The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-06-19
JOHN LYNCH
SENT TO JAIL,
Agent Of Law and sssder
League
-
A DEPUTY IS ALSO JAILED
A Sensational Fight In Jefferson
County Court House.
Edward Collins, one of the Juror. serv-
ing in Prohibition Cases, Is Now
In Hospital Seriously
Injured.

Birmingham. June 1s.--(Special -
John A. Lynch, agent for the Law and
Order League in Birmingham, and Ed
ward Collins. formerly deputy clerk Of
the criminal court, this week serving
on a jury in the criminal court, en-
gagged In fierce fist fght in the Office
OF the clerk this morning shortly af-
ter court convened.
Deputy sheriffs on the scene either
separated the contestants or held of
others from engaging in the difficulty
Judge Weaver, who was on the bench.
sent three jurymen into the clerks Of
nee posthasfe to get the combatants
and others interested therein and bring
them forthwith into the court. After
hearing the testimony as to the dim
Guilty. Judge Weaver ordered Lynch.
Collins and Deputy Sheriff Alex Wilson
to jail for i've days each, and to pay
q fine OF $50. The Judge allowed Col
Inns to be taken to an inarmary for
treatment for severe bruises about the
face received in the encounter
1t seems that Collins is serving on
juries this week In the criminal court
where prohibition cases are on the
docket. Lynch, who Is watching the
prohibition cases remarked to one OF
the assistant solicitors that there was
a man On the jury who had served
more than once during the first six
months Of the year. This information
In turn was given to Collins. at whom
1t was directed. Collins met Lynch
outside Of the court house and some
words came up during which Lynch
struck Collins q fierce blow In the
face.
Some time after this when Lynch
went into the ONCE OF the clerk Of the
criminal court he met Collins. The
latter had a knife in his hands and
some words came up. Lynch told Col
Inns to come with him TO the 7. NJ
C. A. ana fight like q white man.
whereupon Collins threw down his
knife. Just before the men could get
together, Deputy Sheriff Wade Allen
stepped In between the two and told
them there could be no lighting there.
Collins IL said to have kicked Lynch
whereupon the latter got loose from
Deputy Sheriff Allen and made for Coll
Aims. The TIVE EH<l citncheds Lynch
was the skxnnBeF OF me two and
pounded Collins IN Ahe face. At this
juncture Jones Abbott. former Sheriff
Joe Smith and others rushed In, some
with paper weights In their hands and
others with fists drawn. Deputy Sher-
IN Wilson pulled his pistol and or
dered everybody 70 stand back, saying
that he would brook no interference
About this time three Juryn1en, sent In
by Judge Weaver. demanded that the
fight cease and Deputy Wade Allen
took charge of the combatants and es-
corted them to the Judge.
Lynch and Wilson were locked up in
the county jail and Collins was sent
to the infirmary.
A few hours later Jones Abbott
swore out warrant against Alex will
son charging him with carrying con-
cealed weapons and assault.
Lynch has been in the employ of the
Law and Order League since prohibit
tion has been in effect He has been
In several fights. one that attracted
much attention, being when he went
to The Birmingham Register the SEN
sational and prohibition paper Of
the city. and demanded an apology for
an article that was printed about him
The fight was fierce for a while and
Lynch was pretty well bIooded up.
In the scrimmage today Lynch was
not hurt at all. Deputy Sheriff Allen
was exonorated by the court.