by Gilbert King
184 by a federal grand jury: Marshall to McGrath, 44-2772-43, FBI.
184 “there is substantial evidence”: Campbell to Phillips, 144-18-117, FBI, September 13, 1949,
184 “as fair a trial”: Phillips to Campbell, MM 44-156, FBI.
185 “Judge, I agree”: Kluger, Simple Justice, p. 277.
185-86 “all day and virtually every night”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 159.
186 “considerable talents”: Ibid., p. 160.
186 “great dark Munich beer”: Ibid., p. 159.
186 “If we can force the University of Texas”: The Survey, Vol. 85, 1949, p. 21. (Charity Organization Society of the City of New York, Survey Associates.)
186 “equal to the University of Texas Law School”: Lavergne, Before Brown, p. 161.
187 “everyone knows what the score is”: Unidentified news clipping, NAACP.
188 “opened [the judge’s] eyes”: Williams, Thurgood Marshall, p. 179.
188 “You keep talking”: Rowan, Dream Makers, Dream Breakers, p. 148.
188 “it was ‘nigger’ this”: Ibid.
188 “Thurgood was respectful”: Address by John Paul Stevens, Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, to the American Bar Association, Thurgood Marshall Awards Dinner Honoring Abner Mikva, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago, IL, August 6, 2005.
188 “there would be intermarriage”: Kluger, Simple Justice, p. 265.
188 “We had eight people”: Ibid.
189 For one, McLaurin: Ibid.
189 “it offered the”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 71.
189 “clattering hot-lead Linotype machines”: Ibid., p. 159.
189 “Thurgood focused on”: Ibid., p. 71.
189 “Plessy must go”: Kluger, Simple Justice, p. 276.
190 “like a boxer”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 72.
190 “employed a rhetoric”: Ibid., p. 76.
190 “The rights of Sweatt”: Williams, Thurgood Marshall, p. 183.
190 “All we ask in the south”: Ibid.
191 “I was the first deputy”: FOHP, Williams.
191 “Bill, take a few minutes”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 32. Also FOHP, Williams.
191 “Walter liked me”: Kluger, Simple Justice, p. 271.
191 “He had great success”: Ibid.
192 “cautious to a fault”: Ibid., p. 272.
192 “because they might”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 33.
192 “special counsel”: Ibid.
Chapter 13: In Any Fight Some Fall
193 “Mrs. Padgett didn’t”: Fl. v. Shepherd, Brief of Appellee, p. 44.
194 “in somebody’s back”: FOHP, Williams.
194 “disturbed and disappointed”: MM 44-156, FBI.
195 didn’t “need any assistance”: FBI 44-2722-90, Phillips to McInerney, April 28, 1950.
195 “These education cases are”: James, Root and Branch, p. 199.
195 “didn’t know how to stop working”: McNeil, Groundwork, p. 209.
195 “to remember his father”: Ibid.
195 “Get down from there”: Ibid., p. 187.
196 “open-air Scottsboro protest meeting”: Ibid., p. 207.
196 Since Scottsboro: Ibid.
196 “Hi, Joe,” Houston said: Ibid., p. 211.
196 “Tell Bo I did not”: Ibid., p. 212.
197 “unremitting struggle”: Crisis, June 1950.
197 “Whatever credit”: Sullivan, Lift Every Voice, p. 382.
197 “guided us through”: Crisis, June 1950.
198 “We won the big one!”: Lavergne, Before Brown, p. 253.
198 left Plessy in “tatters”: Tushnet, Making Civil Rights Law, p. 147.
198 “Thurgood . . . a party man”: Williams, Thurgood Marshall, p. 185; Motley, Equal Justice Under Law, p. 106.
198 “lots of Scotch”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 78.
198 “the tools to destroy”: Williams, Thurgood Marshall, p. 185.
199 “she waited patiently”: St. Petersburg Times, April 9, 1950.
200 “crying profusely”: Ibid.
200 As for her testimony: Corsair, The Groveland Four, pp. 202–203.
200 “a dastardly lying libel”: St. Petersburg Times, April 13, 1950.
201 “tried to keep him”: Crisis, June/July 1982.
201 To Morehouse College president: Sullivan, Lift Every Voice, p. 373.
201 “deplorable state of”: Current to Black, NAACP, undated report.
202 “I plan to touch”: Green, Before His Time, p. 110.
