The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-02
Fined $50 With Additional
Sentence of $50 Days by
Recorder Douglas
Il AM SORRY" SAYS
SPECIAL OFFICER
Not Represented by Counsel and Only
Makes Brief Statement-Large
Crowd Attracted to Court
room by Trial

Il know that I have done wrong and
am sorry for 1t. am willing to apologize
to Mr.. Ward i'm any way. | ask the
lenieney of the court" vas the statement
of NJ. L. Moore. former special officer
at the conclusion of his trial for a sensa-
tional assault on George b. Ward. presi-
dent of the board of cry commissioners,
and carrying concealed weapons. These
remarks with the exception of his plea
Of mot guilty. were the only statement
he made during his trial. as he neither
went on the witness stand himself nor
cross questioned any of the witnesses for
the city.
Given Limit of Law
Moore was given the full penalty of the
law in the assault case, $50 and 1so days.
and fired SIS and 80 days for carrying con-
oealed weapons. An appeal was taken in
both cases. The case was tried yesterday y
morning before Judge A. NJ. Douglas OF
the recorders court and attracted crowd
that filed the courtroom. Borden Burr
appeared for Mr.. Ward. The defendant
was not represented by counsel.
Mr. Ward was the first witness on the
stand. He testified that ON Wednesday
afternoon as he was coming out of his
office in the city hall With an armful of
books he was accosted by the defendant.
who said: Drop them books and take
your d badge" and that as he thrust
~.
struck him a blow on the neck. The
witness testified that The blow took him
entirely by surprise. and that he had not
the slightest opportunity to defend him.
self. He stated that Capt. Jack Nc
Donald and several bystanders rushed
in between them. II asked him why he
struck me-" said Mr. Ward. "and he re-
Piled, Because you done me dirty /
then called him low down -. and
he replied You're another I tried to
get at him, but was prevented by the
persons standing by This practically
concluded Mr.. Wards statement.
Wards Statement Corroborated
Mr.. Wards statement was corroborated
by a number of witnesses, including c.
b. Lloyd. John D. Turner. Scuder Ryall,
Cal Williams, a negro. and others.
Nj M. Ullman testified that he did not
see the first part of the difficulty, but
saw the tussle. and that he reached in
Moore's pocket and took out gun. In
reply to a question Mr.. Ullman stated
that Moore made no attempt to use the
gun
j. Asa Rountree gave testimony of a
conversation that had occurred early in
the afternoon on which assault took place
in which he said Moore had made threats
against Mr.. Ward referring especially to
turning in his badge and applying an epi-
thet to the city commissioner
lr closing the case for the city. Mr..
Burr stated that there were number OF
other witnesses. but that as they were
corroborative he would not take up tn.
time of the court in introducing them
In his remarks before the court Mr.. Burr
severely arraigned the defendant as guilty
OF premeditated, unprovoked and baseIy
cowardly assault
Burr Criticises Moore
He said the defendant had not the JUS
tifcation of a brave man in that he acted
hastily. but that he had meditated upon
the attack for hours, and then took the