The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-13
) R J t CYST SUES FOR RS25O,OOOA TER MASKED FLOGGING
DeBardeleben, FIogged and Driven From Home by Mob Rule, Takes Case to Fed
 eraI Court

P. H. DeBardeleben, former drug
 sist of Sylacauga. yesterday filed
 suit forf $25O.OO0 in federal court against 22 mem. all of whom reside in Sylaeauga and Goodwater, alleg- ing that on the night of April 19, 1921.
 he was overpowered, taken to lone
 y spot on the outskirts of Sylacauga and severely whipped. He also claim ed being forced to sell his business
 and home in Sylacauga and leave the
 state sa consequence of threats
 made during the flogging
 DeBardeleben also claimed that he
 was unable to perform the work which he had been doing before the
 flogging and that he had to seek an other line of business.
 Defendants Named
 The following men are named as defendants in the case: J. D. Ratch- ford, Jim Staples. Dot Saxon, Bot Wilson, Pierce Vaughn. Mack White head, Justice LeCroy, Carey Smith John Dooley. J. c. Catchings, Joe Robinson, J. o. Self, John Fleming Bob MeGraw, Jack Arnold, J. O. Grif- 1 fin. Tom Hagan. Henry Kelly k. N Franklin. Earle Evans, Steve Gilli- land and Will Gilliland.
 All of the defendants named in the suits filed are of the most prominent Talladega and Coosa county families J. D. Ratchford. who Is named as 8 defendant purchased the DeBardele. ben drug store within a few months l following the flogging, it is said. Tom
 Hagan, also a defendant, is proprietor o ia large drug store in Sylcaauga while R. N. Franklin, onother defend ant, is chief deputy sheriff of Coosa county.
 Relates FIOgging DeBardeleben states that while walking from his home to his store about ' o'clock on the night of April 19. 1921, he was accosted by two mer who asked that he accompany them When he resisted one of the men, it
 is said struck him across the back oi his head with heavy blunt instru' ment, rendering him unconscious When he regained his senses he dis
 covered that he had been placed 1T
 an automobile and was nearing tho
 outskirts of the city. Hehe he wal taken out and tied to small tree
 DeBadeleben states that he was un-
 dressed partially and that the mer
 used a heavy flashing whip. Ordered to Leave When the flogging was over ht was ordered to vacate the city imme- dately and to sell all property. He was left tied to the tree and with the aid of negro managed to re- turn to the city where he was placed
 under medical care immediately. He was sent to a hospital in Atlanta
 and there 1t was found that hls eye sight was greatly impaired. ShrOuded in Mystery The case was shrouded with much
 myster yas DeBareleben remained very secretive about the affair and
 made no statement for several days
 At that time he state dthat the men had been unmasked but that he had recognized none of them.
 DeBardeleben was one of the most prominent business men in Sylaeauga and was well known in drug circles lover the state. He was active in civic and religious circles and 1t Is thought
 that religious prejudice was one of
 the causes of the flogging. DeBarde- l leben states that he Is now a resi- dent of Florida.
 The case has been docketed for the September term of court and papers have already been placed in the hands of tn United States marshal for serv- tee.
 Smith, Wilkinson and Smith are at-
 torneys for the plaintiff.