Ruby McCollum

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Ruby McCollum (August 31, 1909 – May 23, 1992), born Ruby Jackson was a wealthy married Black woman in Live Oak, Florida, who was charged in 1952 for first-degree murder for killing Dr. C. Leroy Adams, a White doctor and state senator–elect. She testified as to their sexual relationship and his paternity of her child. The judge prohibited her from recounting more details of her allegations of abuse by Adams. She was convicted and sentenced to death for his murder by an all-white jury. The case was covered widely in the United States press (including a report written by Zora Neale Hurston for the Pittsburgh Courier, the first for a newspaper outside Florida), and was covered by international papers, as well. Her case was appealed and overturned on technical grounds by the state supreme court. Before the second trial, McCollum's attorney entered an insanity plea on his client's behalf. She was examined and found mentally incompetent to stand trial, and was committed to the (Florida State...

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