This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Virginia law authorized capital punishment for accessories, parties to the act of rape who did not take part in the act. August (1992): 461-490; Eric W. Rise, The Martinsville Seven: Race Rape and Capital Punishment (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1995). Three days later, the remaining three were also electrocuted. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. 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From left to right: John Clabon Taylor, Joe Henry Hampton, Francis DeSales Grayson, Booker T. Millner, James Luther Hairston, Howard Lee Hairston, and Frank Hairston. Tony L. Millner, vice president of the Martinsville NAACP chapter, said he was a child when it happened. The pardons do not address the guilt or innocence of the men, but Northam said the pardons are an acknowledgement that they did not receive due process and received a "racially-biased death sentence not similarly applied to white defendants.". Hodge-Muse said it was common knowledge that the victim spent a great deal of time in the black community. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. In March, Northam, a Democrat, signed legislation passed by the Democrat-controlled legislature abolishing the state's death penalty. Each were tried and sentenced to death within an eight-day period by all-white juries. Cries and sobs could be heard from some of the descendants after Northam's announcement. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Your email address will not be published. It has been stated by several residents of Martinsville, Virginia that Grayson and Floyd were in a sexual relationship. They argued for lesser sentences, but Battle resisted their pleas. The mass executions were the largest in Virginia in modern times. "These men were executed because they were Black, and that's not right," Northam said. Please enter valid email address to continue. Unanimous juries recommended death sentences at the end of each trial. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. After a long legal battle led by the NAACP and a grassroots campaign led by the Civil Rights Congress, the seven were executed in 1951 on February 2nd and February 5th. For the first time, records were kept at a central location. [8] Since Virginia started using an electric chair in 1908, all 45 of the men sentenced to death for rape had been black men convicted of raping white women. The NAACP appeals also noted that since Virginia started use of the electric chair, only black men had been executed for rape in the state for what was a non-lethal crime. The Martinsville 7 were charged with the rape of a white woman, Ruby Stroud Floyd, in a black neighborhood of Martinsville, Virginia on January 8, 1949. Every single one of the 45 men executed by Virginias electric chair for the crime of rape at that point in time were African American men charged with assaulting white women. The judge presiding was Kennon C. I will not have it otherwise.". Footage too graphic to publish shows the man . "I think I touched a nerve. All they are celebrating is the dismantling of White laws, laws which have held . The Martinsville Seven were a group of seven African American men from Martinsville, Virginia, who were convicted and executed for raping a white woman in 1949. Another who believes the past is best left alone is Charlie Martin, the young boy who accompanied the victim and repeatedly testified at the trials. "Thank you, Jesus. A grand jury (which included both black and white members) indicted all the men. She was emotionally upset, said the doctor, her underclothing was missing and her coat, dress and slip were "extremely dirty.". He was pronounced dead at 8:12 a.m. Three more executions quickly followed. Virginia Gov. Rose Grayson, niece of Francis DeSales Grayson, top, comforts James Grayson, son of Francis DeSales Grayson, left, and Rudy MCollum, great nephew of Francis DeSales Grayson, one of the Martinsville Seven, after Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issued posthumous pardons for Grayson and the other six members during a ceremony inside the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond, Va., Aug. 31, 2021. They were not assigned a lawyer. Northam announced the pardons after meeting with about a dozen descendants of the men and their advocates. When she and the boy returned, Hampton said he grabbed her and the others joined in the assault, according to his confession. The rapes occurred on Saturday, January 8, 1949, after Ruby Stroud Floyd, a 32-year-old white woman, entered a black neighborhood in Martinsville, Virginia, to collect money for clothing she had sold. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Smyth Jr., the penitentiary superintendent, wrote a succinct response: "No white person has ever been electrocuted in Virginia for the crime of rape; or attempted rape. ", She also asked, "How many black women have been raped in Virginia and nobody has ever been executed?" Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. It was not until a 1977 Georgia case that the U.S. Supreme Court ended death sentences for rape, but because the death penalty was a "grossly disproportionate" punishment for rape, and not on the basis of race. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. 20072023 Blackpast.org. All of the appeals by the NAACP failed. By the spring of 1949, all seven men were charged with rape. It's even worse than that. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. What the Martinsville case lacked in legal import, it made up for politically by drawing national and worldwide attention to the death penalty as a civil-rights issue. "Their punishment did not fit the crime. Later, three other men, Francis DeSales Grayson, John Clabon Taylor and James Luther Hairston joined the other four in the assault, according to the confessions. