The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-22
M'CLERkIN-DEAN CASES
OVER TILL THURSDAY
AFTER LIVELY TILTS'
N. L. Pierce Is Complainant
In Charges Made Against
Two Police Officers

The trial of Officers c. C. Nc
Clerkin and ]. w. Dean, charged
conduct unbecoming Officers and
characterization, was continued by
the civil service board until Thurs
day night, after stormy three
hours session Monday night At II
o'clock, Roderick Beddow and M. A.
Dinsmore, attorneys for the defense
moved that the case be dismissed for
lack of evidence, but the board voted
to hear other witnesses and the
case was continued.
n. L. Pierce. of the Pierce National
Detective agency, who filed charges.
testified that on April %, 1928, he
parked his automobile in the alley
adjoining the Colonial hotel, 200
Twenty-girst street, north, leaving
his two daughters in the automobile
A short time later, he said one of
the girls came into his office saying
the other had been arrested and
both threatened by a policeman, At
ter sending one of his employees to
ascertain the nature of the trouble
Pierce says he went to police head
quarters to make bond and have the
car released.
After seeing Assistant Chief Chris
tian. Pierce testified that he and
Detective B. f. Hubbard, went to the
place where the automobile was be-
ing held with a verbal order from
Chief Christian that Dean then
holding the machine allow Pierce to
sign bond. According to Mr.. Pierce,
Officer Dean, refused to accept
bond. Detective Hubbard then wrote
out a bond, he signed, according to
Mr.. Pierce. Following Hubbard's &C
ton officer Dean went into the
Officer McClerkin. The traffic men
asked Hubbard what right he and
Assistant Chief Christian had inter-
fering in the case before an arrest
had been made, the testimony fol-
lowed. After signing the bond,
Pierce says McClerkin and Dean fur
tier attempted to prevent him en-
tering his machine and threatened
to arrest him for attempting to back
out the alley.
He was Immediately asked If he
did not know it to be a violation of
traffic laws to back out of the alley,
but v;ded a direct answer. This con-
cluded Pierces testimony. Hubbard's
and Chief Christians testimony
tended to corroborate parts of
Pierce's story.
Causes Lively Tilt.
A lively tilt took place between
Attorney Dnsmore and Detective
Hubbard as to whether or not Off
GERS Dean and McClerkin were shown
the signed bonds and as to Whetner
or not Hubbard had arrived on the
scene and announced that Chief
Christian had sent MIN to take charge
of the affair. Another followed be-
tween Attorney Beddow and Pierca
as to why he did not come to the
scene of trouble instead of taking
the matter to headquarters. Out
bursts of laughter following dark
hints of wild parties and other scan
dal prompted Chairman John Altman
to threaten a clearance of all specta-
tors.
The defense attorneys attempted to
show that Chief Christian was wrong
in sending Hubbard along with Pierce
and that Officers McClerkin and Dean
had no means of knowing that the
assistant chief was familiar with the
situation. They further stated that
Chief Christian should have accom-
panied Pierce in person, or in the
case of sending Hubbard, should have
sent Dean a written order that
Pierce's bond was good and should be
accepted.
The commission adjourned the
meeting without hearing defense wit
nesses, other than three character
witnesses. Attorneys for the defense
announced they had summoned more
than 60 witnesses.
The charge of public drunk against
Detective W. b. Patterson was dis
missed for lack of sufficient evidence
after the hearing of two witnesses