The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-01
Murray and Wallace Tilt

III reference to the alleged beating of negro risoners. Mir. Murray and MT. Murray pressed him for direct answer as to whether or not he would beat a prisoner.
 "Yes. I would beat up a negro in self-defense," said the chief, rising to his feet and glaring at the attorney. But if understand these charges correctly, the grand jury has charged that these officers beat negroes in or der to force confessions. l would beat a negro in defense of my person. but I would not take him into a room. tic him up and beat him. said the chief with just suggestion of anger in his voice.
 Give it to i'm. chief" shouted a voice from the crowd. we're with you"
 MT. Murray's questioning then went back to the time of MT Wallace's elec- the chief If he had not stated that he would remove five men on the force for working against him in the cam paign. The chief said he had made no such statement.
 The attorney questioned further and asked the chief if it was not his IT, tention to place his political frienda on the police force. The chief dis. claimed the suggestion. The attorney then suggested that perhaps he want. ed to put his personal friends on the force.
 Would you want dozen men work. ing with you or would you want . dozen men fighting against youw de. manded Chief Wallace, rising to hia feet.
 Sam c. Haney was the next witness by the city Jail at a late hour at night and had heard negro prisoner beg ging for mercy and had heard blows descending. He said he went upstairs to see what 1t was all about and one of the officers wanted to know if hs thought they were giving . matinee for his benefit. He admitted, under been drinking and said he had bas- ket of whisky.
 Got Away With Whisky
 "I was entirely surrounded by the police. too." he added. "and some son- of-a-gun stole that whisky"
 R. P Mims was the next witness and he was examined by City Attorney George Baumsardner. He testified that a negro in his employ had been beaten up by three Bessemer police officers one of whom he knew was Ellis Hous. ton.
 The negro in question. Ed RosS. was the next WltneSS ChlieO anu nc tOAO m detail how he was beaten. a
 Will B. Evans was the next witness md he told that he and friend named Dickey were peacefully on their way home about $40 o'clock on . night several months ago when they were set upon by two Bessemer policemen without warning and sbeateh up. He also said he paid fine of p10 In the police court next morning and his friend paid s5 fine Attorney Murray attempted to make the witness say he was irresponsible at the time of the alleged beating but the only thing hs would say was that he "had been drinking"
 An affidavit made by Garfield Robinson. a negro. then was read by City Attorney Bumgardner. in which it was charged that the negro heard the cries of John Westbrook. another negro. when the lat ter was beaten by the officers in an at- tempt to force . confession. Tho afRi- davit said that Westbrool,s face ves bleeding whom he was thrust into his cell, and the signer of the affidavit said that he washed the blood from the other ne- gro's face.
 Mir, Murray objected to the introduction of the affidavit and wanted to know why the solicitor could not produce the negro who signed it.
 If you want the bare truth. h's bs-,