Repeal of Kentucky's Public Hanging Law
Anderson's Motivation
One of the most important issues that Anderson was involved with was the repeal of the Kentucky Public Hanging Law. This was connected to the case of Rainey Bethea, an African America charged with the rape and murder of a 70 year old white woman, in 1936 who happened to also be one of the last people hanged in the United States. His case was handled by five black lawyers Charles Tucker, Stephen A. Burnley, Charles W. Anderson, Jr., Harry E. Bonaparte, and R. Everett Ray. They chose this case because of the way that the defendant had been mistreated and the irregularities of the court case. It was case like this that inspired Anderson to fight for the Civil Rights of both Kentucky and all other African Americans in the nation.
The Law
On January 17, 1938, William R. Attkisson of the Kentucky State Senate's 38th District (representing Louisville), introduced Senate Bill 69, repealing the requirement from Section 1137 that death sentences for the crime of rape be conducted by hanging in the county seat where the crime was committed. Representative Charles W. Anderson, Jr., one of the attorneys who assisted Bethea in his post conviction relief motions, promoted the bill in the Kentucky House of Representatives. After both houses approved the bill on March 12, 1938, Governor Chandler signed it into law, and it became effective on May 30, 1938.
One of the most important issues that Anderson was involved with was the repeal of the Kentucky Public Hanging Law. This was connected to the case of Rainey Bethea, an African America charged with the rape and murder of a 70 year old white woman, in 1936 who happened to also be one of the last people hanged in the United States. His case was handled by five black lawyers Charles Tucker, Stephen A. Burnley, Charles W. Anderson, Jr., Harry E. Bonaparte, and R. Everett Ray. They chose this case because of the way that the defendant had been mistreated and the irregularities of the court case. It was case like this that inspired Anderson to fight for the Civil Rights of both Kentucky and all other African Americans in the nation.
The Law
On January 17, 1938, William R. Attkisson of the Kentucky State Senate's 38th District (representing Louisville), introduced Senate Bill 69, repealing the requirement from Section 1137 that death sentences for the crime of rape be conducted by hanging in the county seat where the crime was committed. Representative Charles W. Anderson, Jr., one of the attorneys who assisted Bethea in his post conviction relief motions, promoted the bill in the Kentucky House of Representatives. After both houses approved the bill on March 12, 1938, Governor Chandler signed it into law, and it became effective on May 30, 1938.