202 “a lot of yelling”: Williams, Thurgood Marshall, p. 154.
202 “I won’t take it!”: COHP, Marshall.
202 “Dutch uncle”: Presidential Recordings Program, Lyndon Johnson Tapes Transcripts, Monday, January 3, 1966: Thurgood Marshall, Lyndon Johnson, participants, http://whitehousetapes.net/transcript/johnson/wh6606-01-9403. (Hereafter cited as LBJ tapes.)
203 “less than bold”: Kluger, Simple Justice, p. 248.
203 “made Marshall look”: Ibid., p. 304.
203 “not dragging his”: Ibid., p. 305.
203 “he didn’t have to worry”: COHP, Marshall.
203 “You’re fired”: Ibid.
203 “Why, I didn’t mean that”: Ibid.
204 “he felt he was being exiled”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 33.
204 “although most of the whites”: Reports of Ms. L. B. De Forest, ACLU, Summer 1950.
204 “to avoid any possibility”: Watts to Marshall, August 2, 1950, ACLU.
204 “Keep away from Sheriff McCall”: Reports of Ms. L. B. De Forest, ACLU, Summer 1950.
205 “chose[n] jurymen”: Cassell v. Texas, 339 U.S. 282 (1950).
205 “would not be likely”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 98.
205 “a number of old English cases”: Ibid.
205 “The complete destruction”: Lavergne, Before Brown, p. 258.
206 “eradicate Communists”: Crisis, November 1980.
206 “They’re in there”: COHP, Marshall.
206 “we socked them good”: Ibid.
207 “The communists brought it on themselves”: Williams, Thurgood Marshall, p. 169.
207 “staggering casualties”: Crisis, May 1951.
208 “so-called trials”: COHP, Marshall.
208 “in a base hospital”: Crisis, May 1951.
208 “There was so much sniper fire”: Life, November 12, 1965.
208 “What happened over there”: COHP, Marshall.
208 “not even in the band”: Pittsburgh Courier, March 3, 1951.
208 “the United States Air Force took just one day”: Crisis, May 1951.
209 “The Red Koreans”: Ibid.
209 “just a bad egg”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 80.
209 “My dad told me”: New York Times, June 29, 1991.
Chapter 14: This Is a Rape Case
211 a “Communist agent”: Ocala Star Banner, March 29, 1956.
211 “a stranger coming”: De Forest, WDL. All observations and quotes are from the journal entries of L. B. De Forest, mailed to Rowland Watts during the summer of 1950.
212 “If we were to tell the truth”: Ibid.
213 “heard the motor start up again”: Twiss affadavit, WDL, April 29, 1951.
213 “police alarm”: Thomas to Watts, WDL, undated.
214 “sitting in the grass”: Fl. v. Shepherd, Vol. 4, p. 578.
214 “thought she might have gotten”: MM 44-156, FBI.
214 “vagaries in both”: Thomas to Watts, WDL, undated.
215 “seen the girl”: Ibid.
215–216 “I am sure you can appreciate”: Williams to Marshall, LDF, December 4, 1950.
216 “To pull you out”: Marshall to Williams, LDF, December 12, 1950.
216 “Well,” Bowen had responded: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 213.
216 “irritated me a little”: FO
HP, Williams.
217 “to say anything more”: Crisis, April 1951.
217 “Well,” Carter asked: FOHP, Williams.
217 argued the case “superbly”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 98.
218 “the hardest thing”: Crisis, April 1951. The reporting and quotes from Shepherd v. Florida are derived from this issue of Crisis.
Chapter 15: You Have Pissed in My Whiskey
219 “Won new trial for Walter Irvin”: Marshall to Dellia Irvin, LDF, April 10, 1951.
220 “do not meet any civilized conception”: Shepherd v. Irvin, 341 U.S. 50 (1951).
220 “not surprised”: New York Times, April 11, 1951.
220 “very disappointed”: Ibid.
220 “perfect this appeal”: Orlando Sentinel Star, November 9, 1949.
220 Sidestepping questions: Pittsburgh Courier, April 21, 1951.
221 In a public statement he ranted: Ibid.
221 “to see that justice was done”: McCall, Willis V. McCall, Sheriff of Lake
County, p. 23.
221 “I have it directly”: Watts Report, WDL.
221-22a “God Damn Nigger Lover”: Green, Before His Time, p. 134.
