Seven of nine witnesses against him had recanted their testimony. Another man had reportedly confessed to the crime. At the very least there was enough doubt raised to grant him a new trial, but it never happened. The long, racist arm of southern "justice" had made its decision. Clearly, they couldn't bare the thought of a black man walking free, even if he was innocent. Clearly, the thought of a little more work to ensure true justice never occurred to them. Clearly, they're far too shallow to understand that regardless of the color of our skin, we all bleed red.