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. That appeal failed, too, however. The mass executions were the largest in Virginia in modern times. [2], Judge Kennon Whittle told the attorneys: "this case must and will be tried in such a way as not to disturb the kindly feeling now, locally, existing between the races. Martin A. Martin of the Richmond law firm Hill, Martin and Robinson, was the lead attorney for the appellate defense team for the NAACP in Virginia, as his firm had considerable experience with civil rights cases. The pardons do not address the guilt or innocence of the men, but Northam said the pardons are an acknowledgement that they did not receive due process and received a "racially-biased death sentence not similarly applied to white defendants.". While Ruby Stroud Floyd was being treated in hospital after the alleged rape, police arrested six suspects, and two days later a seventh. Rise said that after Battle's clemency rejection, Martin filed a writ of habeas corpus a civil challenge to the death sentences arguing that the seven were denied equal protection under the law guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. And the real victim Ruby Stroud Floyd didnt even get a mention from those coon descendants of her rapists ! James Walter Grayson is the son of Francis DeSales Grayson, who was one of the seven. He resented being under so much pressure. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Since they ranged widely in experience, he asked the more experienced ones to aid the newer attorneys. Hampton said he, Howard Hairston, Booker T. Millner and Frank Hairston Jr., were drinking wine near some railroad tracks that Saturday night. New York Public Library. [2] The NAACP did not want the CRC to participate in the litigation directly. The propaganda emanating from these sources bears no semblance of truth and is designed for no other purpose than to foment ill feeling between the races and to mislead those who have no knowledge of the true fact of these cases.. After being held by police overnight, the first six all signed confessions, implicating themselves and each other. May you find comfort knowing that life continues forever in heaven even as the memories shared live forever in our hearts. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, North Carolina, U.S., Death Indexes, 1908-2004, U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. The photographer is unknown. Photo by Henry Burroughts. The sentences were carried out in February 1951, the largest group of executions for crimes against a single victim in state history and one of the largest in U.S. history. In his study on the case, Rise concluded that, "At a time when African-Americans were beginning to assert their civil rights vigorously, the executions provided a stark reminder of the harsh treatment reserved for blacks who violated Southern racial codes.". The Library of Virginia has the letter from the lawyer, Martin, asking for execution data. The Martinsville 7 were seven African American men convicted of raping a white woman in 1949. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? The attack occurred in Cherrytown, the black section of Martinsville. The image is a Newspaper Enterprise Association photograph printed in a newspaper that has not been identified. But on July 24, 1950, Battle turned them down, writing: "No fair minded person can read the evidence in these cases without being convinced, beyond the shadow of a doubt, of the guilt of all the defendants.". . Grayson said she once told her father that she wanted to meet her grandfather. [15] It is the largest execution for rape charges in the United States. [1] On August 31, 2021, the Governor of Virginia pardoned the convictions of all seven men, 70 years after their deaths. Here's everything to know about the Martinsville Seven case: The seven executed were Francis Grayson, James L. Hairston, John Claybon Taylor, Frank Hairston, Jr., Booker T. Millner, Howard Lee Hairston and Joe Henry Hampton. John Marshall boys basketball reclaims No. All but one were young and single, and all were employed three in a sawmill, one a plasterer's helper, one a stonecutter and one a foundry man. August 31, 2021 / 3:17 PM When the cheerleading coach broke the news to Katrina Kohel that she was the only one left on the cheer squad, Kohel was determined to compete anyway. Though our words can do little, we hope our thoughts and prayers will encourage you this period and always as you mourn, the passing soul. From 1908 when Virginia began using the electric chair to 1951, state records show that all 45 people executed for rape were Black, he said. 7 Black men executed in 1951 for rape granted posthumous pardons The Martinsville Seven were convicted of raping 32-year-old Ruby Stroud Floyd, a white woman who visited a predominantly Black community in 1949 to collect money for outfits she sold. Each man was charged with rape and aiding and abetting rape both crimes punishable by death at the time. In denying appeals to commute the Martinsville 7 death sentences, Virginias Governor John S. Battle said, that the wave of messages that flooded his desks was cosponsored by the Civil Rights Congress and the Communist Party. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78661616/ruby-floyd. At the time of their arrest, all but one was between the ages of 20 and 23. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. In advance of a large planned CRC demonstration in the state capital, Governor Battle doubled the capital guard and alerted the state militia. "It's such a raw wound," said Naomi Hodge-Muse, president of the Martinsville chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Joe Hampton, 19, and three others took turns raping Ruby Floyd, a 32-year-old white woman. On January 8, 1949, a white woman named Ruby Stroud Floyd was raped in a black part of Martinsville, Virginia. She attended Palmer Grove Baptist Church where she was honored. Suggest Edits Toggle Dropdown. