 His appeal to the Supreme Court was granted by Justice Harlan on March 17 and subsequently by the entire court on March 19.However, despite being advised of the ruling by telegram on that date and the case and the ruling being given full coverage by Chattanooga's evening newspapers that day, the case purported that Shipp and his chief jailer nonetheless allowed a mob to enter the Hamilton County Jail and to lynch Johnson on the city's Walnut Street Bridge.The court felt that the action constituted contempt of court in that Sheriff Shipp, fully knowledgeable of the court's ruling, chose to ignore his duties to protect a prisoner in his care.