introduced, taken two days after the confession, which showed nokmarks
of having been beaten and the confession was admitted, Both were con-—
victed and sentenced to die but they were awarded a new trial on appeal
Once again they were convicted and their appeal from the second convic-
tion was unsuccessful, On January 20, 1950, four days before the sche-
duled executions, Bearden rushed a guard who entered his cell to shave
him and, using an improvised knife, stabbed him several times, He then
ran down the corridor into the jail yard where he attacked another
buard before he was shot and killed by a third guard, Steele went to
his death in the electric chair at the Tennessee State Prison on Jan,
hs 1950,
NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN, January 20 and January 2h, 1950
225 SOUTHWESTERN (2nd) 260
introduced, taken two days after the confession, which showed nokmarks
of Bote been beaten and the confession was admitted, _Both were con=
Once ‘again they were convicted and their appeal from the Beer convic=
tion was unsuccessful, On January 20, 1950, four days before the sche-
duled executions, Bearden rushed a guard who entered his cell to shave
him and, using an improvised knife, stabbed him several times, He then
ran down the corridor into the jail yard where he attacked another
buard before he was shot and killed by a third guard, Steele went to
his death in the electric chair at the Tennessee State Prison on Jan,
ells 19506
NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN, January 20 and January 2), 1950
225 SOUTHWESTERN (2nd) 260
introduced, taken two days after the confession, which showed nokmarks
of having been beaten and the confession was admitted, Both were con-
victed and sentenced to die but they were awarded a new trial on appeal,
Once again they were convicted and their appeal from the second convic.
tion was unsuccessful, On January 20, 1950, four days before the sche.
duled executions, Bearden rushed a guard who entered his cell to shave
him and, using an improvised knife, stabbed him several times. He then
an down the corridor into the jail yard where he attacked another
buard before he was shot and killed by a third guard, Steele went to
his death in the electric chair at the Tennessee State Prison on Jan.
2h, 1950.
NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN, January 20 and January 2, 1950
225 SOUTHWESTERN (2nd) 260
“STEELE, Clyde
Steele, a 19-year-old black man, and his 18-year-old friend, Herbert
Bearden, lived in an integrated neighborhood of Nashville, Tenn. On
the night of March 28, 1918, they had been drinking when, around 7
o'clock, they saw a 58-year-old white woman and her 5-year=old grand-
daughter, leave a theater and start walking towards their home, One
of them told the woman that he wanted to accompany her home and she
indignantly refused to allow him to do so, They followed and when
they reached vacant lot they dragged her on to it and one of them
held the granddaughter while the other raped the woman, They then
exchanged places and the second raped her, The lady was unable to
identify either man but a taxi driver and his fare who knew Bearden
subsequently revealed that they had seen him and another man in the
area and that after the woman had passed Bearden had commented that
he planned to have sexual relations with her, Bearden was taken into
custody and after he was confronted by the two men who he had told
of his intentions to have intercourse with the woman he made a con-
fession nam ing Steele as his accomplice, Steele was then arrested
and after being confronted by Bearden who repeated his confession in
his presence he also requested. At their trial Steele repudiated his
confession and claimed that he had been beaten, Photographs were
“STEELE, Clyde
Steele, a 19-year-old black man, and his 18-year-old friend, Herbert
Bearden, lived in an integrated neighborhood of Nashville, Tenn, On
the night of March 28, 198, they had been drinking when, around 7
o'clock, they saw a 58-year-old white woman and her 5-year=old grand-
daughter, leave a theater and start walking towards their home, One
of them told the woman that he wanted to accompany her home and she
indignahtly refused to allow him to do so, They followed and when
they reached vacant lot they dragged her on to it and one of them
held the granddaughter while the other raped the woman, They then
exchanged places and the second raped her, The lady was unable to
identify either man but a taxi driver and his fare who knew Bearden
subsequently revealed that they had seen him and another man in the
area and that after the woman had passed Bearden had commented that
he planned to have sexual relations with her, Bearden was taken into
custody and after he was confronted by the two men who he had told
of his intentions to have intercourse with the woman he made a con-
fession nam ing Steele as his accomplice, Steele was then arrested
and after being confronted by Bearden who repeated his confession inv
his presence he also requested, At their trial Steele repudiated his
confession and claimed that he had been beaten, Photographs were
STEELE, Clyde
Steele, a 19-year-old black man, and his 18-year-old friend, Herbert
Bearden, lived in an integrated neighborhood of Nashville, Tenn, On
the night of March 28, 1918, they had been drinking when, around 7
o'clock, they saw a SB-year-old white woman and her 5eyear-old grand=
daughter, leave a theater and start walling towards their home, One
of then told the woman that he wanted to accompany her home and she
indignahtly refused to allow him to do so,
then
held the granddaughter while the other raped the woman, They wen
exchanged places and the second raped her, The lady was unable to
identify either man but a taxi driver and his fare who knew Bearden
subsequently revealed that they had seen him and another man in the
area and that after the woman had passed Bearden had cormented that
he planned to have sexual relations with her, Bearden was taken into
custody and after he was confronted by the two men who he had told
of his intentions to have intercourse with the woman he made a con=
fession nam ing Steele as his accomplice, Steele was then arrested
and after being confronted by Bearden who repeated his confession in
his presence he also.requested, At their trial Steele repudiated his
confession and claimed that he had been beaten, Photographs were
‘STHrEE, Clyde
