excerpts from the testimony of ruby bates

7/25/2019 Excerpts From the Testimony of Ruby Bates

1/14

EXCERPTS FROM THE TESTIMONY OF RUBY BATES

From the Direct Examination by Hon. Samuel Leibowitz

Q What is your full a!"#

A Ru$y Bat"s%

Q Ha&" you "&"r s"" !" $"for" i your lif"#

A Not that I 'o( of%

Q B"for" you sa( !" h"r" )ust a !iut" a*o ha+ you "&"r !"t !" $"for"#


Q You li&"+ i Huts&ill" +i+ you ot (h" you start"+ o this fr"i*ht trai#

A Y"s sir%

Q ,o you 'o( -i.toria Pri."#

A Y"s sir%

MR /EIBOWIT01 Bri* out -i.toria Pri." 2l"as"%

Q Is this (o!a -i.toria Pri." 3i+i.ati*#4

A Y"s sir%

Q You ar" a you*"r *irl tha -i.toria ar"5t you#

A Y"s sir%

Q Ho( lo* $"for" this ri+" o th" fr"i*ht trai +i+ you !""t -i.toria#

A I '"( h"r for so!" ti!"6 (" ha+ (or'"+ i th" !ill to*"th"r#

Q For ho( !ay y"ars#

A A$out t(o a+ a half y"ars%

* * * * * * * * *


2/14

Q W"r" you a *oo+ *irl $"for" you !"t h"r6 *oo+ +"."t *irl#

A W"ll6 y"s%

Q Aft"r you start"+ ta'i* u2 (ith h"r +i+ you .otiu" to *o arou+ (ith h"r i

Huts&ill"#

A Y"s sir%

Q W"r" you "&"r .o&i.t"+ of ay .ri!"#

A No sir%

Q You ("r" "&"r i )ail#

A No sir%

Q ,o you 'o( a !a $y th" a!" of /"st"r Cart"r#

A Y"s sir%

MR% /EIBOWIT01 Bri* out /"st"r Cart"r 2l"as"%

7ENERA/ 8NI7HT1 Wait a !iut"6 I (oul+ li'" for h"r to +"s.ri$" hi!%

Q Th" Attor"y 7""ral as'"+ that you +"s.ri$" hi!6 +"s.ri$" /"st"r Cart"r6 t"ll us

(hat 'i+ of loo'i* !a h" is#

A W"ll h" is $lo+ h"a+"+6 h" has $lo+ hair%

Q Tall or short#

A H" is ot so tall%

Q Woul+ you r".o*i9" hi! if you sa( hi!#

A Y"s sir%

Q H" (as o" of th" $oys i )ail (ith you aft"r th" trai sto22"+ at Pait Ro.'#

A Y"s sir%


3/14

Q You '"( hi! $"for" you "&"r *ot o th" trai#

A Y"s sir%

MR% /EIBOWIT01 Bri* out /"st"r Cart"r%

Q Who is this $oy 3i+i.ati*4#

A /"st"r Cart"r%

Q ,i+ you "&"r ha&" o..asio to &isit -i.toria Pri." i th" Huts&ill" )ail6 *o to s""

h"r#

A No sir6 I "&"r +i+ *o to s"" h"r%

Q Wh"r" (as it you sa( -i.toria Pri." shortly $"for" you !"t /"st"r Cart"r#

A W"ll -i.toria a+ !ys"lf ("t +o( to th" .hai *a* (h"r" hi! a+ aoth"r

f"llo( (as%

Q You !"t hi! at th" .hai *a*#

A Y"s sir%

Q Who (as that !a o th" .hai *a* (ith /"st"r Cart"r#

A :a.' Till"r%

MR% /EIBOWIT01 Is :a.' Till"r i Court6 i th" roo! th"r"#

7ENERA/ 8NI7HT1 I thi' h" is%

MR% /EIBOWIT01 Bri* out :a.' Till"r%

Q ,o you 'o( that !a that )ust .a!" i (ith th" $lu" ti"#

A Y"s sir%

Q Who is h"#

A :a.' Till"r%

* * * * * * * * *


4/14

Q Wh"r" (as th" first 2la." you !"t u2 (ith th"! (h" th"y *ot out of )ail#

A Th"y .a!" to th" !ill o" aft"roo (h"r" (" ("r"6 o Mo+ay aft"roo $"for"

