Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-06-20
MILITIA IS SENT To
HUNTSVILLE AS FEAR
Of VIOLENCE GROWS
Decatur and Sheffield COmpa-
MES Ordered to Huntsville
After Judge LAWYERS Body
Is Found in River
Especial Dispatch to The JournaI0

AsFENAdA AfANliehANA " 1 nc obul AdAsF
HUNTSVILLE. Ala, June 17.-There
is tense excitement here over develop
ments following the murder of Probate
Judge w + Lawler and on request OF
Sheriff Phillips, Governor Henderson
sent the Decatur and Sheffield militia
companies here to guard asainst any vio-
lence. There had been three arrests up
TO 8 o'clock tonight. Percy Brooks, fer
ryman at Whitesburg, is in custody on \
charge of murder and Joe Goforth and
Fac Spangler employees of the ferry are
held as accessories.
Because of the high feeling Sheriff
Phillips and Chief of Police Kirby noti-
fed the express and the railway COM
panies not to deliver any liquor pack
ages today. Bootleggers were given n
special warning that if caught the pen
atty would be much severer than usual.
Judge Robert C Brickell of the cir
cult court this evening ordered special
grand jury TO be convened Monday
morning to investigate the murder So
licitor Zac l. Drake has announced that
he will ask Attorney General Martin, of
Alabama, to send a special officer TO
conduct the investigation.
Percy Brooks was taken TO Athens
in an automobile and from there to
birmingham. The coroner's jury adj
icurned until Monday without making
any of its findings. 1t is rumored that
several prominent officials are involved
in the case but so far no arrests be-
sides that of Brooks and his two en-
ployes have been made.
SEEK PROMINENT CITIZENS.
That Madison county officers and
Huntsville police are seeking at least
three and probably more of the most
prominent citizens of Huntsville anc at
least one man we'll known in Alabama
politics i'm connection with the murder
of Judge Lawler became definitely
known tonight.
At about o'clock it is stated that
one of the men sought by the officers
was seen leaving the city in northern
IN direction i'm an automobile. Otficers
say that other men they were looking
for also had suddenly disappeared.
Later in the night it was rumored
one of the men who could not be found
early in the evening had returned TO
the city The home of b. ID. Overton,
for a number of years circuit court
clerk and Judge LAWYERS recent oppo-
nent i'm the judseship race. was entered
bv officers. Ii was said Mr. Overton
was not At home. No arrests were
made.
The town was quiet at midnight but
sheriff Phillips made no effort TO con-
ceal his anxiety over what might occur
sboUId arrests be made. The large
crowd that gathered in the court house
souare dispersed early but up to MID
night many persons were on the streets
which still were patrolled by the
guards
with crushed skull and two bullet
wounds i'm the chest. the body OF Fro-
hat. Judge w Thomas Lawler. OF TINS
county was found today in a slough OF
the Tennessee river, snort distance
from whitesburg The body was weighed
with railroad iron. Bloody prints had been
found on the bridge and this circum-
stance taken in connection with the re-
ceint of a note by Sheriff Phillips hint
ing that something could be found in
the water beneath led 10 the search Tor
the body.
II is believed Judge Lawler was muir
dered in the city and his body taken out
and concealed.
The fact that Judge Lswler had been
absent from his office and home since
last Wednesday night did not become
generally known until today. speclal
grand Jury has been i'm session here IN
yestigatins the last election in which
gudge Lawler was a winning candidate
md friends believed he had merely alb
ssnted himself to avoid going before
tho grand Jury. Today, however, II oe-
came known that his wife did not know
where he was and his absence caused
alarm. Sensational rumors were heard
Immediately and a tip to the snerlH
caused the slough to be dragged.
WARRANTS ISSUED.
II is known that warrants for four
or FIVE men have been placed in the
hands of officers for service, but the
identity of those named in them would
not he disclosed by the authorities. Of
dcers feared that trouble might follow
arrests today
II became known today that Judge
Tavler had an engagement to meet at
the court house Wednesday night,
man who had opposed him in politics
here for number of years. one OF
the warrants is said to name that man
I'm connection with the Killing. Nhen
nudge I.awler did not return home Wed
nesday night his family became alarmed
aud reported the matter to the sheriff.
ON Thursday morning a deputy found
the Judges eyeglasses on the court
house lawn. The automobile which he
had driven to the court house remain
ed where he is said to have left IL We'd
nesday night.
O6icers were led to believe that the
Judge had been kidnapped and taken
south of the town. Deputy \. L. Pierce
today found blood stains on bridge
and began a search in the water near
by. The Body was found in fifteen
feet of water.
JUDGE TWELVE YEARS.
LawIer had been judge of the pro-
bate court here for twelve years and
was about to enter upon the third six
year term fractional lines between the
..vets" and "drys" in Madison county
always have been closely drawn and
the political fights have been bitter.
Judge Lawler fought on the dry side.
After the last Democratic primary
charges of election frauds were heard.
4 grand jury that is said to have in
yestigated these charges was discharg-
ed two weeks ago without bringing in
dictmsnts Another grand jury immedi-
ately was drawn. Yesterday Curry Tur-
ner. foreman of the jury, appeared in
omen court and demanded that he be
released from further grand jury duty
as ne did not want to be responsible
for any action in this political mess
His demand was refused.