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Triple Tragedy in Alcolu: The execution of 14-year-old George Stinney, Jr., accused of the murders of Betty June Binnicker and Mary Emma Thames.
On June 16, 1944, the State of South Carolina executed 14-year-old George Stinney Jr., found guilty of killing 11-year-old Betty June Binnicker in the Clarendon County town of Alcolu. Betty June Binnicker and her 7-year-old companion, Mary Emma Thames, went missing on March 23, 1944. Searchers discovered their bodies early the next morning. Binnicker's bicycle, and its detached front wheel, had been placed on top of them. Deputies charged George Stinney Jr. with killing both girls. However, for reasons unknown, Stinney was tried only for the murder of Binnicker. 83 days after the deaths, with no appeals, George Stinney Jr. was electrocuted by the State of South Carolina. Rumors about Stinney's innocence or guilt began the day of his arrest. Since the original trial, a fictional book, movie, and several video productions loosely based on the George Stinney Jr. story added to those rumors, and some eventually came to be touted as fact. In December 2014, a judge vacated George Stinney Jr.'s conviction, ruling he did not receive a fair trial in 1944. Although the judge's ruling did not exonerate Stinney, it fed rumors that the girls may have been killed by someone else. This book is an attempt to separate fact from fiction, and an effort to give readers available information pertaining to the case. Guilty or innocent, George Stinney Jr. will forever be the youngest person executed in the United States during the Twentieth Century.
- GenresNonfiction
294 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2020
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October 12, 2023Sad Historical Legal Case
In this very sad, historical legal case, the author delves into the case of a 14yo negro boy, George Stinney Jr., who, in a small, segregated town in SC in1944, falsely(?) confesses to the brutal murder of two white girls (7 & 14yo, iirc). His family is forced to leave town right after his arrest, they are too poor to afford counsel for George, and George is appointed an attorney who doesn't represent him properly in court at his trial. Barely any Cross examination is done, and no witnesses are called on his behalf. The trial takes place only 31 days after has arrest, yet his attorney doesn't ask for more time to prepare. No investigator is hired to help with his side, and there's no way a death penalty case can be ready to defend in that short period of time.
George is completely alone. No family or friends to talk to, nobody of his own race in his corner. He was always taught that the white race was more superior, with the area he resided In being segregated. He's arrested by big white men, his attorney is white, is the prosecutor, the judge, everyone on the jury, and the entire gallery in the courtroom.
After he's found guilty, with the jury not recommending leniency, he's sentenced to die in the electric chair. He's so small that the executioner has difficulty fitting the electrodes and it takes the flips of the switch before he's pronounced dead. By that time, he's burnt so badly his family cannot have an open casket funeral.
The family had been fearful to return to The town they are made to leave, as they were physically threatened due to the nature of the crime, and nobody had legal knowledge. The NAACP did not exist at the time and they felt they had nowhere to go.
One day, 70 years later a newspaper reporter wrote an article about the case and it gets the attention of a law firm who lifetime the Information the reporter was able to get. It was not much, as the records had been purged over the years, but through effort and context with the family and witnesses still living, they were able to put together a motion for the court using a little-used law to correct errors made in the court, with no statute of limitations.
Going back to the same court that convicted George 70 years ago, they attempt to get a New trial or to vacate his conviction.
The issue becomes, did The trial court err, based on the laws and the rules of Criminal procedure in place at that time? And how can either side prove their case without a full transcript of what happened in that original trial?
I will not spoil the book by telling you what happens, but WILL say that there ARE some places that get dry and boring with unnecessary legalese, but then there are some other parts where the legal talk is very exciting.
This is a very, very good book about how our times have changed, and how our legal system has advanced over The years. It's not about how "another black boy" was demonized by the system, and it's not to start any political debates or racial discussions. I don't want my review to do that. I hate that everything nowadays turns into one of those. This book is about how far we've come as a nation in law and the constitutional rights we all have to a fair trial with a vigorous defense.
Lovers of true crime and/or history will love this book!
In this very sad, historical legal case, the author delves into the case of a 14yo negro boy, George Stinney Jr., who, in a small, segregated town in SC in1944, falsely(?) confesses to the brutal murder of two white girls (7 & 14yo, iirc). His family is forced to leave town right after his arrest, they are too poor to afford counsel for George, and George is appointed an attorney who doesn't represent him properly in court at his trial. Barely any Cross examination is done, and no witnesses are called on his behalf. The trial takes place only 31 days after has arrest, yet his attorney doesn't ask for more time to prepare. No investigator is hired to help with his side, and there's no way a death penalty case can be ready to defend in that short period of time.
George is completely alone. No family or friends to talk to, nobody of his own race in his corner. He was always taught that the white race was more superior, with the area he resided In being segregated. He's arrested by big white men, his attorney is white, is the prosecutor, the judge, everyone on the jury, and the entire gallery in the courtroom.
After he's found guilty, with the jury not recommending leniency, he's sentenced to die in the electric chair. He's so small that the executioner has difficulty fitting the electrodes and it takes the flips of the switch before he's pronounced dead. By that time, he's burnt so badly his family cannot have an open casket funeral.
The family had been fearful to return to The town they are made to leave, as they were physically threatened due to the nature of the crime, and nobody had legal knowledge. The NAACP did not exist at the time and they felt they had nowhere to go.
One day, 70 years later a newspaper reporter wrote an article about the case and it gets the attention of a law firm who lifetime the Information the reporter was able to get. It was not much, as the records had been purged over the years, but through effort and context with the family and witnesses still living, they were able to put together a motion for the court using a little-used law to correct errors made in the court, with no statute of limitations.
Going back to the same court that convicted George 70 years ago, they attempt to get a New trial or to vacate his conviction.
The issue becomes, did The trial court err, based on the laws and the rules of Criminal procedure in place at that time? And how can either side prove their case without a full transcript of what happened in that original trial?
I will not spoil the book by telling you what happens, but WILL say that there ARE some places that get dry and boring with unnecessary legalese, but then there are some other parts where the legal talk is very exciting.
This is a very, very good book about how our times have changed, and how our legal system has advanced over The years. It's not about how "another black boy" was demonized by the system, and it's not to start any political debates or racial discussions. I don't want my review to do that. I hate that everything nowadays turns into one of those. This book is about how far we've come as a nation in law and the constitutional rights we all have to a fair trial with a vigorous defense.
Lovers of true crime and/or history will love this book!
January 27, 2022
Truly a tragic story with 3 victims
I was interested in this story because years later I lived in the county where it all took place. It is my non-expert opinion that Stinney was guilty of the murders of the 2 girls. He was railroaded into his confession, though, and did not receive the fair trial he was entitled to.
The book contains a lot of legalese and probably would not appeal to most readers.
I was interested in this story because years later I lived in the county where it all took place. It is my non-expert opinion that Stinney was guilty of the murders of the 2 girls. He was railroaded into his confession, though, and did not receive the fair trial he was entitled to.
The book contains a lot of legalese and probably would not appeal to most readers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews