Posted on by Californiacontrarian

Which Century ?

It was pretty much chaos. The mob marched around the courthouse screaming and yelling all day long. Many of those in the mob were self-identified by signs and placards with three capital letters . . . XXX.

As they walked into the courthouse, the witnesses were intimidated and subtly threatened. If they dared to speak on behalf of the defendant, there could well be consequences and everyone knew it. The jurors were not sequestered, and many who lived in the town basically knew who they were. If the jury arrived at a verdict different than what the outside mob wanted, there was little doubt of what would happen to them and to the town.

The judge could have easily declared a mistrial, but he too had to live in the same town as those who were marching outside the courthouse. In all likelihood he did not live in a gated community, and when they wished, the mob could easily find out where he lived. Furthermore they could find out where his kids and grandkids lived and went to school. He was certainly aware of the consequences were if he were to fold.

The politicians proclaimed that they hoped that the jury would “do the right thing.”

That was back in Alabama in 1921 and some of the mob outside the courthouse were self-identified by three large capital letters – XXX . . . K.K.K.

Certainly nothing similar to that could ever happen again in the 21st century . . . could it?

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