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ROBERSON
Direct Examination by Hon. Samuel S. Leibowitz
Q
Willie Robertson
Where did you live in the year 1931, two years ago?
Q
On the 25th of March in the year 1931 did you leave Chattanooga on a freight
train?
A
Yes sir.
*
Yes sir.
Willie will you tell the jury the condition of your private parts?
Yes sir.
On the day as to whether they were normal or what shape they were in?
In bad shape.
Q
That doesn't mean anything, tell us what was the trouble with them, were they
swollen?
Yes sir.
Swollen a heap.
Outside your organs being swollen you say you had some sores on it?
Yes sir.
Yes sir.
Large sores
Dr. Bridges?
The doctor at Scottsboro examined you that day you were arrested?
Yes sir.
Yes sir.
Yes sir.
Did you wear a suspensory at that time, you know what a suspensory is?
Did you wear one that day, or did you have one on?
Yes sir.
Q
It has been testified here by the lady named Victoria Price that the nine boys in
this case -- you are one of the nine?
A
Yes sir.
Q
Jumped off of a box car into a gondola car and engaged in a fight, engaged in
wrestling around and scuffling around and engaged in raping her or the other girl -GENERAL KNIGHT: We object.
MR. LEIBOWITZ:
Let me finish.
Q Were you in any condition that day, physical condition to jump form any box car
into a condaola car and run up and down the gondola car and engage in scuffling and
fighting?
A
No sir.
No sir.
Q
Did you ever rape any woman, or have any intercourse with any woman on that
day?
A
No sir.
* * * * * * * * *
Q
When you got to Paint Rock did you observe any men, any sheriffs with guns
along the line on up to where the train comes around the curve?
A
Yes sir.
Q
What happened between you and any of the officers as you lay in that box car
with the white man in it, tell these men there in the jury box?
A A white man come up and had a pistol and shot gun and told me to get out and I
crawled out; I had my stick and he told me to throw my stick away, and we marched
up to the store.
Q
A
He asked the white man did he want him to get out too, and he said no, he just
wanted these negroes off.
Q
In other words the white man asked the Sheriff or officer having the gun if he,
the Sheriff wanted the white man to get off and this Sheriff said to the white man
never mind he only wanted the negroes off?
A
Yes sir.
Yes sir.
Jew's store.
Yes sir.
A Yes sir -- one of the was talking about taking us out there and hanging us; one of
the fellows talked about taking us out there and hanging us to a tree with a rope.
Q
I don't know.
Yes sir
MR. LEIBOWITZ:
Q
Did you know Haywood Patterson at all until you met him in the Scottsboro jail?
No sir.
No sir.
No sir.
No sir.
Yes sir.
Q
Were you alone all the time except for the time you were there with the white
boy in that box car?
A
Yes sir.
When you were in the box car were you standing up or lying down?
I crawled up in the box car and laid down, I was hurting too bad to stand up.
Yes sir.
In Atlanta?
Yes sir.
Q
But you decided to get on a freight train and ride over to Memphis for
treatment?
Q
How long had you been in Chattanooga, how long had you stopped at
Chattanooga on your way to Memphis?
A
Yes sir.
Yes sir.
No sir.
* * *
Do you know Ozie Powell?
No sir.
Did you testify in the other trials you know Ozie Powell?
No sir.
Q
I will read you this record where you testified in Scottsboro? You were asked
this question: Do you know any of these boys, had you known them before that day
you met them on the train?" A: No sir." Q: Did you and Ozie Powell get on the
train together at Chattanooga?" A: Yes sir."
MR. LEIBOWITZ:
COURT:
Q
No sir.
No sir.
Q Didn't you testify at Scottsboro you got on the train with Ozie Powell at
Chattanooga?
A
No sir.
Q: Were you asked at Scottsboro, when you were tried at Scottsboro, this question:
Q: Did you and Ozie Powell get on the train together at Chattanooga?"
A Yes sir, I was asked that.
Q And didn't you say Yes sir."
A
No sir.
Q Were you asked this question: Where did you meet Ozie Powell."
COURT: Were you asked that question?
A
Q I will ask you this and if you didn't make this answer: Q: Where did you meet
Ozie Powell?" A: I met him in Chattanooga, he got on one end and I got on the
other."
A
No sir.