Henry Williams Case Brief Summary

Facts: In 1896 Henry Williams, a black man was indicted for murder by a grand jury composed entirely of white men in Washington County, Mississippi. An all-white petit jury subsequently convicted him and imposed a death sentence. The defendant argued that both the indictment and trial violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because the laws of the state Mississippi were discriminatory and thus, disqualified blacks from serving on a jury.

Procedural History:

Issue: Whether literacy tests and payroll taxes pursuant to the constitution and laws of the state of Mississippi, violate the Equal Protection Clause under the 14th Amendment

Holding: No

Reasoning: The court ruled that Mississippi suffrage provisions were