Whites Convicted of Beating Black Child

A white couple accused of tying a 9-year-old black boy to a tree and beating and choking him to teach him a lesson about stealing were found innocent of lynching and convicted of a lesser assault charge. Benjamin and Betty Mims could get up to 10 years in prison at sentencing Dec. 2 for aggravated assault and battery. Dwight Miller, now 10, accused the Mimses of tying him to a tree last January, beating him, firing a shotgun at him and tying a belt around his neck until he almost passed out. He said they accused him of stealing from a truck after he had come over to play with their son and niece. Defense attorney Ernest “Chip” Finney III said the boy’s lack of injuries showed the beating never happened. Prosecutor Carl Grant said the verdict meant the boy was telling the truth.