Maurice Mays, 1922 March 15

was taken to the home of Mrs, Lindsey where Mrs, Parsons positively
identified him as the man who had shot her cousin, The next day,
Mays was secretly taken to Chattanooga for safekeeping and that night
a mob stormed the jail, Later that night, a mob of blacks confronted
the mob of whites and rioting continued throughout the night, being
Nquieted only when soldiers appeared, At his trial, he sought un=
ajsuccessfully to prove and alibi and was convicted largely on the tes-
\\timony of Mrs, Parsons. The conviction was reversed on appeal be-
cause the trial judge had committed error in not allowing the jury
Wyto fix the, punishment and he was tried for a sconed time, convicted
and sentenced to die. Mays maintained until his death that he was
Nyinnocent and became very abusive of politicians after the Supreme
Court affirmed his second conviction and Governor Taylor, a Republican
refused to grant clemenck, As his execution approached, he became
even more abusive towards the officials and.on his last night he had
difficulty controlling his emotions, weeping frequently, Prior to
his death, in a religious fervor, he xpressed forgiveness to the poli-
ticians, still maintaining his innocence, However, his last words,
Se short. by the application of the current, at xmeqmm his electrocu-

tion at the Tennessee State Prison on March 15, 1922, were: ' MH I am
xdying to satisfy a few Republican politicians, I am innocent as the
gsun shinese I hope the politicians are satisfied, Governor Taylor
Shas been told he would 20,000 votes if he interceded for me,---=<"

was taken to the home of Mrs, Lindsey where Mrs, Parsons positively
identified him as the man who had shot her cousin. The next day,
Mays was secretly taken to Chattanooga for safekeeping and that night
a mob stormed the jail, Later that night, a mob of blacks confronted
the mob of whites and rioting continued throughout the night, being
A auieted only when soldiers appeared, at his trial, he sought un=
ajsuccessfully to prove and alibi and was convicted largely on the tes-
\timeny of Mrs, Parsons. The conviction was reversed on appeal bee
)Ncause the trial judge had committed error in not allowing the jury
\yto fix the, punishment and he was tried for a sconed time, convicted
Nand sentenced to die. Mays maintained until his death that he was
Nyinnocent and became very abusive of politicians after the Supreme
Court affirmed his second conviction and Governor Taylor, a Republican
refused to grant clemenck, As his execution approached, he became
even more abusive towards the officials and.on his last night he had
\difficulty controlling his emotions, weeping frequently, Prior to i
(his death, in a religious fervor, he xpressed forgiveness to the poli-
tticians, still maintaining his innocence. However, his last words,
i~cut short. by the application of the current, at ximeqiax his electrocu-
tion at the Tennessee State Prison on March 15, 1922, were: ' AH I am
xdying to satisfy a few Republican politicians, I am innocent as the
|Jsun shines. I hope the politicians are satisfied, Governor Taylor
Shas been told he would 20,000 votes if he interceded for me, --<=!!

was taken to the home of Mrs, Lindsey where Mrs, Parsons positively
identified him as the man who had shot her cousin. next day,
Mays was secretly taken to Chattanooga for safekeeping and that night
a mob stormed the jail, Later that night, a mob of blacks confronted
the mob of whites and rioting continued throughout the night, being
dauieted only when soldiers appeared, At his trial, he sought un-
a)successfully to prove and alibi and was convicted largely on the tes-
\\timony of Mrs, Parsons, The conviction was reversed on appeal be=
cause the trial judge had committed error in not allowing the jury
{sto fix the, punishment and he was tried for a sconed time, convicted
Sand sentenced to die, Mays maintained until his death that he was
jryinnocent and became very abusive of politicians after the Suprene
Court affirmed his second conviction and Governor Taylor, a Republican]
refused to grant clemenck, As his execution approached, he became
even more abusive towards the officials and.on his last night he had
difficulty controlling his emotions, weeping frequently, Prior to
his death, in a religious fervor, he xpressed forgiveness to the poli-
ticdans, still maintaining his innocence, However, his last words,
ut short. by the application of the current, at swegmx his electrocu-
Sign at the Tennessee State Prison on March 15, 1922, were: ' ail Tan
dying to satisty a fey Republican politicians,’ T an’ innocent as the
jsun shines. ope the politicians are satisfied, Governor Taylor
Shas been sia ne veut a 20,000 votes if he interceded for me,-~-="