(" l"ft o Tu"s+ay%

Q What ha22""+#

A W"ll -i.toria a+ :a.' a+ !ys"lf a+ /"st"r all l"ft a+ (al'"+ u2 th" Pulas'i

Pi'"%

Q ,i+ you *o alo* o th" railroa+ 'o( as th" / ; N railroa+ th"r"#

A Wh" (" *ot $a.' (" ("t +o( th" N%C%

Q That (as at i*ht#

A Y"s sir%

Q ,i+ you ha&" it"r.ours" (ith /"st"r Cart"r that i*ht#

A I ."rtaily +i+%

Q ,i+ -i.toria Pri." ha&" it"r.ours" (ith :a.' Till"r#

A Y"s sir%

* * * * * * * * *

Q You ("t out of to( o Tu"s+ay#

A Y"s sir%

Q ,i+ Till"r *o alo* (ith you or +i+ h" r"!ai $"hi+#

A H" r"!ai"+ $"hi+%

Q What (as th" r"aso for that#

A I .oul+5t say%

Q W"r" you6 /"st"r Cart"r a+ -i.toria Pri." o th" fr"i*ht trai#

A Y"s sir%


5/14

Q ,i+ you *o to Chattaoo*a#

A Y"s sir%

Q Wh"r" +i+ you s2"+ th" i*ht that i*ht at Chattaoo*a6 +i+ you s2"+ th" i*ht

at Calli" Bro.hi"5s#

A No sir%

Q Wh"r" +i+ you first h"ar of th" a!" of Calli" Bro.hi"6 (ho tol+ you that a!"#

A -i.toria Pri."%

Q Wh"r" +i+ you s2"+ th" i*ht that i*ht#

A S2"t th" i*ht6 I thi' it is .all"+ Ho$o S(a!2%

Q Is that "ar th" railroa+ yar+s#

A Y"s sir%

Q Who s2"t th" i*ht th"r" (ith you#

A Or&ill" 7ill"y6 /"st"r Cart"r a+ -i.toria Pri."%

* * * * * * * * *

Q That !ori*6 +i+ you start .o!i* $a.' to Huts&ill" o th" fr"i*ht trai


6/14

Q I th" "=t *o+ola#

A Y"s sir%

Q What ha22""+#

A A+ aft"r a (hil" th"r" (as a $u.h of "*ro"s .o!" o&"r a+ start"+ fi*hti*6

th"y (as all fi*hti* a+ /"st"r Cart"r a+ this 7ill"y $oy )u!2"+ o&"r to h"l2 th"!

out%

Q You !"a /"st"r Cart"r a+ 7ill"y l"ft th" *o+ola i (hi.h you ("r" i a+

("t ito th" "=t *o+ola (h"r" th" fi*ht (as $"t("" th" (hit" $oys a+ th"

"*ro"s#

A Y"s sir%

Q Th" (hat ha22""+#

A Th" "*ro"s 2ut all th" $oys off $ut o"6 Or&ill" 7ill"y a+ h" .a!" $a.' i th"

.ar (h"r" (" ("r"%

Q Th" (hat ha22""+6 (h" you6 -i.toria a+ 7ill"y ("r" th"r" +i+ th" "*ro"s

.o!" i that .ar (h"r" you ("r"#


Q ,i+ ay "*ro atta.' you that +ay#


Q ,i+ ay "*ro atta.' -i.toria Pri." that +ay#


Q ,i+ you s"" ay "*ro atta.' -i.toria Pri." that +ay#

A No sir%

COURT1 Wh"r" (s -i.toria Pri."%

A Sh" (as i th" *o+ola (h"r" I (as%

* * * * * * * * *


7/14

Q You t"stifi"+ at S.otts$oro that si= "*ro"s ra2"+ you a+ si= "*ro"s ra2"+ h"r6

a+ o" ha+ a 'if" o your throat> (hat ha22""+ to h"r (as "=a.tly th" sa!" thi*

that ha22""+ to you% Who .oa.h"+ you to say that#

A Sh" tol+ it a+ I tol+ it )ust li'" sh" tol+ it%

Q Who tol+ you to t"ll that story#

A I tol+ it li'" sh" tol+ it%

Q Who tol+ you to +o that6 (ho .oa.h"+ you to +o that#

A Sh" +i+%

Q ,i+ sh" t"ll you (hat (oul+ ha22" to you if you +i+5t follo( h"r story#

A Sh" sai+ (" !i*ht ha&" to lay out a s"t"." i )ail%

* * * * * * * * *

From the Cross Examination by Attorney General Knight

Q Wh"r" +i+ you *"t that .oat#

A W"ll I $ou*ht it%

Q Who *a&" you th" !o"y to $uy it#

A W"ll I +o5t 'o(%

Q You +o5t 'o(6 (h"r" +i+ you *"t th" hat#

A I $ou*ht it%

Q Who *a&" you th" !o"y to $uy it#

COURT1 ,o you 'o(#

A ,r% Fosti.' of N"( Yor'%

Q H" *a&" you that#

A Y"s sir%


8/14


9/14

MR% /EIBOWIT01 I o$)".t%

COURT1 Sustai th" o$)".tio%

7ENERA/ 8NI7HT1 I .a sho( th" 2ur2os" of it as .l"ar a+ 2lai as aythi* i

th" (orl+% H" off"r"+ o th" sta+ to sho( th" oth"r +ay that Willi" Ro$"rtso ha+sy2hilis (h" -i.toria Pri." t"stifi"+ h" ha+ it"r.ours" (ith h"r6 a+ o( I a!

