Devil in the Grove

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Devil in the Grove Page 49

by Gilbert King


  relationship with T. Marshall, 110–12, 206, 261, 360

  response to H. T. Moore assassination, 280

  Horne, Lena, 25, 333

  Hotel Theresa, Harlem, 28

  House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), 34, 153

  Housing discrimination, 137–38

  Houston, Bo (son of C. H. Houston), 195, 196

  Houston, Charles Hamilton (NAACP attorney), 24–25, 40, 106, 107, 189–90, 337

  illness and death of, 185, 195–97

  invites T. Marshall to work for NAACP, 42–43

  as mentor to T. Marshall, 8, 22, 197

  school inequalities study by, 42–43

  works with T. Marshall on cases, 42–43

  Houston, Henrietta (wife of C. H. Houston), 195

  Howard, Curtis (filling station attendant), 165, 193, 212, 228

  defense declines to cross-examine in W. Irvin retrial, 306–7

  suspicions about trial testimony of, 212, 213–15, 225, 304

  testimony in retrial of W. Irvin, 303–6

  Howard, James (father of Willie Howard), 100, 102, 103, 104

  Howard, Kim (daughter of Curtis Howard), 306

  Howard, Lula (mother of Willie Howard), 102, 103

  Howard, Willie James (lynching victim), 100–105

  Hughes, Langston, 25, 26, 333

  Hunter, Jesse (Florida state attorney), 84, 85, 87, 124, 144–45, 321

  alleged conspiracy of, with W. McCall, to kill Groveland Boys, 344–45

  attacks Bunin’s investigative report of Groveland Boys case, 200

  change in attitude toward T. Marshall and rape cases, 321–22, 360

  changes plan for W. McCall to transport W. Irvin to court for retrial, 262–63

  death of Ernest Thomas and, 117

  doubts W. Irvin’s guilt, 350, 353

  Groveland Boys case and trial and role of, as prosecutor, 97, 109, 134, 145–46, 148, 149, 157, 164–74, 225

  Groveland Boys (W. Irvin) retrial and role of, as prosecutor, 223, 267–68, 288, 289, 292–302, 304–5, 308–10, 313–16, 324–26, 330, 332

  illness and death of, 345, 356

  investigation of prisoner beatings and, 195

  motion to disqualify, for Groveland Boys retrial, 230–31

  reindictments of S. Shepherd and W. Irvin by, 223

  relationship with M. N. Reese, 345, 350

  response of, to shootings of S. Shepherd and W. Irvin, and concern about W. McCall, 236, 237, 239, 315

  response of, to Supreme Court decision on Groveland Boys case, 220

  secret meeting with W. Irvin and request for confession, 349–50

  shootings of S. Shepherd and W. Irvin and, 245, 247, 253–55

  supports Platt family against W. McCall’s actions, 345–46

  takes Padgetts to Raiford prison to identify suspects, 131

  wears red galluses (symbol of segregation), 293–94

  Hurley, Ruby (NAACP official), 249, 264–65

  Hurston, Zora Neale, 37, 259

  Illegal search, 294–95

  Irvin, Cleve (father of Walter Irvin), 140, 226, 238

  Irvin, Dellia (mother of Walter Irvin), 238, 292, 293, 329–30

  testimony on removal of son’s pants by Deputy J. Yates, 294–95

  Irvin, Walter (Groveland Boys), 36–39, 72, 233. See also Groveland Boys; Groveland Boys rape case and trial

  arrest of, 124–25

  beatings of, by law enforcement officers, 67, 124–25, 127–31, 135, 138–42, 184–85, 259–62

  clemency for, 344, 347–51, 354

  commutation of sentence by Governor L. Collins, 344, 348–55

  conviction overturned by U.S. Supreme Court, 218–20

  death, suspicious nature of, 359, 360

  on death row, 336

  death warrants signed for, 341

  fight with Willie Padgett, 38–39

  indictments against, 109

  interviewed by F. Williams, 128–30

  ninety-day stay of execution for, 194

  parole, 358–59

  refuses to confess to rape, 130, 134, 178, 349–50

  relationship of, with S. Shepherd, 310–11

  removed from Tavares jail to prevent lynching of, 62–68, 130

  retrial of [see Irwin, Walter (Groveland Boys), retrial of]

  as returning military veteran, 132–33

  shooting of [see Irvin, Walter (Groveland Boys), shooting of]

