March 29, 1920

The Arkansas Supreme Court announced its decision regarding the twelve African-American men tried and sentenced to death for their part in a supposed insurrection in Phillips County, in what later came to be known as the Elaine Massacre. The court affirmed six of the convictions (the Moore defendants) and ordered new trials for the other six (the Ware defendants) on a technicality. Ultimately, the Ware defendants were freed by the Arkansas Supreme Court after two terms of court had passed, and the state of Arkansas made no move to re-try the men. The Moore defendants were finally released on indefinite furloughs after they had pled guilty to second-degree murder.