Police initially focused on Mrs Davis and her husband Bart, who were arrested with packed suitcases which included a bloodied pair of trousers.

But investigators' attention shifted when Mr Lewis's stolen pistol was traced to John "Monk" Stevenson, a small-time criminal who said he had been given the gun by Bart Davis's brother. He claimed he was only a lookout when Lewis was killed.

However, in a plea deal that spared his life, Stevenson – who was also black – changed his story and named the Griffin brothers as the killers and testified against them.

According to sworn statements from fellow inmates, Stevenson admitted in jail that the men he implicated knew nothing of the crime. He said that the Griffins "could afford a lawyer and beat the rap".

The brothers were the owners of a 138-acre farm, making them probably the wealthiest blacks in the area. All of the land was sold to pay their legal fees and court costs.

Oh great!! That does them a lot of good now!!