Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-18
SLEUTH IS
HELD FOR
FIGHT N
HOTEL
Atlanta City Detective Accused by
Man With Whom He BattIed
in Birmingham,

BIRMINGHAM, sept lN.-John X.
Black. a city detective Of Atlanta,
whose activities in the investigation
of the murder of Mary Phagan and
the trial of Leo NJ Frank brought him
into the limelght, was arrested here
last night together with J. F. Har-
grove, also of Atlanta, following a
fight between the two in the Ex-
change Hotel.
They will he tried in Recorders
Court this afternoon. The charge
against Black and Hargrove is dis
turbing the peace.
The arrest was made at the in
stance of the hotel authorities, who
summoned Policemen Moore and Nc
Henry to quell a disturbance in the
room occupied by the two men. When
the officers entered the room they
found Black and Hargrove graphing
on the floor Hargrove's face was
mass of bruises. Detective Black
also showed signs of the difficulty
At the city 4. Jail Detective Black
would have nothing to say of his ar
rest. However, J. r. Hargrove asked
10 see a reporter and made the fol-
lowing statement:
Charges Persecution.
"T am under bond of 500 in At
lanta on the charge of selling cocaine,
which is a misdemeanor in Georgia.
] came to Birmingham intending to
returrr and met Detective Black, who
was in Birmingham last week, on
the street. He promptly brought me
to police headquarters. and in some
way managed to have me locked up
on the vague charge Of being wanted
IN Atlanta A lawyer came to my
rescue and by the habeas corpus route
got me out of Jail early this week. |
was not free very long as Detective
Black then swore out warrant for
me before Judge Abernethy, charg-
ing that l am a fugitive from justice.
Again | was in Jail, but the judge
released me this morning as the
charge against me was not substan-
tiated.
This afternoon ! met Detective
Slack and we talked things over. !
asked him why he prosecuted me so
much when he did not even have any
reauisition papers for me. He told
me that if he got me back to Atlanta
my bondsmen would pay him well for
his trouble. Well to make matters
short. | agreed to go back to At
lanta with him just to obliee him, as
knew the charge against me would
fall through. After that we roamed
around the city.
Says Black Attacked Him.
We went to the Exchange Hotel.
where he became angry at me. and in
his excitement struck me several
times. Others who were in the room
came to my aid and rather bruised up
Mr.. Black before the police came. We
all came here in the patrol, and now
Black is again putting up his bluff
that | am wanted in Atlanta He
wants TO railroad me back to Georgia
but unless he manages, with the aid
of his friends in Birmingham, to kid
nap me tonight, my lawyers viii
show up his game in the morning"
None of the police officers or de-
tectives would discuss the matter. The
city docket showed that Hargrove had
been arrested last week and locked az
for several days on the charge of be.
ing wanted in Atlanta" 1t was alsC
ascertained that Hargrove had been
rearrested early this week, folIowiue
mis- release on habeas corpus wri,
On a warrant sworn out by Detectiy,
Black before Judge Alternately anG
placed in the county Jail
In a hearing yesterday Judge Aber-
nathy ordered the release of Har-
grove as no charge was PROVED
against him
Chief Lanford said Friday Black
had been sent to get Hargrove. wh'
was resisting eNtraGi.ion. and that he