iismeheete > Deormese sa

pS Rederiet (Soa Bo

__ MAYS, Maurice MoluGolgcrten oy Viaehretle ee
Yea ry abel an lick Be dolleas t fre ler Lhe
Medlays, a black an, lived in Knoxville, Tenn., where he was a Democrat
aactively engaged in the politics of the black community, ®nound
bse O'clock on the morning of August 30, 1919, he entered the home of
‘SMrs. Bertie Lindsey, a white woman who lived on Eighth St. He went
“into the room where Mrs, Lindsey and her cousin, Mrs, Ray Parsons,
‘the only two occupants of the house, were sleeping with a flashlight
in one hand and a revolver in the other. The women were awakened
Mand he warned them to be quiet and made known his demands, Mrs,
fp, Lindsey leaped from the bed and ran from the door screaming and
fi Mays shot her in the back before calmly walking from the house,
@After he had left, Mrs, Parsons summoned neighbors and Mrs, Lindsey
7 was found to be dead from her wound, From. the description of the
mrderer provided by Mrs, Parsons, Mays was immediately suspected
and officers went to his house to question him, In spite of the
~fact that they knocked and kicked onthe door with such force that
2 his neighbors were aroused, Mays did not come to the door, They
‘then walked around the house and noticed, through a window, him

glying on a bed. When they rapped on the nes ne 2 nitted them,
fe)

E The KAMEXKMAKKANNAXHMAK KMKUAAKAAKEURREXXX cut ts S paribs were
wet, indicating that he had recently walked through some weeds and

® one chamber in his pistol was empty and had recently been fired, He

" i : aabwelle Ou. SYS IF 2
hss elf peel tai oy Mas UA F2
odlays, a black » lived in PUAN Tenne, where he was a Democrat
Sactively engaged in the politics of the black community. ®nound

be o'clock on the morning of August 30, 1919, he entered the home of
SMrs, Bertie Lindsey, a yhite woman who lived on Eighth St. He went
"into the room where Mrs, Lindsey and her cousin, Mrs, Ray Parsons,

*the only two occupants of the house, were sleeping with a flashlight

in one hand and a revolver in the other. The women were awakened
‘and he warned them to be quiet and made known his demands, Mrs,
ohreonadd leaped from the bed and ran from the door screaming and

Mays shot her in the back before calmly walking from the house,
@After he had left, Mrs, Parsons summoned neighbors and Mrse Lindsey
fj was found to be dead from her wound, From, the description of the
fi mrderer provided by Mrs, Parsons, Mays was immediately susp ected
Gand officers, went to his house to question him. In spite of the
gfact that they knocked and kicked onthe door with such force that
S his neighbors were aroused, Mays did not come to the door, They
“1 then walked around the house and noticed, through a window, him
elying on a bed. When they r do i ni
tthe RAKEXXNER URE TRACTERE TTY corte OF Riettted than,
i, wet, indicating that he had recently walked through some weeds and
® One chamber in his pistol was emty and had recently been fired, He
2

i S Yjaehrille Ox SL4,
Legend Sin ORO RV ais Gey
tay, a black fan, lived in Knoxvitle, Tenn,, where he was a Denocrat
actively engaged in the politics of the black community, @nound

$2 otclock on the morning of August 30, 1919, he entered the home of
BMre, Bertie Lindsey, a white woman who Lived on Fighth St. He went
“into the room where Mrs, Lindsey and her cousin, Mrs, Ray Parsons,
fthe only two occupants of the house, were sleeping with a flashlight
in one hand and a revolver in the other. The women were awakened
and he warned them to be quiet and made known his demands, Mrs,
Lindsey leaped from the bed and ran from the door screaming and
fiMays shot her in the back before calmly walking from the house,
After he had left, Mrs, Parsons summoned neighbors and Mrs, Lindsey
was found to be dead from her wound, From the description of the
murderer provided by Mrs, Parsons, Mays was immediately suspected
Gand officers, went to his house to question him, In spite of the
fact that they knocked and kicked onthe door with such force that

were

wet, indicating that he had recently walked through some weeds and

Gone’ chamber in his pistol was emty and had recently been fired, He
3

When the i
en they rapped on the windows he fgmittes thane

Bei nel in be pie tthe ak
erieg a aa

in Cy
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