2r"2ar"+ to 2ro&" this *irl has it%

* * * * * * * * *

Q I (ill as' you if this ?u"stio (as5t as'"+ you at S.otts$oro6 a+ if you *a&" th"

follo(i* as("r6 you ("r" as'"+ (h"th"r or ot o that trai you sa( this +"f"+at6

Hay(oo+ Patt"rso6 a+ you as("r"+6 y"s sir> is that tru" or ot tru"#

COURT1 ,i+ you !a'" that stat"!"t at S.otts$oro#

A Y"s sir6 I !a+" that stat"!"t%

Q Is that tru" or ot tru"#

A I +o5t 'o( (h"th"r that is th" o" or ot%

Q I (ill as' if you ("r" ot as'"+ this ?u"stio a+ if you !a+" th" follo(i*

stat"!"t1!. "here was he when you #irst saw him$ A. He was coming o%er the

box car with the rest o# the colore& boys. ,i+ you !a'" that stat"!"t#

A I tol+ it )ust li'" -i.toria Pri." tol+ it%

Q I as'"+ you if you !a+" that stat"!"t at S.otts$oro#

A Y"s sir6 I tol+ it%

* * * * * * * * *

Q I (ill as' you o( to t"ll !" (ith"r or ot you ha&" sy2hilis or ha+ sy2hilis#

A I ha+ sy2hilis6 y"s sir%

Q Who tr"at"+ you for that#

A ,r% Wal'"r i Huts&ill"%


10/14

Q Will you t"ll !" th" +at" h" $"*a tr"ati* you for that#

A Th" first Mo+ay i A2ril%

Q Th" first Mo+ay i A2ril#

A @@%

Q Th" first of A2ril @@6 I thou*ht you ("r" u2 a$out S.otts$oro i th" trial of

th"s" .as"s#

A May$" th" last Mo+ay i A2ril> It (as o Mo+ay aft"r I .o!" ho!" o

Thurs+ay%

Q I (ill as' you if (h" you ("t to $" tr"at"+ $y ,r% Wal'"r you +i+5t also ha&"

*oorrh"a%

A No sir6 ot at that ti!"%

Q You +i+5t ha&" it#

A No sir%

Q I (ill as' you if you +i+5t t"ll ,r% Wal'"r you .otra.t"+ sy2hilis fro! so!" of

thos" 2"rsos (ho ra2"+ you o this trai#

A I tol+ hi! I +i+5t 'o( (h"r" I *ot it%

Q You +i+5t t"ll hi! you .otra.t"+ it fro! so!" of th" "*ro"s (ho ra2"+ you o

th" trai#

A No sir%

Q You +o5t 'o( (h"r" you *ot it#

A No sir%

Q Ha+ you sy2hilis 2rior to your *oi* to ,r% Wal'"r#

A W"ll I ha+ it for so!" ti!"%

Q For ho( lo*#


11/14

A I ha+ it $"for" I ("t to S.otts$oro%

Q Ha+ you "&"r $"" tr"at"+ for it $"for" you ("t to S.otts$oro#

A No sir%

* * * * * * * * *

Q I (ill as' you if you ("r" ot as'"+ this ?u"stio (h" you t"stifi"+ at

S.otts$oro1 "as this &e#en&ant one o# them or not' &i& you see him with a

(istol$ a+ if you +i+5t as("r)es sir.

A I tol+ that at S.otts$oro $".aus" -i.toria tol+ it%

Q E&"rythi* you tol+ (as $".aus" -i.toria tol+ it6 +i+ you h"ar -i.toria t"stify#

A I h"ar+ h"r t"ll it i )ail%

* * * * * * * * *

Q S"" that l"tt"r th"r" 3i+i.ati*46 ta'" your ti!" a+ r"a+ it6 I +o5t (at to 2r"ss

you6 I )ust (at you to $" a..urat"%

A I .a5t r"a+ it%

Q I (ill as' you if you .a r"a+ this 3i+i.ati*46 that is your a!"6 Ru$y Bat"s6

is5t it#

A That is !y a!"%

Q It (as si*"+ to it#

A Y"s sir%

MR% /EIBOWIT01 ,i+ you r"a+ it o&"r%

7ENERA/ 8NI7HT1 Sh" sai+ sh" .oul+5t r"a+ it%

A It is so +i! I .oul+5t r"a+ it%

Q I (ill as' you if this is ot th" l"tt"r that !a *ot you to si* that i*ht h" .a!"

