The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-25
SAY SLUSH FUND BRAIN CHILD OF
 JUDGE WILKINSON
Tuscaloosa Bankers Declare Only $36 Raised So Far for Defense of Accused Ma.
 tionaI Guardsmen

Tuscaloosa, January 24.--C. B. Yer ner. president of the Merchants bank: Frank Moody, president of the First vice president of the City National bank, made the following written state ment today:
 The Hon. Horace Wilkinson of Br- mingham today issued lengthy state ment In reply to the protest of Tusca- loosa's citizens against the precipitate manner in which the state is forcing the trial of certain members of Com- pany M, Alabama National guard
 Tt is evident this statement is pre- pared and given to the press with the direct purpose of prejudicing the people of Marion county against these boys It Is the work of an ardent advertiser and propagandist, the hired man of the commonwealth. We do not believe the people of the state will approve the use of such billingsgate as appears in MT, Wi1kinson's interview when apz piled to Tuscaloosa, and her citizens who want to see the law justly admin istered in an orderly way. "The law presumes every one inno- cent until proven guilty and this pre- sumption attends the accused until the Issue Is submitted to the jury and 1t is
 
 reasonable doubt exists as to the de- fendant's guilt This is constitu tonal right and the state has no power to deprive it's, citizens of such right.
 "The people of Tuscaloosa resent the charge of a hired minion of law en- forcement that 'slush fund is being raised and the charge is absurd and ridiculous, and that we are undertak- ing to raise $100,0 900 is but brain child of former JndRe wilkinson Judge Wilkinson may be furnish- ling his services to the state for noth~ ing and paying his own expenses, but lit is necessary to have lawyers to de- fend these boys, and it is necessary to pay. They have no funds to defray their expenses, their people are poor people.
 These boys are in 3aiI away rom home--not away from home of heir own volition, but by force of the strong arm of the law. The state is using every effort to convict them. This is right, and it is equally right that they should have the means of procuring an equally conductel ae- fense. If the state denies this t is also guilty of the violation of its own Jaws.
 The undersigned will receive Ind expend legitimately such funds as he 1rlends or these boys VIII contrl bu-e-- lit matters not where such friends live and this Is an appeal to the good !people of Tuscaloosa and Alabama ot to prostitute the laws Of the state of Alabama in the name of law enforce !ment. but to see that these boys arc fairly tried and if found guilty ade- quately punished and We are ready to receive their funds While preparing this paper we ihave received $36 as a start and hope 1t will grow to more adequate pros portions to the necessities of the sit- uation.
 '"The crime with which these povs lare charged was committed on Janu~ ary 13. last. The trials are set for January 31. Yet there are men in Jail lin Alabama charged with murle-ing Mir. Adler and deputy sheriff in Walker county. and we are informed. their cases are not yet set for trtal. Why should such distinction be made? "tSigned) c. B. WERNER. c FRANK B. MOODY,