The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-21
SHERIFF PHILLIPS BRINGS MALLS HERE
 FROM HUNTSVILLE
Says Prisoner Protests His Innocence and Claims That Time Will
 Clear Him

| Sheriff Robert Phillips of Madison 1 county arrived in Birmins ham at 7.SC i o'clock last night with Charles " Nails. clerk of the Madison county cil cult court, charged with being :mpii- cated in the murder of Ju1ge W. T Lawler.
 According to Sheriff Phillips Nails sur rendered to him al Whitesburg, 10 miles south of Huntsville. yesterday after noon. He was rushed to Birmingham in the sheriff's car. and placed in the county for safekeeping.
 According to Sheriff Phillips, Nalis was glad to give himself up to the authorities and sent word by his father for him to come and get him, at the same time asking that he be provided the necessary protection against vio- lence. The sheriff and two deputies, Houston Taylor and w. P. Hampton, went out to the home of D. A. Stog ner, an uncle of Nails, about 10 mics south of Huntsville. and Look the pris- oner in custody. The Madison sheriff and Deputy Taylor brought the priS- oner on to Birmingham. while the other deputy returned to Huntsville
 While searching parties had secured the country in every directi 'n for Nails since Sunday night. he claims tc have been at his uncle's house all the while, and told the sheriff he could have re- mained there for months without beir g apprehended, but wished to give him. self up. He said that he had been tipped off Sunday that there would be a warrant sworn out for him and upon the advice of friends left Huntsville Sunday afternoon, going to the home Of his father, and then to his uncles s. Sheriff Phillips stated to an Age-Her- aid reporter last night that Judge R. c. Brickell had asked him to demand the resignation of the circuit clerk, but that Nails had refused to resign at tfe present. He gave as his reas-'n that he was innocent of any crime and that this fact would soon be established. and he would be exonerated. He said that when things had developed further Judge Brickell would not ask him to resign. Nails was appointed to fhe nf- fee to succeed D. D. Overton, who re signed recently to enter the democratic primary race for probate judge against Judge Lawler.
 "All the way down here" said Sheriff Robert Phillips, T tried to draw MT Nails out. but all my efforts were in vain. While ne talked lfeely cI liAt crime that has so aroused ou: town and county, he did not say anything that could be used against him, or that would cause one to think Ee was guilty of the crime for which he was arrested. He requested that I have his private office locked and his belongings looked after. This I promised to do and he gave me the keys When told that his office had been raided he showed lit tie concern, stating, I do no- mird that, as there is nothing there ;hat will be against me- I haven't a thing in the world in my office or anywhere else that I care for people not to know about. I am perfectly innocent and 1t will soon be proven that I ant. He told me to look after a few other things for him and to deliver message or two. We did not have the slightest trouble with him."
 Orders came from Circuit Solicitor Joe Tate, who is working on tke case, not to allow any one to talk to tte prisoner, or otherwise to communicate with him without orders from him or the attorney general. The same or ders accompanied Percy Brooks, who was brought to Birmingham Sunday.
 Sheriff Phillips will return to Hunts vile today. after having made visit to Sheriff Thomas J. Batson and trip through the county jail. He expressed vile as lively times" but sad tha. things were beginning to quiet doNn somewhat