222 “I don’t push easy”: McCall, Willis V. McCall, Sheriff of Lake County, p. 14.
222 “Our warm appreciation”: White to Williams, NAACP, April 11, 1951.
222 “unable to give his whole support”: St. Petersburg Times, April 11, 1951.
222 “desegregated in about three weeks”: COHP, Marshall.
222 “it wasn’t very smart”: Author interview, Jack Greenberg, February 10, 2009.
223 “ham or oranges”: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 219.
223 “strange code of ethics”: Ibid.
223 “You all haven’t electrocuted”: New York Post, November 8, 1951.
223 “Wish you all would run”: Ibid.
223 “causing trouble”: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 223.
223 “plenty of Negroes”: Ibid.
224 “a big yellow streak”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 31.
224 “You can say all you want”: Kluger, Simple Justice, p. 750.
224 “I don’t sleep with”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 133.
224 “white travelers were not yet accustomed”: Ibid.
224 “Norma Padgett and her husband”: FOHP, Williams.
225 “regulation strap”: Moore Report, Exhibit 74.
225 “put the finger on”: Ibid.
225 “out of hearing distance”: FOHP, Williams.
226 “feelings generated”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 134.
226 “unpainted, weather-beaten”: Ibid., p. 135.
226 “an illegal search and seizure”: Ibid.
226 “battlefield tension”: Ibid., p. 134.
226 “create an error”: FOHP, Williams.
226 “Anything can happen”: Ibid.
227 “Prisons breed criminals”: De Forest, WDL, Watts Report.
231 “I am ready now”: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 253.
231 “Go on ahead”: “Testimony of Walter Irvin,” State of Florida, County of Lake, November 8, 1951, George State University Special Collections Department, Stetson Kennedy Papers.
231 “You sons of bitches,” McCall said: FBI 44-267.
232 “Well,” he told Marshall: Thurgood Marshall, “Remarks at a Testimonial Dinner Honoring Raymond Pace Alexander, November 25, 1951,” Mark V. Tushnet, Thurgood Marshall: His Speeches, Writings, Arguments, Opinions, and Reminiscences, p. 140.
232 “Lake County Sheriff Shoots Two Negores”: Orlando Sentinel Star, November 7, 1951.
233 “wanted to furnish information”: FBI 44-267.
233 “killing of Samuel Shepherd”: Greenberg to Fuller Warren, NAACP, November 7, 1951.
233 “the build of a blocking back”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 141.
234 “exactly what happened”: New York Post, November 8, 1951.
234 “You might as well go away”: Orlando Morning Sentinel, November 8, 1951.
234 “I have orders not to let anyone”: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 238.
234 “suffering shock”: Orlando Evening Star, November 8, 1951.
234 “Yates kept us”: Greenberg, Crusaders in the Courts, p. 141.
234 “when the law gives”: Orlando Evening Star, November 8, 1951.
235 “appeared to be in pain”: FBI 44-4055.
235 “entirely different story”: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 239.
235 “half way down”: FBI 44-4055. Willis McCall’s version of the shooting is derived from his statement to FBI agents Swinney and Aderhold and transcribed in this report.
235 “He said, ‘I will piss’ ”: Ibid.
236 “he knew nothing”: Ibid.
236 “Marie, it’s just”: Orlando Morning Sentinel, November 8, 1951.
236 “saw one of them move”: Stetson Kennedy Papers, Georgia State University, Special Collections Department.
237 “You have pissed in my whiskey”: Author interview with Stetson Kennedy, December 7, 2009.
237 “One of them has a pulse”: Green, Before His Time, p. 138.
237 “friends of Sheriff Willis V. McCall”: New York Post, November 10, 1951.
237 “extreme shock”: Lake County Medical Center, report of Dr. R. H. Williams, FBI 44-267.
237 “a batch of the sheriff’s hair”: FBI 44-267.
238 “I’m just happy to be here”: Orlando Morning Sentinel, November 8, 1951.
238 “I expect I’ll get”: Tampa Morning Tribune, November 9, 1951.
238 “Please give me a truthful answer”: New Leader, November 19, 1951.
239 “Visibly shaken”: Orlando Morning Sentinel, November 8, 1951.
239 “Guess what. McCall’s”: FHW Papers, Chesley.
239 “Mabel,” he’d said: Green, Before His Time, p. 141.
