The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-28
MERIDIAN, MISS.

Meridian, Miss, January T.-(Speeial) The sensation created here Sunday aft ernoon by the statement of Chairman S. M. Graham of the local Anti-Saloon League in an address that he was deliver ing to audience in the city hall audi torium that he was in possession of in- formation that member of the Me- ridian police force had accepted two quarts of moonshine whisky rom negro bootlegger for the privilege of coming into the city to peddle the stuff, has been further intensified by request on the part of Chief of Police Monette for the name of the policeman in order to clear the other members of the force from suspicion. When asked for the in- formation, however, according to Chief Monette, Chairman Graham stated that white man had told him that the negro who is alleged to have given the whisky had informed him of the transaction Chief Monette says that he then asked Chairman Graham for the name of the white man in order that he might get at the bottom of the matter. and dismiss the guilty policeman from the force, but that the latter refused to comply with his request. The police department to a man is highly indignant, each claiming that if any member of the force is guilty his name should be made public out of justice to the others, and the matter is very likely to be placed before the grand jury which sits next week and thor oughly probed.
 District Attorney Martin Miller is in Waynesboro, where he went to make a thorough investigation into the alleged murder of Cleveland Rowe, whose dead body was found by two squirrel hunters after search that lasted nearly a week after he had mysteriousy disappeared from his home. The young man is said to have had $f00 in cash in his pockets at the time, and 1t was to secure this money that it is supposed he was murdered Two white men and a negro have been arrest ed in connection with the supposed mur- der.
 Curtis Smith surrendered to Sheriff
 Martin late last night for shooting and dangerously wounding Virgil Moss. an- other negro. The difficulty is said to have taken place between the two men during a gambling game. and Smith claims to have shot Moss in self-defense, and while the latter is alleged to have been advancing on him with a knife.  J. P. Merrill, g, white man and mar ried. is in the county jail on a charge of forgery. It is alleged Merrill forged the name of W. w. Willis to a check for $7.5C made out to J. Fl .Semmes, and in cashing the check indorsed the name of J. Fl Semmes. He purchased pair of gloves from suburban store. presenting the check in payment and receiving the change in cash. Merrill claims he found hat tai o11a0ad 1 forged check with the name of the man i in whose name it was made payable. ac- COT ding to officers.
 l L.. A. Irby, a farmer residing at In crease, has reported to the police hert | that he has been robbed of, F hogs. H' suspects the porkers hay been brought to Meridian and sold. Arrests are likely to be made of certain suspected parties. Department of justice officers and tn, police here are Investigating one of th' nerviest robberies that ever took plac' 1 in Meridian. they say. but are withhold ing the name of the man robbed. said t' be one of the most prominent citizens O the city, until they conclude their inves litigation. From all the information ob tainable it appears that three men wis ited the home of the man robbed durinl his absence, represented themselves a federal officers with a warrant to searcl the house for whisky, which they state' they had reason to believe was storet there Their search was rews rded witt the discovery of whisky in quart bottle Iestimated to be valued at S7So whicl they not only took possession of. pu went still further by taking trunl lthat contained clothing and about $l00 il gold coins as well whisky. The mel impersonating federal officers arrived am departed with their loot in an automobile The stolen trunk was found in the woods where it had been broken open and rifle of it's contents. but no trace as yet ha been found that might lead to the ident< ,cation of the thieves. The citizens wh had accumulated so great quantity o
 whisky of the very best brands. the of ficers say, while not drinking man him self, had seen the handwriting on tn wall and stocked up that he might be i Ia position to entertain his thirsty friend in the dry period to come