Detailed Breakdown
1. Early Life and Success:
- Born: February 1876 in Georgia.
- Relocation: Moved to South Carolina and settled in Florence.
- Achievements:
- Worked hard to acquire significant land.
- Became a respected farmer and landlord, renting to both Black and white tenants.
- Married Sally Moses, a South Carolina native, and built a comfortable life despite the harsh realities of Jim Crow laws.
2. The Collins Family and the Beginning of Tragedy (1914):
- The Tenants: Frank Collins, born in 1843, was a former Confederate soldier with memories of slavery.
- Frank married Maud Heyman in 1906 after his first wife’s death.
- Conflict:
- Frank and Maud Collins fell behind on rent.
- Ben Best informed them they could no longer rent his land, sparking resentment.
3. The False Accusation (1915):
- The Allegation:
- Frank and Maud accused Ben of attacking Maud, a common weapon used to destroy Black men during the Jim Crow era.
- Conviction:
- Ben was sentenced to 30 years of hard labor on a prison farm, despite his innocence.
- He was devastated, having lost his wife, land, reputation, and freedom.
4. Attempts to Fight Back:
- Sally’s Efforts:
- Sally, Ben’s wife, tirelessly sought justice, even pleading with Maud to tell the truth.
- Maud demanded $700 (equivalent to $15,000 today) to recant her story, an amount Sally could not afford.
- Years in Prison:
- Ben endured brutal convict labor, cutting and transporting trees under inhumane conditions.
5. Breakthrough and Pardon (1928):
- Maud Comes Forward:
- By 1927, Maud, in poor health, agreed to recant for $75.
- Her affidavit was signed before a judge, stating Ben’s innocence.
- Governor’s Action:
- In May 1928, Governor Richards pardoned Ben and declared him innocent.
- Ben was finally released after 13 years in prison.
6. The Reversal of Fortune:
- Perjury Accusation Against Maud:
- A grand jury, influenced by racist attitudes, claimed Maud was tricked into signing the affidavit.
- The pardon was declared fraudulent, and Ben was rearrested in July 1928.
- Return to Prison:
- Ben was sent back to hard labor under the guise of “protection” from mob violence.
7. Legal Battle and Final Release:
- Supreme Court Appeal:
- Ben’s lawyers argued the revocation of his pardon was illegal.
- Ruling:
- In October 1929, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled in Ben’s favor, declaring the pardon irrevocable.
- Freedom Restored:
- After 14 years of wrongful imprisonment, Ben was finally released on October 15, 1929.
8. Reflection:
- Legacy of Injustice:
- Ben’s case highlights systemic racism and the exploitation of the justice system during Jim Crow.
- Despite the eventual correction, the damage to Ben’s life was irreparable.
- Perseverance:
- Ben’s resilience, Sally’s devotion, and the eventual support of allies illustrate the power of determination in the face of injustice.
Conclusion:
Ben Best’s story is a harrowing reminder of the cruelty of institutionalized racism. His life, stolen by lies and hatred, serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the enduring fight for justice.
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