The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-15
P0SEY MADDOX, FATHER
AND "SHINER" ACCUSED
Solicitor Grady Wilson Calls
Upon Governor Brandon For
Men And Means To Confirm
Confession After Discovery
Of Grave OF One Of Victims
JASPER BUREAU !
THE AGE-HERALD :
,Iasner Ala May IL

Eight men, five white and three
negroes, are buried in an unknown
cemetery near Slough Fayette coun-
ty, Ala, the victims of knowing too
much" about operation of a still five
miles from Slough. according to a
story told by Wiley Maddox, Is, son
of Posey Maddox. the latter a noto-
rious moonshiner, recently killed.
Posey Maddox was shot to death
following attempts of officers to
raid his still. A second victim, al
legged to have been shot by Posey
Maddox and buried near there. now
lies in a grave in the paupers field
at Fayette. His body was disn-
tered by authorities following re-
cent investigation of the Fayette
county grand jury. when Wiley Mad
dox broke down and confessed to the
grand Jurors that after his father
killed the men the remains were
thrown across the back of a horse
taken to lonely spot and buried
during the still hours of the night.
Case BEFORE Governor.
Gov. w. w. Brandon has been APP
pealed to by Solicitor Grady Wilson
of the Fourteenth judicial circuit for
men and means to make a thorough
| investigat ton into the report that the
eight persons were killed and buried
rear Slough. The solicitor said to-
day he Is unable to personally con-
duct the investigation because of
limited funds, and has therefore
asked the governor to give him as
sstance of state officials and funds.
Solicitor Wilson is awaiting reply
from Governor Brandon.
Following the death of Posey Mad
dox in a fight with Prohibition Of
ficer w. p. Stancel of Jasper and
Deputy Sheriff John Walden of Fay
cite county, lips of residents of the
Slough neighborhood long sealed
through fear of violence are now
less cautious. Solicitor Wilson was
told that Wiley Maddox could tell
lots if forced to. The boy was
brought before the grand jury at
Fayette, but refused to talk. The
solicitor had the youth incarcerated.
Then Wiley Maddox. tears streaming
from his eyes, agreed to lead off,
GERS to the place where the I'M
known man was later found buried.
He said eight men had been buried
there.
Before further investigation was
possible the newly made alleged
graveyard was covered with water.
There operations ceased.
Tells of killing Youth.
Posey Maddox for some time was
under suspicion of making Illicit
whisky. He was repeatedly inter
rupted by officers. One day a young
man was discovered camping on
Posey Maddox's land. The elder
Maddox. enraged, according to Wiley
Maddoxs statement, knocked the
stranger down after accusing him of
spying and then shot him dead fir
ing two bullets into his body. Wiley
Maddox then told of how his father
threw the remains of the unknown
camper across the back of horse
and later buried him.
Then came the day when Deputies
Stancel and Walden swooped down on
the still. According to the story,
Posey Maddox only saw Deputy Wal
den. Walden was shot by Maddox,
but later recovered. Deputy Stancei.
however, coming to the rescue of
his brother officer. fired and fatally
wounded Posey Maddox, who died
that night.