A thing to note here is that they were charged with violating the Alabama Anti-Boycott Act of 1921. It was illegal in that state to boycott a business.
In the late 1970s it was widely believed that cocaine was non-addictive. I can’t find the quote but in the book “Can’t Find My Way Home” the author references a paper that showed cocaine was no more addictive than eating potato chips.
In the landmark documentary series The World At War Jimmy Stewart is interviewed about daytime bombing raids over Germany and identified only as “James Stewart, Squadron Commander.”