Jimmy Wilson (robber) facts for kids
James E. Wilson (born around 1904) was an American farm worker. In 1958, an Alabama court found him guilty of robbery and sentenced him to death. His case became very famous because of the small amount stolen ($1.95). Also, Wilson was an African-American man, and his jury was made up only of white people.
This case caused problems for the United States during the Cold War. The US was trying to show other countries that it believed in democracy and fairness. But Wilson's case made it look like the US wasn't fair in its own states. This made the US government feel embarrassed on the world stage.
About James Wilson
James Wilson was born in Alabama in 1904. He could not read or write.
People described Wilson as someone who moved around a lot and didn't stay in one place. He was arrested eight times between 1929 and 1957. By 1940, he was living with his wife in Marion, Alabama. In 1957, he worked as a farmhand.
The Robbery Case
On July 27, 1957, James "Jimmy" Wilson was arrested. He was accused of stealing $1.95 from a 74-year-old white widow named Estelle Barker. This happened at night in Marion, Alabama.
An all-white jury found Wilson guilty of robbery. The judge then sentenced Wilson to death by electrocution.
At that time, robbery in Alabama could lead to the death penalty. However, no one had ever been sentenced to death for stealing less than $5.
In September 1958, Wilson's two brothers hired Fred Gray to be his lawyer.
Wilson's case was taken to the Alabama Supreme Court. But the court decided to keep the death sentence. The court said that the robbery was violent. They also stated that "the amount of the money ... taken is immaterial," meaning the small amount didn't matter.
Worldwide Attention
It was hard to find people in Wilson's hometown who would speak up for him. But his case became known all over the world. Many newspapers wrote critical articles about it. Groups were formed to protest, and people sent many petitions. They demanded that the death sentence be stopped.
The US embassy in London received about 600 letters of protest. Jim Folsom, who was the Governor of Alabama, received over 1,000 letters every day. These letters asked him to show mercy to Wilson. Governor Folsom was against the death penalty.
The British Labour Party and the International Commission of Jurists also sent letters. They asked for mercy for Wilson. Even a newspaper in Alabama, the Birmingham Post-Herald, asked for mercy. The story was even used by Communist newspapers to criticize the US.
The US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, wrote to Governor Folsom. He told the governor how much international attention the case was getting.
On September 29, 1958, Governor Folsom changed Wilson's sentence. He changed it from death to a life sentence. This was the most he could legally do to help Wilson. Folsom said, "I admit that we have got the worst penal system in the world... I hope the next Legislature will do something about improving the situation."
Wilson was released from prison on October 1, 1973. He was 70 years old and had spent 16 years in prison. There is no public record of what happened to him after his release.
