The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-27


 she will sail for the Orient. In either case she will carry Birmingham steel on her first voyage.
 immoral practices were permitted by him. John Wilkerson, state convict testified Wednesday that Dewey had sold him three bottles of liquor and had permitted immoral practices YouE.g Strength said Wilkerson was an unruly prisoner and 1t was neces- sary to put him in another cell be- cause of the disturbances he started.
 Dr. o. s. Justice, former county health officer, testified that he visited the county jail frequently in the dis charge of his duty and he never saw or heard of any immoral practises He also said he had never seen Sheriff Strength under the influence~of liq- uor and that the sheriffs character is good and he had been diligent in the enforcement of all laws.
 Four negroes who are or were pris- oners in the county jail--Leona Den nis Elizabeth Wallace, General Debar- deleben and Charley Walker-were called and all testified that no im- moral practices were permitted by the sheriff in the county jail and that John Wilkerson, convict, who gave such testimony, had terrible reputa- tion in the jail for general cussing and disturbances.
 ATTORNEY SEES NOTHING
 John Bateman. attorney for Will kerson when he was held in the jail on charge of murder, also testified that he had been in the jail often and had never seen or heard of immoral practices. He said Strength has been dilfgent in the enforcement of law and that more cases had been brought by the sheriff for violating the prohibit tion laws than during any other ad- ministration.
 Five witnesses from Deatsville-- Jim Roy, Jeff Roy, Benejah Roy, Frank Macon and MT. Thigpen-were called to impeach the testimony of state witnesses, who said Strength was drinking when he went to Deatsville charge of murder. The witnesses said they were near Strength on that oc- casion and did not know he was drinking and did not smell liquor on his breath. George F. Shoot attorney of We tumpka, and custodian of county funds, testified that Sheriff Strength had been diligent in the enforcement of alr laws and he did not know of any time when the sheriff refused to make investigations requested by citi- zens. He also said Rufus Cannon, chief deputy, came to him and asked him to support him for sheriff in the event of the resignation or i'm peachment of Strength that he re- fused on the ground that his indorse- ment would have no influence with the governor and that Cannon then asked him to see Judge l.. c. Smith in his interest.
 Shoot said Cannon told him strength was going to resign because of the Charley Miner case.
 On cross examination the state sought to show that Strength had de- cided to resign but was persuaded not to do so by bunch of politicians" Shoot said he knew nothing about such.
 DEPENDANT ON STAND
 Sheriff Strength took the witness stand In his own defense at the after noon session of the court and remained until recess for the day. He declared that he had made every possible effort to enforce the prohibition laws as well as all other laws and had come to Montgomery and discussed the situa- tion with Governor Kilby.
 He said he retained on his staff a NSPtty HdIuCu Vu diio W HO lldu DccH cii- ployed by the preceding sheriff, and that he promptly discharged him when Governor Kilby called him to Mont gomery and informed him that Mails had been indicted for violation of the prohibition laws. He said he had no knowledge of the indictment up to that time.
 Referring to the still found on the place of George Goodwin by the sheriff of Autauga county. Strength said he left the matter to Deputy Cannon. and that Cannon, who had been a witness for the state in this case reported to him that the still was held by Goodwin for repair and that he didn't think there should be anything to it. Up to that time the law making it a crime to be in possession of a still was not in force. Referring to the confiscation of liquor from Ali Peak, a negro, Strength said Haig Adams, who was charged with bringing the liquor to Peak. was not arrested at once on the advice of the probate judge. who suggested that he wait until further information had been obtained, A warrant sworn out by Strength against Adams and dated May was offered in evidence. He said the car was not seized because it was not possible to climb a wire fence and reach Peaks store at the time the auto mobile was standing. and that as Adams owned more than one automo- bile it could not be identified later.
 Strength admitted that he had con- versation with J. M. Holly, an attorney, but had declined to give MT. Holly any information about the conduct of his office because MT Holly had never been friendly to him. MT. Holly testified that Strength told him he would not seize Haig Adams' car or arrest him because when you start white man down yN start him to he'll"
 GOOD LIST OF WITNESSES During the afternoon Session large number of witnesses testified that Sheriff Strength had made good of- ficial, had attempted to enforce all laws and that they had never seen him in an intoxicated condition or when they smelled liquor on his breath. Among those who gave this testimony were Judge E. K. McMorris. circuit judge; John B. Jackson. former sheriff; P. K. Shirley, attorney; Tom Smith. attorney: Cecil Alexander, cir cult solicitor: Steve Renau. tax col lector; Leonard G. Mcqueen. tax as- sessor; w. w. Jones, circuit clerk: Forest Little. mayor of Wetumpka l. E. Spear. who claimed to be the first prohibitionist in Elmore county; A. D. Curlee and Joel Mcqueen, county commissioners: J. R. Harris. member of the Wetumpka town council, and Henry c. Ellis. member of the hodse of representatives from Elmore county.
 Gid Williams testified that he had conversation with Rufus Cannon. deputy about the Charley Milner money. and that Cannon told him Mil- ner paid s25 as a cash bond on a oh cf cnnOoa1aA ni4tOl.