The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-11
Withdrawal From MayOralty Had Nothing To Do With
 HuudIey Appointment
KINGS TESTIMONY TO
 SENATE COMMITTEE
Said 1t Was Currently Charged In Bir- mingham That Hundley's Action Secured o'Brien's Election
 Without Opposition.

6 The impression which gained consid- erable circulation in Birmingham to the effect that Jere King, before the senate committee which investigated the charges against Judge Oscar R. Hundley, stated that Judge Hundley's appointment of W. M. Drennen as an appraiser of the Southern Steel was in order that MT. Drennen should retire from the race for mayor. leaving the field open to Capt. Frank P. O'Brlen, Judge Hundley's father-in-law, has stirred up a lively controversy.
 MT. Drennen has issued card to be used as evidence before the committee, or for the consideration of the commit tee, to the effect that any such state ments as it was believed Mir. King had made were false.
 MT. King, seen yesterday by an Age Herald reporter, stated that he did not charge that Judge Hundley had ap- pointed MT. Drennen for political req sons, but that he did state that it was so said in Birmingham, and so charged. An investigation yesterday brought to light the following facts:
 MT. Drennen was appointed an ap- praiser of the South ern Steel Febru ary 3, 1908.
 MT Drennen entered the race for mayor March 29, 1908.
 MT. Drennen retired from the race for mayor July 19, 1908.
 What kinu Said.
 An examination into the stenographic report of the evidence given before the Senate committee during it's last ses- sion shows the following: MT. King having been on the witness stand, and MT. Percy appearing in the role of ex- aminer:
 MT. Percy-"Mr. Knox has under taken to ask what was said with refer ence to Judge Hundleys use of his of ficial power and official patronage to assist Captain O'Brien as mayor?"
 MT. King-"Yes, sir."
 MT. Perey-"State to the committee what was said in Birmingham?"
 MT. King-"It was said in Birming- ham and charged on the street that he named Mel Drennen as appraiser for the Southern Steel company in order for him to retire from the race for mayor just before the municipal elec- tion. MT. Drennen ran for mayor up until a few days before election and then withdrew, and that was charged against him. and openly charged"
 MT. Percy-'In order that that mat ter may come squarely before the con- mittee. I am going to now offer a copy of the Birmingham Free Lance, of date July 25, presenting the charge as made. MT. Drennen was appointed appraiser of the Southern Steel company"
 MT. King-"Yes, sir
 Mir. Drennen's Statement.
 W. M. Drennen has issued the fol- lowing:
 q understand that it was charged during a recent hearing before the Sen ate committee that Judge Oscar R. Hundley appointed me as one of the appraisers of the Southern Steel com pany, bankrupt with the understanding that I would retire from the race for mayor of Birmingham during the last municipal election so that Capt Frank P. O'Brien's nomination could be had with out opposition. I understand that 1t was further charged that I ran for mayor and in accordance with such agreement, withdrew only a few days prior to the election, and after the democratic nominations had been closed
 q hereby emphatically state that there was no connection whatever be- tween my appointment by Judge Hund- ley as one of the appraisers of tn @ Southern Steel company. bankrupt, and my y>candidacy for mayor, and state ment that my subsequent withdrawal was in accordance with such an agree ment or understanding is false and ab- solutely without foundation.
 q was not an applicant for the posi- ton of appraiser for the Southern Steel company, and I was appointed by Judge Hundley, I am informed at the in stance of parties who are interested in this company on account of the fact that I was engaged in the mining of coal and am considered competent to fulfill such a position. My appointment as appraiser of the Southern Steel com pany was made on the Sd day of Feb ruary 1908, and l became a candidate for mayor of the city of Birmingham on March 29, 1908, which comprises an interval of time of nearly two months. I withdrew from the race on July IS, 1908. and my announcement of with drawal was made public through the city press on the 18th day of that month.
 By a comparison of these dates, it is readily shown that any evidence or statements that have come before your committee that I was appointed by Judge Hundley to influence my action in Captain O'Brien's interest are ab- solutely false.
 q want to further state that I fully set forth my reasons for withdrawing from the race for the democratic nom ination for the office of mayor of Bir- mingham in the city press of Birming- ham at the time of my withdrawal from the race and any statement or evidence that has been given or may be given, not in accordance with this statement, is absolutely false and without founda- ton. Very respectfully,
 w. M. DRENNEN."
 From the Records.
 Records in case 7977, in re Southern Steel company. bankrupt show san or der was issued by Judge Hundley in o,oo court February B. 1908 appOintinr e