The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-31
WESTHOFEN MURDER
TO Be INVESTIGATED
O'Neal Requests Grand Jury
Be RecOnvened
PEOPLE ARE AROUSED
Governor Mortified at Several Recent
Crimes in Mont gomery-Declares
People Look to Montgomery
to Furnish an Example

Montgomery, July 50.-fSpecial.) -Gov-
crnor O'NeaI will request Judge Armis-
tead Brown of the Montgomery city
court to reconvene the grand Jury for
the purpose of investigating the shooting
| of p. j. Westhofen, which occurred at
McGehees Switch two weeks ago., and
which resulted in the arrest Monday aft
ernoon OF l. f. Boyetre. son-in-law of
Richard Tillis. and manager Of the Mont
gomery Cooperage company.
The governor stated today that he con-
sidered 1t good time to investigate the
killing of westhofen. inasmuch as the
grand Jury can be reconyened Immediate
ly He declared that public sentiment
was thoroughly aroused throughout the
state at large In reference to the law
lessness which obtains, and he expressed
the opinion that quick action on the part
of the grand jury in investigating all
cases of lawlessness, particularly muir
ders, would have a strong tendency to
prevent crime in the state.
with reference to the several recent
crimes in Montgomery county. the gov
ernor expressed deep sense of mortifi-
cation as We'll as lnulsidtloI.
1.-The people of the state look to Mont
gomery, the capital city Of Alabama, to
furnish them an example," said Governor
o'Neal, "but II a spirit of lawlessness
obtains here, within the shadow of the
capitol building, we can hardly expect
moro ideal conditions TO obtain else
where.
II am glad that the people throughout
Alabama seem TO be aroused over the
deplorable state of affairs-a condition In
which human life is considered cheap, and
long delays in the execution of justice
seem to be the inevitable result"
The governor requested Judge Brown
early this afternoon to reconvene the
grand jury to investigate the Westhofen
killing, and It is expected that this In
qustorial body will at once take UP the
case. Westhofen is said to have impli-
Gated Boyette in the shooting shortly be-
fore his death. which resulted in the ar
rest of the accused. and his Imprisonment
in the Montgomery county jail without
bond
Montgomery July 3O.-Eolowing his ar
rest early this morning on charge of
completely in the death of p. j. West
hofen, Isaac White, the negro chauffeur,
contends that neither l. e. Boyette nor
himself had any connection with the shoot
ing near McGees switch two weeks ago,
from the effects of which Westhofen died.
Neither Boyette nor the negro chauffeur
would make further statements regarding
the case today.
When asked what reason Westhofen
gave for stopping the machine and going
into the woods, the chauffeur said this
afternoon that Westhofen gave no reason,
and he himself could think of none.
Mr.. Westhofen just told me to stop
a minute" said the negro, land stopped
He went into the woods and 1 heard the
shot. Mrs. Boyette told me to find out
the trouble. and l found Mr.. Westhofen
shot in the arm with a pistol at his
feet Then we came back to town..
Sheriff Hood Is conducting an investi-
CATION. and says he will have material evil
dencs tomorrow upon which he will make
further arrests. He will not intimate
who will be arrested. &