"The-Case-of-Thomas-Mattox" (July 11,1942)

On July 11,1942,16-year-old Thomas Mattox was riding in the car with his sisters,19-

year-old Emmie and 22-yearold Gussie,from their  home in Bowman,Georgia to a show in Elberton,12 miles away.While traveling on the highway,the group passed a white motorist,19-year-old Wilbur Cornell,who also lived in Bowman.


Wilbur became enraged that an African American had passed  him on the road.Therefore,he overtook the Mattox car,blocked  the road ,and got out of his car yelling at Thomas and his sisters.Gussie stepped out of the car and asked Wilbur to allow them to pass,instead  Wilbur took his car jack and beat both her and Emmie to the ground.


Thomas tried to stop the attack.After Wilbur hit him with the Jack,he pulled out out a knife and cut Wilbur.Injured,Wilbur ran to his car and later receive stiches at a local hospital.


Thomas knew what happened  to young African American men who got into altercations with white men,so he fled to Philadelphia.Elbert county police officers soon arrested both,sisters, who were held hostage for three months.Thomas,who had nothing to do with the altercation,also arrested,and threatened with mob violence.Neither sister revealed the whereabouts of their brother.


In order to find out where Thomas was hiding,white local residents also threatened his mama.Once the mob wrapped a chain around her neck,she gave up the whereabouts of her son.There were no actions whatsoever taken against Wilbur.


On October 14,1942,Judge Claire G.Fenetry refused the state of  Georgia's request extradite Thomas back to Georgia on charges of assault and battery and attempted murder.Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld Judge Fenetry's decision on April 16,1943,stating [Thomas Mattox] will receive a fair and impartial trial and is in grave danger of being lynched or abused by mob action."