The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-14
Fly Brief Arguments.
 Much Testimony as to Officers Efficiency
ECOVERED $5 FOR
 SOLICITOR PERRY
snmittee Takes Verdict Under Ad-
 <sement and Will Report to Council It Later Date-Lacey Thanks Att [t0rneys for Conduct of Case

=esserner. October 13.-(Special) )-The
 meeting of the Bessemer police probe |s brought to close insofar as the Eing of testimony was concerned, this
 ming and Chairman Lacey of the cit
 hs' committee announced that the com 5tee would consider the testimony that
 been presented to 1t and would make Report later to the board of aldermen Ehe city of Bessemer
 he whole trend of the testimony for
 defense tonight was as to the gen.
 ability and competency of the ac-
 ed men as officers and number of
 mess men of the city were placed on
 stand, and in addition to this, MT.
 rray was granted permission by the
 ir to tell of several interviews with
 minent men, which he had in Bessemer
 tive to the general character and
 ciency of his clients.
 he first witness for the defense was
 N. Tessler, who testified that he was |nected here with the Bessemer Steam
 indry and that he had had occa sion
 see the local officers at work. He
 ted that some property had been stolen
 m the laundry and that he reported
 matter to Chief Wallace and that 3came up and looked over the premises that later MT. Maddox came to the {ce and found that the robbery had been 4amitteed by two negroes. This was Friday, and on Sunday the negroes re captured and on Monday he recov- Ed the property. that was valued at tween S75 and $1Oo. He stated that Off, {r Childress brought the property back ' him. He stated further that he thought Maddox. MT. Ross and MT. Childress te all competent officers
 Martin Testifies for Officers Etmes Martin, manager of the Fulton 6lg Store. in this city, was then called the stand and related three incidents which the store had been concerned but robberies and bad checks having In given it In each case Detectives 5ddox, Ross, Childress and Houston had blurred the offenders and the stolen Eperty had been returned to the store H the offenders punished. He stated t he had been an alderman of Ensley
 street car conductor and that in opinion the negroes of Bessemer and Thomas furnace neighborhood were worst in the district and were des- late. On cross-examination he said It one of the defendants confessed. |eorge H.. Howton, a deputy sheriff of |s county, was then called to the stand
 testified that this was tough dis It with reference to handling negroes l that some desperate characters were fountered in the performance of his fy as an officer of the law. He knew the accused officers and considered
 m all good men in the suppression of Fme and in the exercise of their official Eies. He said that he had found it fessary to thrash negroes who inter- led with him. and recited an incident It happened some two or three weeks D.
 n cross-examination he said that he |i never found 1t necessary to hang a edA -oiu IesIo Witn d strap ana beat |n in the face with 20-pound book. fn redirect examinatio he caused a gh when he said that he had never ar [ted 70-year-old negro.
 Given Full Hearing
 sfr Murray arose at this point and tied to the committee that he consid- I'd it his duty in fairness to Mr. Black state to the committee that he saw ]. Black today in reference to the affi- vt made by one Streit and which Streit I'd Mr. Murray was made in confidence U obtained by fraud. and that MT. |lck denied any deception in procuring X affidavit and in letting MT. Perry use in this investigation, And l accept MT. .lck's statements. gentlemen, as the un- 'alified truth,' said MT. Murray.
 |Ir. Murray here asked whether the 'nmittee wanted to hear him in regard the statements made to him by wit 'sses who failed to appear when. called "a the committee stated that it would glad to do so. The attorney for the fense then said that had Henry Webb .peared he understood that he would i've testified in answer to. the testimony Judge B. c. Jones ,as to officers beat s a negro in front of Judge Jones ;me; that the officers did not strike D negro at all but that it was done by her and different men.
 He stated that MT. Rarden, a mer- ant of this city, told him personally = = =