+o( th"r" a+ you all ("r" +ri'i* to*"th"r#

MR% /EIBOWIT01 I o$)".t%


12/14

COURT1 O&"rrul" th" o$)".tio%

COURT1 Is that your si*atur"#

A That is !y si*atur"%

COURT1 As' th" ?u"stio%

Q ,o you 'o( (hat is i that l"tt"r to this *oo+ +ay#

A No sir%

Q ,i+ you si* that l"tt"r that i*ht (h" you ("r" +ri'i* (ith so!" !a (ho

.a!" th"r"6 (hos" a!" you say you +i+5t 'o(#

A Y"s sir%

Q You ("r" +ri'i*6 2r"tty +ru' that i*ht%

A W" ("r" all +ri'i*6 y"s sir%

Q W"r" you so +ru' you +i+5t 'o( (hat (as i that l"tt"r#

A I +i+5t r"a+ th" l"tt"r%

Q Wh"r" +i+ that !a .o!" fro!#

A I +o5t 'o( that%

Q H" aft"r(ar+s *ot i )ail i Huts&ill"#

A Y"s sir6 h" (as i )ail%

Q H" *ot i )ail aft"r that +ri'i* 2arty#

MR% /EIBOWIT01 I o$)".t6 that is ot $i+i* o this +"f"+at%

COURT1 Sustai th" o$)".tio%

Q ,o you r"!"!$"r "&"r a22"ari* $"for" Norris M% Pay"6 a Notary Pu$li.6 at

Huts&ill"6 Ala$a!a1 :auary Dth6 @% I Ru$y Bat"s6 of !y o( fr"" (ill a+

a..or+ a+ (ithout ay thr"ats6 2ro!is"s or i+u."!"ts of ay 'i+ !a+" a*aist or

to !" $y ay 2"rso (hat"&"r h"r"$y !a'" th" follo(i* stat"!"ts1 That !y


13/14

"&i+"." a*aist th" "*ro"s at S.otts$oro (as a$solut"ly th" truth% That if I (rot" a

l"tt"r to Earl Str""t!a6 or ay oth"r 2"rso6 .otra+i.ti* this t"sti!oy6 o Tu"s+ay

i*ht6 :auary th6 @ or at ay oth"r ti!" it (as (h" I (as so +ru' that I +i+ ot

'o( (hat I (as +oi*% I (as +ru' last i*ht a+ ha&" o r".oll".tio of (riti*

ay l"tt"r% That th" l"tt"r su22os"+ to ha&" (ritt" $y !" to Str""t!a .otais all

fals"hoo+s6 o truth $"i* i it6 a+ I +"y !a'i* ay su.h stat"!"ts or (riti* aysu.h l"tt"r% I ha+ you this6 s"" if that is ot your si*atur"6 if you +i+5t si* that

$"for" Mr% Pay"#

A I +i+%

Q W"r" you t"lli* th" truth#

A No I +i+5t t"ll th" truth th"%

* * * * * * * * *

Q I "=a!i"+ you +i+ I ot at th" Tho!as :"ff"rso Hot"l i a roo! i th" 2r"s"."

of -i.toria Pri." a+ i th" 2r"s"." of Mr% Esli*"r a+ i th" 2r"s"." of Mr% Mat H%

Mur2hy6 a $i* tall !a (ith *ray hair#

A Y"s sir%

Q I tal'"+ to you a$out this .as" +i+ I ot#

A Y"s sir%

Q I (ill as' you if I +i+5t t"ll you th" a+ th"r" I +i+ ot (at to $ur ay 2"rso

that (as5t *uilty#

A I o$)".t%


Q ,i+ I ot !a'" that stat"!"t to you a+ -i.toria Pri."#

A I thi' you +i+6 I (o5t say for sur"%

Q ,i+ I ot t"ll you th" oly thi* I (at"+ (as th" truth#

MR% /EIBOWIT01 I o$)".t to all that%


14/14


MR% /EIBOWIT01 I "=."2t%

Q ,i+5t I t"ll you that#

A Y"s%

Q At that ti!" I also tol+ you I (oul+ 2uish ay$o+y (ho !a+" you s("ar fals"ly

+i+ I ot#

A Y"s sir%

Q ,i+5t you th" a+ th"r" a+ o that o..asio

excerpts from the testimony of ruby bates

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