  stay of execution granted for, 341–43

  trial testimony, 169

  trial verdict, 173–74

  Irvin, Walter (Groveland Boys), retrial of, 284–333

  appeals of verdict in, 335, 336, 338

  attorney preparation for, 222–26

  call for prosecutorial misconduct in, 326–27

  change of venue motions, 268–69, 288

  closing arguments in, 316–20, 321–26

  commutation of sentence given at, 348–55

  defense calls for mistrial, 315

  evidence in, 294–95, 301–2, 311–14, 319, 323–24, 338

  fund-raising for Legal Defense Fund based on, 334–35

  J. Hunter’s role as prosecutor in, 267–68

  jury instructions in, 327–28

  jury selection in, 295

  life on death row, 287

  T. Marshall and J. Greenberg removed from defense team, then reinstated in, 269, 270–71, 287–88

  T. Marshall’s closing argument in, 316–20

  Masonic distress signal given during, 327

  mistrial motion in, 329

  motion for new trial, 330

  motion to remove J. Hunter for failure to include L. Burtoft testimony, 268

  offered and refuses plea deal, 291–93, 332–33

  press coverage of, 295–96, 300, 332

  pretrial hearing and motions made, 230, 262, 266–69, 284, 287–95

  protest of W. McCall’s transport of W. Irvin to court, 262–63

  public opinion poll on fairness of, 226, 288, 289

  reindictments, 223

  shootings of defendants prior to [see Irvin, Walter (Groveland Boys), shooting of]

  trial testimony, 295–316

  trial testimony, W. Irvin’s, 310–11, 315

  undercover investigation of N. Padgett story and, 204, 210–14, 227–29

  verdict and sentencing, 328–30, 331–32

  Irvin, Walter (Groveland Boys), shooting of, 240

  M. J. Leiby claims escape was planned, 263–64

  W. McCall’s version of, 230–39

  pain following, 286–87

  Soviet official’s criticism of, 240

  statements about, from hospital bed, 242–45, 247, 250, 254

  Jackson, Eddie (KKK informant), 248

  Jackson, Robert (Supreme Court justice), 217, 220, 335

  Jews, Ku Klux Klan attacks on, 265–66

  Johns, Charley (acting Florida governor), 341, 342

  Johns, Oscar, 96

  Johnson, Bumpy, 28

  Johnson, James Weldon, 28

  Johnson, Lyndon B. (U.S. president), 358

  Jones, Charles, 45

  Jury selection process, exclusion of blacks in, 9, 205

  as argument in Groveland Boys appeal to U.S. Supreme Court, 216–18, 219–20

  in Groveland Boys (W. Irvin) retrial, 295

  in Groveland Boys trial, 155, 162–63

  Justice Department, U.S., 31

  Civil Rights Division, 360

  investigation of Groveland Boys beatings, 138, 184

  investigation of I. Woodard blinding, 121

  investigation of W. Howard lynching, 104

  shootings of S. Shepherd and W. Irvin and, 246

  KKK. See Ku Klux Klan

  Kefauver, Estes (senator), 247–48, 259

  Kennedy, John F. (U.S. president), 358

  Kennedy, “Papa” Lloyd, 13, 14

  Kennedy, Stetson (news reporter), 237, 241, 245, 252–53, 281, 357

  infiltration of Kl
an by, 259–60, 290

  interaction with J. J. Elliott about beatings of Groveland Boys, 259–62

  Kimbrough, James, 91

  King, Martin Luther, Jr., 347, 358

  Kirkland, Wallace, 124

  Korean War, 207

  Ku Klux Klan (KKK), 3, 72, 83, 105, 141–42, 158, 223

  assassination of H. T. Moore and, 284

  Brandenberg v. Ohio and, 359

  community morality enforcement by, 225

  J. J. Elliott as member of, 259, 261–62

  Groveland, FL, white mob violence and role of, 85–86, 89–93, 161

  indictments for Florida members, regarding violent incidents, 335–36

  infiltration of, by S. Kennedy, 259–60

  informants in, 184, 248

  law enforcement officers as members of, 17, 91, 109, 139, 141, 282

  plan to kill Alex Akerman, 248

  racial violence perpetrated by, in Florida, 265–66

  rally of, witnessed by J. Greenberg, 285–86

  resurgence of violence by, in response to Brown ruling, 339–41

  suspected in assassination of H. T. Moore by members of, 277, 279, 282, 357

  Labor, central Florida citrus industry and black, 76–81, 88, 94, 96–97, 212

  Labor unions, citrus industry and organizing by, 80–81

  Law enforcement officers

  assaults on, and beatings of blacks by, 21, 53, 55–56, 73–75, 111, 120–23, 127–32, 135, 138–42, 147, 184–85, 259–62

