Case gets Personal
But there were several risks in the case now involved. Beverly
had called and said that a strange man had called asking about
Morris and his work ethics. Someone was investigating Morris and
he had a pretty good idea who those people might be.
He needed to stop it somehow without jeopardizing the case. When
he asked his cousin Sarah for literature and asked her about the
YMCA, that was not under the proper procedures and knowledge of
the parties involved. Now there was a problem. Morris had a plan
.He was to convey that he was worried about the case, for the
other side did not know about the documents regarding the Secret
City-YMCA Committee. Then he would trade letters acknowledging
an investigation and guarantee of the halting of the investigation
for a settlement. But this would be settling for personal gain
and that was unethical and against the law. Morris had no intention
of settling, he just wanted proof that he was being investigated.
His plan worked and he got those letters with his own lawyer
present. He also photocopied the letters without their notice
and told them they could keep the letters. He just wanted to see
them. After leaving he told the Y he had no intention of settling
and woke Judge Johnson up in the middle of the night angering
the judge. The judge said he'd look at the case in court not on
his doorstep.
By the time the case was done and over with, a few black children
had already attended the camp at the Y. But this case was about
more than just black kids attending a camp for whites only. It
was a breakthrough case in the fight for justice for all. The
small case affecting in black family and two cousins evolved into
a case affecting all the black families of Montgomery.
