Widow of the Last ‘Scottsboro Boy’ Dies