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Suggest Edits . When the NAACP appealed their convictions, its defense team noted that when the police had questioned the men, they had been drinking for some time, and they were not allowed to consult lawyers or their families. Execution of black teen in 1944 shouldn't have occurred, U.S. judge rules, Man freed from prison, over racial bias in jury selection, will not face 7th murder trial, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. [11], The case of the Martinsville Seven was taken up by outside groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Civil Rights Congress (CRC). Ruby Stroud Floyd Obituary: In the loving memory of Ruby Stroud Floyd, we are saddened to inform you that Ruby Stroud Floyd, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. After being questioned by local police officers, the defendants initially confessed to committing or witnessing the crime. It was the largest mass execution for rape that had been reported in the United States. [2], The NAACP thought that involvement by the CRC in appeals could endanger the defendants both because of their inflammatory tactics and its communist affiliation. The group of young men soon got the name The Martinsville Seven. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Please reset your password. Three worked in a sawmill, one was a plasterer's helper, one a stonecutter and one a foundry man. Resend Activation Email. The rapes occurred on Saturday, January 8, 1949, after Ruby Stroud Floyd, a 32-year-old white woman, entered a black neighborhood in Martinsville, Virginia, to collect money for clothing she had sold. Four of the men were executed in Virginia's electric chair on February 2, 1951. He and his older brother (below) were not related to Frank Hairston Jr. Francis DeSales Grayson, age 38 and of Richmond, Virginia, denied having sex with Floyd; only defendant without local ties. Oops, something didn't work. Search above to list available cemeteries. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. To use this feature, use a newer browser. [2], Rise says that the white community disdained Ruby Floyd for her missionary work with the Jehovah's Witnesses and for her willingness to enter the black part of Martinsville. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, 41, and Brandy Washington tied the knot last week, a year after the couple got engaged. The Wades called an ambulance for her. NAACP officials focused national attention to the case, hoping to delay or overturn the death penalty judgment. His signed confession, like those of the others, was read into the record and can be found in the old files. Two days later, on Sunday, 100 people picketed the White House in Washington, and Josephine Grayson, wife of Francis Grayson, unsuccessfully sought to see President Harry S. Truman. Records unavailable at the time of the Martinsville Seven appeals show that from 1626 until 1908, at least three whites and 99 blacks were hanged for rape or attempted rape in Virginia. James Walter Grayson is the son of Francis DeSales Grayson, who was one of the seven. It was the largest group of people executed for a single-victim crime in Virginia's history. Gravely also does not believe everything has come out about the case. The Martinsville Seven were a group of young black men executed in 1951 after being convicted of raping a white woman. You are using an out of date browser. 1 ranking in country. "This was the Jim Crow South; this was prior to the civil-rights movement why would she be there," she asked. *. On January 31, a mass demonstration of over 400 took place in Richmond to demand a halt to the planned executions despite the virulent racist opposition of many white supremacists. Much of that attention was focused on Richmond, home of the governor, the legislature and the state's top civil-rights lawyers, as well as the location of what was then the Virginia State Penitentiary and its electric chair. John S. Battle to grant clemencyall to no avail. Four of the Martinsville Seven were electrocuted on February 2, 1951. Before their executions, protesters picketed at the White House, and the governor's office received letters from around the world asking for mercy. Four more suspects were arrested that night, based in part on the first two men's confessions. Though Governor William Tuck initially agreed to a stay during appellate litigation, by late July 1950, newly elected Governor John S. Battle refused to commute the men's sentences, saying he was horrified by the rapes. Cause of death Details of the circumstance surrounding our beloved, Ruby Stroud Floyddeath is not public yet, we will share more as we learn. To protect them from mob violence, they took them to other jails outside Henry County. In their appeals, Martin and the NAACP discussed the unfairness of the venue, the pressure on later juries to arrive at the same sentence as the earlier ones, and the historical racial disparities in application of death penalty sentences in the state. based on information from your browser. All seven men were convicted and sentenced to death within eight days. "The Martinsville Seven were not given adequate due process 'simply for being black,' they were sentenced to death for a crime that a white person would not have been executed for 'simply for being black,' and they were killed, by the Commonwealth, 'simply for being black,' " the advocates wrote in their letter to Northam. You must log in or register to reply here. At the time of their arrest, all but one were between the ages of 18 and 23. He was appalled at the nature of the crime.