Thomas E. Knight

Thomas E. Knight Jr. (born June 19, 1898 in Greensboro , Alabama , † May 17, 1937 in Alabama) was an American lawyer and politician and lieutenant governor of the state of Alabama.

Life

The son of Thomas E. Knight Sr. and Rebecca Knight (nee Williams) attended schools in Greensboro, his hometown, in his early years until he enrolled at Southern University Preparatory School . He then began his studies at the University of Alabama ; However, he broke it off in order to serve in the 117th field artillery from 1917 in the First World War until 1919. He then continued his studies and was admitted to the Hale County bar in 1922 . From 1925 to 1930 he served as the Assistant Attorney General of Alabama. In 1930 he was elected Attorney General himself and held this office from 1931 to 1935.

As Attorney General, Knight took on the role of chief prosecutor in the retrial against the Scottsboro Boys , nine young black men charged with allegedly raping two young white women. Eight of them were sentenced to death in the first instance. While the Alabama Supreme Court , which included Knight's father as a judge, upheld seven of these death sentences, the United States Supreme Court overturned the sentences.

Knight was a member of the Democratic Party . He was able to crown his political career with the fact that he was elected lieutenant governor of Alabama. He took over this office in 1935, but could only hold it for two years, since he died on May 17, 1937.

Thomas Knight was married to Leila Otts and had two children with her.

supporting documents

↑ Information on Knight's role in the proceedings ( memento of the original from February 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. from University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Law, accessed January 11, 2009 @1@ 2

Web links

Biography on the Alabama Department of Archives & History website

personal data
SURNAME	Knight, Thomas E.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Knight, Thomas E. Jr.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician and lawyer
DATE OF BIRTH	June 19, 1898
PLACE OF BIRTH	Greensboro , Alabama
DATE OF DEATH	May 17, 1937
Place of death	Alabama

[1] Information on Knight's role in the proceedings ( memento of the original from February 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. from University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Law, accessed January 11, 2009 @1@ 2