  Ku Klux Klan pressure on white, 86–87

  Ku Klux Klan relationship with, 17, 91, 139, 141, 282

  Lee, Harper, 3

  Leesburg Commercial (newspaper), 78

  Legal Defense Fund (LDF) of NAACP, 5, 32

  financial problems and fund-raising for, 334–35

  Groveland Boys case and [see Groveland Boys rape case and trial; Williams, Franklin (NAACP attorney)]

  guidelines on taking criminal cases, 48–49

  lawsuits by, challenging inequalities, 44, 49, 70, 82

  T. Marshall appointed head of, 334

  Leiby, Merlin James, claims prison escape was planned by S. Shepherd and W. Irvin, 263–64

  Liebman, Joshua Loth, 196

  Looby, Zephaniah Alexander (NAACP attorney), Columbia Race Riot trial and, 9–10, 14–20, 30, 32

  Lonesome, Milton “Buddy” (news reporter), 330, 331

  Louis, Joe, 26, 28, 122, 126, 137

  Lowe, Ramona (news reporter)

  coverage of Groveland Boys case, 159–60, 163

  posttrial high-speed chase and threat to, 174–77

  Lynchings of blacks, 1, 3, 100–105, 111

  of black military veterans, 133

  NAACP definition of, 86

  Lyons, W. D., murder case/trial of, 52–57, 338

  Lyons v. Oklahoma, 338

  MacArthur, Douglas (U.S. general), 207–9, 222

  McCall, Doris Daley (wife of Willis McCall), 76

  McCall, Willis (sheriff, Lake County, FL), 72, 75–81, 84, 100, 110, 194, 219, 232, 310, 321, 322, 356

  alleged conspiracy of, with J. Hunter, to kill Groveland Boys, 344–45

  beatings of black laborers by, 79–81

  beatings of Groveland Boys by, 130–31, 135, 138–42, 147, 259–62

  bolita gambling and role of, 78–79, 114–15

  calls to remove from office, 255–56, 264, 266

  central Florida citrus industry’s need for black labor, and role of, 76–81, 133

  credited for preventing mob lynching of Groveland Boys, 61–68

  denies education to children of A. Platt, 340–41, 345–46

  as director of National Association for the Advancement of White People, 341

  elections of, 77–78, 357

  FBI investigation of, 138–43, 284

  finds prisoner who claims Groveland Boys planned escape, 263–64

  C. Greenlee confession and, 178–80

  Groveland Boys trial and, 147–49, 167, 169, 173

  high-speed chase following Groveland Boys trial and role of, 174–77, 184

  indictment and suspension of, by Governor Reubin Askew, 357

  link to assassination of H. T. Moore, 278, 357

  opposition to commutation of W. Irvin sentence, 350

  protest and change of plan for, to transport W. Irvin to retrial, 262–63

  response to clemency and commutation of W. Irvin’s sentence, 355

  response to Supreme Court decision on Groveland Boys case, 220–22, 227

  response to Supreme Court ruling on Brown v. Board of Education, 339–40, 341

  shootings of S. Shepherd and W. Irvin by (see Groveland Boys, shootings of S. Shepherd and W. Irvin)

  relationship with Ku Klux Klan, 248, 282

  E. Thomas manhunt and murder, and role of, 113–14, 115–20

  threat to F. Williams from, 168–69

  unhappy with press coverage, 183–84, 256–57

  white mob violence, black exodus from Groveland, and role of, 85–93, 97–99, 108–9

  McCarthy, Joseph, 153

  McCarthy, Terence (news reporter)

  on Groveland Boys case, 132–33, 161, 204

  on shootings of S. Shepherd and W. Irvin, 238

  on southern peonage system, 96–97

  McCarty, Dan (Florida governor), 341

  McCready, Esther, desegregation case of, 185–86

  McDonald, Harry, 227–28

  McGrath, J. Howard (U.S. attorney general), 280

  McKinney, Leroy, connection to Lake County bolita operations, 114

  McLaurin, George, desegregation case involving, 187–90, 198

  McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, 187–90, 198

  McLeod, Don (sheriff, Marion County, FL), 329

  Manhattan Project, 34

  Mapp v. Ohio, 294

  Margold, Nathan Ross (NAACP attorney), 106–7

  Margold Report, 106–7, 198

  Marion County, Florida, W. Irvin retrial moved to, 269, 286–87

  Marshall, Aubrey (brother of Thurgood Marshall), 46

  Marshall, Fearless (uncle of Thurgood Marshall), 2

  Marshall, George C. (U.S. general), 206

  Marshall, Norma (mother of Thurgood Marshall), 46, 337

  Marshall, Thorney Good (grandfather of Thurgood Marshall), 2

  Marshall, Thurgood (NAACP attorney)

