The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-03

VERDICT
! FOR ASSAULT ON
MISS HAZEL BRAY


Walter Patton, alias Paddy Mack"
and SLEEPY John" Rogers must spend
the next 10 TO 21 years OF their lives in
the stae penitentlary at Nashville for
tneir brutal attack on 14-year-old Hazel
Bray.
Guilty" was the verdict OF the fury
which heard the evidence against the
men. The verdict was returned in the
Second division, criminal court, Friday
morning The case went to the jnry
Thursday afternoon at $50 O'Clock.
Judge Harsh instructed the jury to re-
port back Friday morning, II II had
reached a verdict.
If could have gotten out on bond
| could have beat them" said Sleepy"
John Rogers. shortly after the Jury an
nounced verdict Of guilty as charged
IN the case against him and Walter
Patton, alias Paddy Mack" convicted
Of brutally assaulting 14-year- -old Hazel
Bray on Sunday morning, Aug. 9.
The jury brought in its verdict short
" before 10 O'Clock Friday. Judge
Harsh. Of the Second criminal court,
trialA judge, read the charge Patton
and Rogers heard the decision Of the 10
men read In stoical manner. Neither
said a word.
Miss Hazel Bray was not in court.
She was in custody of the juvenile
court.
Hugh Magevney. attorney for the de-
fendants, then demanded that the jury
be poned and Judge Harsh questioned
each, each juror reaffirming the ver-
dict as written. Motion for a new trial
was set for Saturday morning, Oct. H..
The penalty for the crime Is an inde-
terminate sentence OF from 40 to 81
years in the penitentiary, The men
We're handcuffed and taken back 70 Jail
utnn
nounced.
Goodbye" Rogers said 70 his moth
er as the two We're led away.
The case was stubbornly fought by
both the state and the defense. Argu-
ment lasted during the entire afternoon
Of Thursday and IL was late In the day
when Judge Harsh read his charge to
Sam o. Bates states attorney, and
his assistant John Exhy, handled the
prosecution, Mr.. Bates in person closed
the states argument. He made stir
ring appeal for conviction "in the name
Of every good woman OF Shelby coun-
ty."
The attack on Miss Bray attracted
widespread attention and created great
comment. Public Indignation was
greatly aroused against the five men
alleged to have been parties to the
attack.
iH DutllluN InbTHlllB, Auks o, MiSo
Bray left her home at 332 North Sec
ond street, and walked around the cor
ner OF Jackson avenue. to purchase
some apples for her mother at gro
Gerry store. 1t was alleged that there
she met Walter Patton, alias Paddy
Mack" with whom she was acquainted.
After a brief conversation. during
which they walked to the side of an
automobile which contained "Sleepy
john Rogers, and which is alleged to
Rave contained also Bennle South and
Elmer Wells, alias Little Red" and
also Eugene MartinellE However,
Rogers declared on the witness stand
that Martinelll was not an occupant
The men tried to get Hazel Bray to
| take q ride When she refused, they
seized her and dragged her In the auto
miblle, which was large machine,
| The girl was attacked and manhan-
| died, according to her story. There was
| evidence that an attempt was made to-
| ward what generally was regarded as
criminal assault. The girl struggled and
fought, screaming as the big machine
| tore on at q high rate of speed.
| According to Miss Brays story, she
| finally leaped from the machine TO save
her honor. This was at Vollentine ave-
nue. and North Seventh street. She
crashed to the pavement as she leaped
| from the speeding machine. She was
| terribly lacerate6 and bruised by the
4 fall She received a conclusion OF the
| brain For days afterward she was N
4 a dazed condition and confined TO her
! bed.
The search for the men, who had fled
after she leaped from the machine then
! began.
Finally Sheriff Perry and deputies cap
tured SLEEPY John Rogers. A few
hours later police nabbed Walter Pat.
| ton, alias Paddy Mack" Martlnelli ana
| John Myers, alias Sugar Lump;" also
were arrested Myers later was released
| when Miss Bray said he was not In the
car. Martinelli's attorney, Ralph Da-
| Wis, claims to have perfect alibi for
Martinelli. but no evidence was offered
| in the police court trial and Martinenl
was bound over. The five men were
indicted for assault to commit murder
and attempted criminal assault,
A coincidence in the case was the
fact that the verdict was rendered at
the same time of day and on the same
day of the month that the crime Is al
| legged to have been committed. The as
sault took place exactly at 9:5l am. on
August g. eccording to the testimony of
witnesses, and the verdict was an
nounced at exactly 9:5l am. on Oct. g.
Wells lnd South never have been
captured.
Later Miss Bray was taken into tile
! custody of the juvenile court She was
held there until her testimony could be
entered in the trials Of Patton and
Rogers Efforts by j. b. Webb, attor-
ney f5r Mrs. Betty Reeves, the girl'a
mother, to obtain her llbery on a writ
of habeas corpus proved unavailing.
The trial of the case lasted nearly two
weeks. Much trouble was experienced
in obtaining venlrernen to qualify as
Jurors. Several venires were ordered
by Judge Tom Harsh, before the jury
box was filled.
The brutal assault on the young cir
was one Of innumerahle forays fol
crime from the bootleg headquarters al
Main street 3nd Monroe avenue. whief
increased in insolenee against organizet
society in the successful assault upor
Il three Young girls In Wolf river bottoms
and reached their climax in the killing
of o. r. Webster by the leader of tn,
south side -of-the-a avenue bootleg gang
who died at almost the same instant.
The gang which kidnapped Miss Bra,
d and almost cost her life. was composed
I of chauffeur habitues OF the Botorlou
corner. Although the police we're mott
fled OF the affair before the fitch
: ended, the ruffians returned 10 Mail
and Monroe and two remained IN town
! while two others nassed unmolested ou
: Of town. and 70 this good day have no