The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-08-10
CARD FROM RAY SIMS.
The Hattlesburg News:


In your issue of 20 July in fifth
column appears an article headed
Boys charged with stealing Bicycles"
This article reads:
Leonard Jones, Albert Creel and
Ray Sims, three young white boys.
were arrested yesterday charged with
stealing bicycles. Three bicycles
were secured from Smiths bicycle
shops on Pine street, and it was af-
forwards learned that the boys left
the city for Ovett where they ex-
pected to dispose of the wheels. Mr..
c. E. Smith, Messrs. Patton and Keys
started out after the boys on bicycles
and overlook them about ten miles
from town. They were brought back
and put in Jail and given hearing
this morning before Justice Greer"
At this hearing we had no show
whatever to defend ourselves. I ask
ed Constable Tucker on reaching
| Hattiesburg for permission to phone
my father who I knew intended leav-
ing home early the next morning for
the day. He refused to grant me this
permission and when asked to do so
himself he refused. When brought
before court the next morning | again
attempted to ask for defense but was
hushed up by Constable Tucker. At
this hearing the witnesses claimed we
had stolen the wheels with intention
of selling them at Ovett. On return
of my father about two o'clock p. m
he hurried to Judge Greer who readily
agreed to a rehearing, which was set
for today-and bond made for my
release. The hearing today was be
fore a jury which after the testimony
was all in returned verdict of "nol
guilty" in just four minutes.
The evidence in today's hearing
brought out the following facts
Leonard Jones, Albert Creel and RAY
Sims called at Smiths bicycle shop al
one o'clock on July 2S renting a whee
, each for two hours paying so cents
rent each with the intention of goint
six miles in country. At the expira
ton of the two hours Mr.. Smith start
ed to look for them leaving instruc
! ton at his shop for Patten and Key
, to follow. When overtaken by Smitl
? we were about nine miles out of Hat
q tiesburg with one wheel broken dowr
Z The evidence as shown by state Wi
nesses is to effect that when Smit
@ overlook us he threw his hand to hi
o back hip pocket and said, If you boy
# run I will shoot you. I have authorit
!. from the officers to shoot you If 20
run" Mr.. Smith then made the II
D. quest that we acknowledge that W
n intended stealing them or theI
II would be trouble" this threat wa
A. made a number Of times. AS M
n. Smith was armed and threatening "
v thought 1t best to say we intende
10 selling the wheels at Ovett. Althoue
neither Of us ever heard Of this plat
before.
The facts in the case are as IL
lows: We rented the bicycles for tv
hours with the intention of going 8
D. miles in the country for no purpo
only a ride. At the end of our RI
a. Leonard Jones' wheel broke dow
yn While we we're meditating on VIII
do to do, man passed by and told
I'll that some distance on there was
lit residence with a bicycle on fro
Oh gallery that we might get to reps
he ours. We went about three miles
nv fore We came to this house. The la
of living at it wouldn't let us have t
tire but kindly loaned us the use
to pump and tightner. While we we
is making the repairs Mr.. Smith cal
in, up.
at. AS your paper has done us a gre
alf injustice by printing the article abe
it referred to we ask that you publ
,on this letter in full as 1t contains
at facts in the case.
pie At the first hearing we were G
for rageously abused by Constable Tu
of err in the presence Of Justice Gre
who made no attempt to hush /
wee up. Ray Sims
of Aug. 8, 1911.
on
in In Connection with the above Just