The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-23
BOTH EDMUNDSON
 AND BATSON DENY
 CHARGE AS ABSURD
BeSSemer Man Did Not Vote for BatSon and Name Was Not Even Presented to
 the Board


 In statement given out yesterday by & R. Batson, former county high way engineer, the charges that he had paid Lacey Edmundson, member of the board of revenue. s1,5o0 to vote for him for that office were branded as false. Mir. Batson de- clared that these charges were the tricks of political enemies, and were for the purpose of eliminating him fro om the race for the city commits sion.
 The Announcement of the charges was re-enforced by Lacey Edmund son, who also made statement as- sorting that the whole affair was absurd and false and without any foundation MT. Edmundson denied that he ever voted for Batson or of- fered to vote for him.
 These statements were made as a result of the indictment returned by the Jefferson county grand jury against Thomas W. Wright, charging g him with defamation of the charac- ter of Lacey Edmunuson. II Was al legged in the indictment that Mr. Wright told members of the board of revenue that xMr Batson had paid Mir Edmundson $500 to vote for him for county highway engineer. There were nine counts to the indictment
 Edmundxon Denies Charge
 The statement of Mir. Edmundson is as follows:
 Tt is regretable that a man is forced to appear in the public press to refute certain reflections that have been made against him.
 The whole affair is absurd ano false, and without any foundation.
 My position in the election of a county engineer was understood by all that were interested The selec- ton of an engineer was made Tn caucus meeting of the board. asked the board to elect Phil Lacey, former fellow townsman of mine' but could not get majority to vote for him. 1 then nominated Clauoe Rogers. the incumbent, and after some discussion he was unanimously chosen.
 Il never voted for Mir. Batson or offered to vote Tor him, knowing at lne llIIlt lhc lCC1iAi6 eheN some members of the board. 1 felt that it would be to the best interest that some one else be elected.
 Tt has been my desire and efforts while | have been a member Of the board to render efficient service ana to have Harmonious board,
 Bntson's Statement
 Upon his return to the city from h. hReD at tendir,rea meeting of the state high way commission of which he is a member, Mir. Batson said; The charges that I paid Lacey Edmund son $500 to vote for me for county engineer is as false as it is vicious and emanated wholly from the camp of my political enemies who, fearing my strength if l should run for the city commission, have stopped to this contemptible method to discredlt me.
 They fear that my election. as city commissioner, if ] should decide to run would discredit their recent ac- tion in requesting my resignation as county engineer and thus prove false the charges made against me in the last board of revenue race. To ac- complish this, there are some persons who will stoop to anything. even attempted assassination Of character.
 There seems. however. to be a break in the ranks of the enemy, The public will remember that in the campaign against Jerry Gwin, Thomas ". Wright and certain other people who had been defeated for of flee and who are aspiring for office in the future were as thick as thieves. They are now, however, in the same ha "A fri m w a r in the World war. As long as Ger many and her allies held together, they were able to maintain their front. When dissention occurred in their ranks, they quickly lost. My political enemies are in the same con- dition. Their alliance, having been founded on bitterness and hatred instead of on a foundation of solid facts, could not last and. having broken, they are now rapidly propell- ing each other to the destruction they deserve.
 What Really Happened
 Tt is matter of record that Lacey Edmundson did not vote for me for county engineer. He told me previ- ously to the election of an engineer that 1t would not be any use to vote for nae because a majority of the board had pledged themselves to de- feat me- l then asked him if he would not vote for Claude Rogers who was my assistant and who had always been loyal and faithful to me He told me that he wanted to vote for Mir. Lacey, who was 8 personal friend of his, but if Lacey could not be elected then he would be glad to support MT Rogers. which the rec ords show he did.
 T was warned that I would be de- feated as engineer If I didn't cease my activities for Jerry Gwin, a can didate for reelection in the general election. I ignored this warning and continued my activities for the cleo tion of Jerry Gwin. However, by do- ing so, I was forced to resign my position, but while going down my self, I was able to save my engineer ing organization in the service of the county intact"