[2]. The preliminary hearing occurred about a month later, and the grand jury two months after that. It is a filthy, sick crime," Hodge-Muse said. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. State And Regional Martinsville Film To Be Produced By Charlottesville Activist And Uvas Center For Politics. The CRC focused on producing pamphlets and publicity for outside campaigns to raise awareness about the case, including internationally, and hoped to put pressure on government officials. The CRC in turn criticized the NAACP for its reliance on a legal strategy that had a dubious chance of success in a southern state where rigid Jim Crow was enforced. Try again later. Do you find this information helpful? She also had abrasions on her elbows, forearms, knees, lower legs and thighs. "Their punishment did not fit the crime. Another person who wants to learn more is Denise Grayson, 46, of Raleigh, N.C., a granddaughter of Francis Grayson. The photographer is unknown. He sobbed loudly when Northam told the family members he would grant the pardons after meeting with them Tuesday. Weve updated the security on the site. Two weeks after Whittle's warning, the Martinsville defendants were convicted and sentenced to join them. For more information and other images, see www.flickr.com/photos/washington_area_spark/sets/72157643 Photo by Washington Daily News. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. The judge ruled that there was no evidence that discrimination was involved in imposing the Martinsville death sentences. All Rights Reserved. Eric W. Rise, Race, Rape, and Radicalism: The Case of the Martinsville Seven, 1949-1951. The Journal of Southern History LVIII, no. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Rarely. The image is an auction find. Learn more about managing a memorial . In a news release, Northam said the pardons were not about whether the men were guilty, but it was "recognition from the Commonwealth" that the men did not receive adequate due process. This page was last edited on 6 February 2023, at 23:13. 10 free downloads. The Martinsville 7 Project, according to their website, seeks to highlight the case, share their stories, collect and post records related to the case, and promote the pardon request. The remaining three were executed on February 5, 1951. He said, 'Well, read the book the Martinsville Seven. On the evening of January 8, 1949, a 32-year-old White woman, Ruby Stroud Floyd accused 13 Black men of raping her while she had gone to a predominantly Black neighborhood in Martinsville . We encourage you all to respect the dead and accord the family heartbroken with the loss of a cherished one, some privacy as you leave a message in the comment session. Their petition does not argue that the men were innocent, but says their trials were unfair and the punishment was extreme and unjust. There had been no threats of lynching before the trials and no disturbances after the executions. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. The prosecution pointed out that Floyd had gone to an area considered unsafe for white women, ignored warnings of black residents of staying too long there, and not been attentive to her surroundings or the men she passed. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. "They won't discuss that at all," she said. [2] The men were executed in early February. The CRC also had organized an international campaign, and Governor Battle was swamped by letters from overseas asking him to commute the sentences of the men. Black men executed in 1951 for the rape of a white woman granted posthumous pardons | CBC News Loaded. "I won't talk about that," Martin said. The police first arrested Frank Hairston, Jr. and Booker T. Millner, and soon picked up James Luther Hairston, Howard Lee Hairston, John Clabon Taylor, Francis DeSales Grayson, then James Henry Hampton as additional suspects. But Hodge-Muse, Millner and others also believe that not all the facts came out during the trials and that there are many unanswered questions. northern cricket league professionals; breaux bridge jail inmates; virtualbox ubuntu failed to start snap daemon; len and brenda credlin Washington and Lee University law professor David Bruck said that even if the trials were fair and the men guilty, "the idea that you could have a 45-to-nothing ratio and that does not prove anything tells you that this was simply a judicial system that was not prepared to do the right thing.". Northam has now granted a total of 604 pardons since taking office in 2018, more than the previous nine governors combined, his administration announced Tuesday. First arrested for the crime was Frank Hairston, Jr. and Booker T. Millner, and soon James Luther Hairston, Howard Lee Hairston, John Clabon Taylor, Francis DeSales Grayson, then James Henry Hampton were gathered as additional suspects. Judge Kennon C. Whittle of the Martinsville Circuit Court granted requests to hold individual trials. Our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers are with the family and friends. There is a problem with your email/password. During the eleven-day trials, juries heard testimonies from both sides, including medical evidence of Floyds physical injuries and accounts from black witnesses whom Floyd appealed to for help after the assault. All 45 men executed in Virginias electric chair in 1951 for the crime of rape were black men convicted of assaulting white women. While the NAACP focused on racial equality as part of Cold War American democratic visions, CRC mobilized left-based organizations and newspapers from around the world to pressure state and national officials to intervene. Ruby belonged to a predominantly black neighborhood in Martinsville,. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Try again later. 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