Chapter 16: It’s a Funny Thing
240 “This is what human rights means”: New York Times, November 9, 1951.
241 “the shooting of”: St. Peterburg Times, November 8, 1951.
241 “primitive mobile crime lab”: Green, Before His Time, p. 141.
241 “check all angles”: New York Times, November 8, 1951.
241 “Well, boys, I’m here”: Tampa Tribune, November 9, 1951.
241 “court-appointed elisor”: St. Petersburg Times, November 8, 1951.
241 and a “special nurse”: Crisis, December 1951.
242 “This was the first time”: FHW Papers, Chesley.
242 “No one’s going to hurt you”: Miami Herald, November 9, 1951. Also Stetson Kennedy Papers, Georgia State University, Special Collections Department. Walter Irvin’s version of the shooting is derived from his interview with lawyers at Waterman Memorial Hospital on November 8, 1951.
245 “We sincerely hope the good people”: St. Petersburg Times, November 9, 1951.
245 “Colored men who are accused”: Pittsburgh Courier, November 17, 1951.
245 “It’s a funny thing”: New York Post, November 9, 1951.
245 “was visibly shaken”: Orlando Morning Sentinel, November 8, 1951.
245 “This is the worst thing”: Ibid.
245 “IRVIN agreeable”: MM 44-267, FBI.
246 “and the laws of this country”: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 283.
246 “We must leave”: Wilkins statement, NAACP, November 8, 1951.
246 “to whitewash the whole affair”: Marshall to McGrath, NAACP, November 8, 1951.
246 The national office: Author interview, Vernon Jordan, April 14, 2011.
247 “There isn’t a threat”: Time, September 19, 1955.
247 “ducking, weaving and”: New York Post, November 8, 1951.
247 “It’s a funny thing”: New York Post, November 9, 1951.
248 It took Willis McCall: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 250.
248 “to kill Alex Akerman”: Ibid., p. 249.
248 “a big SOB in the NAACP”: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 250.
249 “hatchet job”: Byrd to Lucille Black, NAACP, September 29, 1950.
249 “always delivered the votes”: Author interview, Vernon Jordan, April 14, 2011.
249 “wondering if Moore”: MM 44-270, FBI.
249 “neck ought to be broken”: Green, Before His Time, p. 156.
249 “afraid to travel”: Ibid.
250 “grooves between the tread design”: MM 44-267, FBI.
250 “I will ask you”: Ibid.
250 “The nail on the tire”: FHW, Chesley.
251 “Was this ground dug up”: MM 44-267, FBI.
252 “until I got permission”: Ibid.
253 “guest of honor”: Federated Press, November 19, 1951.
253 “I believe that this”: MM 44-267, FBI.
253 “justified by reason”: Ibid.
253 “At that time,” Futch wrote: Ibid., Statement of the Court, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Florida, November 12, 1951.
253–54 “only as I have been directed”: St. Petersburg Times, November 13, 1951.
254 “directly beneath a blood spot”: FBI 44-4066-70.
254 “reached up and grabbed”: MM 44-267, FBI.
254 “for probable use”: FBI 44-4055-15.
254 “no need for a grand jury”: MM 44-267, FBI.
255 he was “out of the city”: Kennedy Papers.
255 “complete vindication”: New York Post, November 10, 1951.
256 “fantastic savagery”: Ibid.
256 “Irvin’s story was so convincing”: Corsair, The Groveland Four, p. 279.
256 “after this conference”: Marshall to Warren, NAACP, November 11, 1951.
256 “This is the worst case”: Chicago Defender, November 17, 1951.
257 “are no good at all”: McCall, Willis V. McCall, Sheriff of Lake County, p. 14.
257 “sheer, filthy offensiveness”: New York Post, November 11, 1951.
257 “I don’t think there is any question”: McCall, Willis V. McCall, Sheriff of Lake County, p. 14.
Chapter 17: No Man Alive or to Be Born
259 “crap games, after-hour”: Green, Before His Time, p. 149.
259 “play the ace up my sleeve”: Stetson Kennedy, The Klan Unmasked, p. 245.
259 “has facilitated”: Ibid., p. xiii.
259 “Well, well!” Elliott said: Ibid., p. 245. Kennedy’s conversation with Elliott, which also appeared in several newspapers, is derived from his account in The Klan Unmasked.