ALEXANDER WILLIAMS
In 1931, Alexander Williams, a 16-year-old Black teenager, was executed for allegedly stabbing a white woman—a crime he did not commit. His wrongful conviction, based on no eyewitnesses, forensic evidence, or physical proof, was a glaring miscarriage of justice. Alexander was represented by William Ridley, the first African American admitted to the Bar in Delaware County, yet an all-white jury convicted him in less than four hours.
Susie Williams Carter announcing a lawsuit on Monday on behalf of her brother, Alexander McClay Williams, whose murder conviction was overturned in 2022. Alexander, 16, was executed in 1931.- Matt Slocum/Associated PressToday, his 94-year-old sister, Susie Carter Williams, is suing Delaware County, Pennsylvania, for damages. Their great-grandson, Sam Lemon, conducted thorough research into the case, revealing the profound injustice Alexander suffered. Lemon's findings led to the case being reopened in 2017. By 2022, a judge ordered a retrial, but the District Attorney’s office declined to pursue the case, acknowledging the charges should never have been brought. Finally, in 2022, the Governor of Pennsylvania exonerated Alexander Williams, more than 90 years after his execution.
This exoneration underscores a tragic chapter in American history and highlights the enduring impact of racial injustice. Susie Carter Williams’ lawsuit seeks not only damages but also justice and recognition of the wrongful conviction that stole her brother’s life.
