The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-26
DRUG CRAzED NEGRO
IS HARD TO HANDLE
Man Could Not Be Admitted to
Either Jail
GAVE OFFICERS HARD TIME
Was Finally Committed to the County
Jail After Spectator SWore Out
Warrant Against Him as
Menace to the Public.

A bowling, fighting and biting negro
maniac, driven wild by the taking OF
cocaine, and requiring half dozen men
to hold him in the Courthouse last night
brought to light the fact that such per-
son. even though endangering the life
of everybody he comes in contact with,
cannot be confined in the city jail.
Loud groans from the white mems toilet
room in the basement Of the courthouse
early last night attracted the attention OF
several deputy sheriffs and other persons
about the courthouse. They went to the
room and there found negro with his
thumbs stuck In his ears, while he was
attempting to ram the corner OF the room
with his head and emitting shrieks and
groans at rapid intervals
An inquiry as to what was the matter
changed him into fighting wild man. He
sprang at the men and attempted to gouge
their eyes out and to bite them. linen
followed 10 minutes of rought and tum-
BILE tussle, the negro displaying terrihc
strength in his fury. He bit several, but
his teeth did not pass through their cloth
ing.
He was stretched out on the floor, out
his struggles did not cease, and 1t re-
auired half dozen deputies to hold him.
Handouts were finally slipped on his
hands and his feet chained, then he was
turned over on his face and his arms
drawn back. His struggles were SO Wig
orous even In this position that 1t re-
ouired two of the deputies to hold his
arms and body while strong negro was
almost worked to death in holding his
legs.
The negro continued to howl, making a
noise that could be heard nearly two
blocks away He yelled for water. but the
deputies awaited the arrival of doctor
before giving it to him.. The doctor said
there was nothing else to do for him, and
told the deputies to give him water. This
was put in wash basin and placed on
the floor by the negro's head He i'm
mediately plunged his head into the basin
and when he had emptied it managed
to get grip on it with one of hisshands,
and so tight was this grip that it re-
ouired two men to jerk the basin away
from him.
The treatment which the doctor pre-
scribed was cell, and then quandary
arose. A person cannot be confined in the
county Jail without commitment papers,
and the police department was requested
to take charge of the negro. Chief BOD
eker advised that he could not place
the man in the city jail as he did not
have charge of it, and as the authorities
had issued instructions not to place dope
fiends in the city jail. The chief was told
that the negro would endanger the lives
of citizens il left at liberty but replied
that he was powerless in the matter
Turnkey Childress at the county jail
declined to take the negro without war
rant and Sheriff Higdon was commune
Gated with. The sheriff said that his de-
partment could not take charge of the
negro without warrant, and that the
case properly came within the scope OF
the police department. AS they had re-
fused to take the negro he suggested that
a warrant be sworn out against the negro
so that he could not be put in the county
jail.
This suggestion was acted upon, and the
negro dragged to cell still fighting de-
spite the handouts and chains. and re-
curing several men to place him there.