Arthur Haley was forced to plead guilty in order to get medical attention. He plead guilty in order to save his life. He had to plead guilty in order to get authorities to take him to a hospital. He was coerced into entering a plea of guilty. He was told that if he did not plead guilty, that he would not receive any medical assistance. He was brainwashed and blackmailed.
Dear Editor,
You will of course wonder why I would have a letter like this put in the newspapers. If it gets your attention then I will have succeeded in what I’m trying to do. Most people in the Clarendon County area think that this case is over and the books are closed. I have thought of how I want to do this for a long time. The only way that this case will ever be over is for all the people to know the truth; “THE HUMAN TRAGEDY” that my family and I have had to endure. The people that don’t know the truth say, “Let’s get on with our lives, put it behind us, forget about it.” Maybe that’s the way it should be, but my family and I cannot do that. I can’t be with my family; I can’t put my arms around the ones that love me and the ones that I love. The black people of this county are not the only victims.
I drove myself to the courthouse with my attorney, only to be denied a fair bond, medical treatment, and even a trial. I was either placed in maximum security or isolation, to be alone with the terrible crime that I was accused of, of which I was not guilty. This was just a few days before the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION OF 96. I was only a tool, used to insure the black votes in the south. My attorney was pressured to the point that he had to give me up to the U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
The democrats that controlled the county all turned their backs on me, not that they thought that I was guilty, but that this was such an unpopular case, they could not get involved. That alone is very sad. I was either GUILTY or NOT GUILTY. I blame them all for not wanting to know the truth! The people that knew me, my friends, did nothing to help.
After four months of physical and mental torture, I was ready to end my life and my suffering; the ones that love me are the ones that stopped me. I was asked to do whatever I had to do to live for them: the ones that love me. I was not given a fair and speedy trial. MY TORMENTORS never intended for me to go to trial, when all I asked for was a fair trial. I had done all I could to get a trial. It seems that everyone who knows of this case would want to know the truth.
All the people that know of this case have an OBLIGATION to see that all of its citizens are treated fair. The black people were VICTIMS twice; they were used by the famous CIVIL RIGHTS attorney from Alabama, and the U.S. Justice Department, to feather their own nests and to enhance their careers. I want to appeal to all the good people of this area, to help my family and I receive the justice that all Americans are entitled to. Most of all, I want to try and make you aware that you too, may one day be a VICTIM of the most powerful government of the world. My God, don’t you want to know what really happened? This case should never be closed until the truth is known.
Arthur Haley
For further information about this case, contact us at the following email address:
[email protected]
June 1996
Arthur Haley, before his arrest
This is a photograph of Arthur four months after his arrest. He had lost 80-85 pounds in only a few months. Prior to his arrest, he was on prescription medication. This medication was not administered properly by prison staff, and his health steadily deteriorated. He did not recieve the medical attention that he needed. Arthur had to plead guilty, to a crime that he did not committ, in order to save his life. The court system, FBI, and every one else involved with the case were well aware that he was a mental patient with serious, chronic physical and mental problems. Arthur was used by the federal government as a scapegoat. He was used by the Democratice Party as a pasty, in order to ensure that they would get the votes that they wanted from the black voters in South Carolina. How many times has the president of the United States shown up in such a small, poor communtity? He came for the publicty, and the national media fell in line behind him.
December 1996
Arthur Haley, 4 months after his arrest
The members of Arthur's family have begun a movement to right the injustice done. Please get in touch if you want to help or if you have any suggestions as to how to help Arthur. Maybe there are others who have lived through an injustice such as this one. Please share your story.
Email me at:
[email protected]