The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-26
N UGH DAMAGING
TESTIMONY GIVEN
AGAINST STRENGTH
EImore Sheriff Now Before Su-
preme Court to Answer
Charges of Impeach-
ment Against Him
BY FRED III. GORMI.EY
Montgomery Bureau, The Age-Heral,
221-2 First National Bank Building

Montgomery Bureau, The Age-HeraI
221-2 First National Bank Building
Montgomery, May 25.-(Special.) -
John Strength, sheriff of Elmore
county, came before the supreme
court Wednesday to answer to charges
of impeachment brought against him
by the attorney generals department
under the direction of Governor Kilby
and throughout the day heard wit
nesses testify that he had refused to
inforce the prohibition laws in his
county, had refused to seize cars
which had been used in transport
ing liquor, had used liquor himself
and had received money from persons
arrested on various charges and in
one instance at least had permitted
white and negro males to stay in the
same cells in the county Jail.
The first day of the impeachment
trial which the state forced in its
effort to remove the sheriff from Of
flee was devoted entirely TO the sub
mission OF testimony in support of the
charges. Strengths day in court will
come Thursday or Friday and his at
torneys have announced that they are
prepared to contradict much of the tes-
timony of the states witnesses. About
eighty persons summoned to Montgom-
cry by the sheriff answered to their
names when the case wos called. Many
were character witnesses, but many
are prepared to testify as to the man
! ner of law enforcement in Gilmore
county.
When the case was called the state
offered another amendment to the in
formation as result of the defendants
demurrer to the specification. This
amendment was thrown out on de-
murrer of the defendant.
J. M. Holly former mayor OF We
iumpka and a prominent attorney tes-
ing testimony against the sheriff
when he raided the place of ALI
Strength because he did not seize
car belonging to Haig Adams on a
charge of transporting liquor and did
rot arrest Adams and that Strength
replied he wouldn't make the arrest
ecause Adams, a rural mail carrier
would lose his job and that when you
start white man down you start hin,
to HE'LL Mr., Holly also testified that
he had smelled liquor on Strengths
breath several times, but could not
say he had seen him drunk. However
he called attention to the fact thar
strength did not show up in court one
day and when he did return his phy
seal condition was not good
Rufus Cannon, former chief deputv
under Strength and now a state con-
stable, probably gave the most dAmag
ing testimony against the sheriff which
was submitted during the day. He
testified that he was with the sheriff
+ eak. negro, and obtained a ouantitv
OF liquor, that the liquor was brought
to the place in the car of Haig Adams
that he saw Adams in the car III.
that the car was not seized nv the
sheriff. He said the sheriff told hin,
!. oams would lose the car and his job
X he was arrested.
The witness also testified that ~.
negro, was arrested ON charge ~
carrying a concealed pistol and heard
Sheriff Strength tell the negro bo
could pay him tStrength) twentv-fiva
dollars and say nothing. He caid
another man gave the check to the
order or the taxi driver and the negro
was released, but his pistol was car
ried back to the county seat W.
tumpka.
cannon said he told Strength he ripht
get INTO trouble about taking money frop,
persons in this way. and that Strenpth
replied that if anything happened fhe
money was received as cash bond
The witness told of another case where
negro was arrested, but escaped later
He was located again by Cannon wha
reported the fact to the sheriff, and me
sheriff Informed him the case had No.,
settled for $50, s25 going to the sheriff and
s25 to another person
Another instance was enumerated h.,
Cannon wherein pistol was found under
mouse az lumber camp near Eclectic.
The sheriff took the pistol. Later . nn-
gro claimed it and Cannon told him n IL
admitted ownership he would arrest him
on charge of carrying a weapon, The
negro informed him the case had haen
settled and $50 had been taken out Of his
time in settlement. Cannon said ne asked
Sheriff Strength about the case and tbe
sheriff replied that settlement had hea,,
made.
At one time the sherffs office received
call to come to Deatsville, where :
man named Posey was charged with
murder and Cannon refused to go. al
cording to his testimony. because The
sheriff was pretty full" He said he saw
strength under the. influence OF LIQUOR
several times.
At one time when Cannon. who hal
charge of the jail was absent and tba
sheriff was in charge. man and woman
negro prisoners, were permitted to RAJ
main IN the same cell. according to the
testimony of Cannon. The witness conId
''o' So eiS 44uihcS " the prisoners.
Another instance was related where tha
sheriff and deputies raided the home ~
man named Gray, where ouantitv ~
liquor was confjscated. Gray was ordered
to appear the next day and make bond
He did not appear and has since djsan-
peared. On cross-examination the vii
ress admitted that Sheriff strength made
an effort later 70 find GRAY and stationed
deputies in Gray's section for some
time.
When ross-auestoned BY counsel for
Strength. Cannon said he did NOT know
(Continued on Page Two.)