  appeals process, and his strategy of establishing precedent in, 48–49, 123, 210, 303

  appointed head of NAACP Legal Defense Fund, 334

  appointed to U.S. Court of Appeals, 358

  becomes attorney for NAACP, 22–23

  career in law, 359–61

  cares for dying wife, 343

  casual office manner and humor of, 44–45

  Columbia Race Riot trial and, 7–11, 14–20, 29, 30

  defense of black American soldiers serving during Korean War, 207–9

  effect of H. T. Moore assassination on, 278, 281–82

  efforts to dissociate NAACP from communism, 26–27, 110–12, 153–55, 206–7

  fails to get indictment of J. Yates and L. Campbell for prison beatings, 194–95

  family of, 2, 46

  Groveland Boys appeals to Florida Supreme Court and role of, 191, 193–94, 335

  Groveland Boys appeal to U.S. Supreme Court and role of, 194, 204, 215–18, 219, 336

  Groveland Boys case/trial and role of, 3–5, 110, 126, 134, 138, 142, 151

  Groveland Boys retrial (W. Irvin) and role of, 222–26, 230, 260, 262, 267–69, 270–71, 286–95, 299, 306–7, 315–20, 326–30, 335, 342–51

  Groveland Boys, shootings of S. Shepherd and W. Irvin, and role of, 232, 233, 241, 244–45, 246, 256

  Harlem home of, 22–28

  health of, 10, 29–32

  hiring practices of, at NAACP, 46–47

  hospitality provided to, 5, 47

  C. H. Houston as mentor to, 8, 22, 197

  W. Howard lynching case and, 101, 103, 104

  legal
strategies of, 2, 48–49, 50–51, 53, 56, 123

  letters to, 45–46, 361

  Lyons murder case, 52–57

  oratorical skills, 270, 334

  principle of not using race as excuse, 209

  professional reputation of, 5, 45–46, 47, 224

  relationship with J. Edgar Hoover, 110–12, 206, 261

  relationship with wife, 41–42

  relationships with women, 41, 47, 338

  removed from defending W. Irvin in retrial, 269, 270–71

  salary, 181, 206

  school desegregation cases, 43–44, 185–91, 203, 205, 333, 335–40

  speaking engagements, 258, 269–71, 353

  Spell rape case, 50–52, 306

  stops W. Irvin’s execution, 341–43

  as Supreme Court associate justice, 359–60

  Supreme Court cases argued by, 2, 4, 5, 28–29, 53–54, 69–70, 82–83, 335–39

  tensions between W. White and, 69–70

  tensions between F. Williams and, 202–4

  threats to, 4, 15–20, 283–84, 290–91, 333–34

  train travel by, 1–2, 21–22, 224

  trip to Caribbean, 31–32

  university desegregation cases, 185–91, 198

  voting rights case, 82–83

  wife (see Marshall, Vivian Burey “Buster”)

  work with Harry T. Moore, 107–8

  Marshall, Vivian Burey “Buster” (wife of Thurgood Marshall), 2, 31, 52, 335, 337

  childlessness of, 22, 27

  Harlem home, 23, 24, 27

  last days and death of, 343

  relationship with husband, 41–42, 343

  Marshall, Willie (father of Thurgood Marshall), 2

  Marshall Plan, 206

  Martin, D. D. (colonel), 208

  Martin, John W. (Florida governor), 145

  Martinsville Seven, Virginia, 153–54, 291

  Masonic distress signal, 327, 335

  Matthews, Tobias E. (FBI agent), 138–42, 162

  Mays, Benjamin, 201

  Mays, George (chief of police, Groveland, FL), 141, 161

  jailing of C. Greenlee by, 65–68

  Maxwell, Joe, 90

  Mazique, Edward (physician), 195, 196

  Meech, Frank (FBI agent), 282, 357

  Merritt, Curtis, 91, 140

  The Metropolitan (newspaper), 21

  Miami, Florida, NAACP fund-raising in, 269–71

  Miami Herald (newspaper), 68

  Military, desegregation of U.S., 207

  Military veterans, black, 11, 12, 36–37, 90, 96, 111, 120–21

  connection of Groveland Boys case to citrus industry, labor, and returning, 132–33

  lynchings of, 133

  Miller, Loren (attorney), 47

  The Mind of the South (Cash), 51–52

 

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