The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Attorney General Davis To
 Await Result Of Trial In
 Federal Court, Believing Such Course Is Proper One MOBILE POLICE CHIEF RESIGNS FROM OFFICE Judge Jesse F. Hogan Seems
 Likely Successor To Man Arrested Following Break
 Of Liquor Scandal On Gulf
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD Montgomery. Ala Dec. % |

Harwel c. Davis, attorney general, will decline to make any investiga- tion of the charges preferred against Sheriff Paul G. Cazalas of Mobile county until the cases brought against the sheriff by the federal grand jury nave been disposed of by the federal court.
 Attorney General Davis made this declaration in letter to Sheriff Cazalas today. It was written in re- ply to one received from the sheriff Friday afternoon and was made public because the sheriff gave his letter to the public.
 State officers were withdrawn from Mobile at the time the federal government began It's investigation in order that agents of the federal government would have an undis- turbed field for their investigations, MT. Davis said: "To now attempt an investigation of the findings of the grand jury would place this office in the position of not keeping faith with this understanding, as depre- ciating the federal grand Jury and as endeavoring to anticipate and influ- ence Issues which cam only be prop erly settled in the court In which the charges have been preferred" con tlnued the attorney generals letter.
 o o o
 Awaits Federal Action.
 MT. Davis said he did not believe any action or statement would be proper now that might serve to pre- judice any case now pending either in the federal court or the sta1e court. T am of the opinion that the only practical course for this office Is to await the trial of these charges in the federal courts" the letter con- tinued.
 Governor Brandon still declines to make any statement about the de- vclopments at Mobile, which include tho indictment of the sheriff deputy sherlffs, q member of the board of revenue and a large number of cit izens, on charges involving an all legged conspiracy to violate the fed eral prohibition laws However, it became known that the governor Is determined to make a thorough in quiry and that a statement will be issued by him before many days have passed
 Attorney General Davis reply to the letter CT Sheriff CaZalas follows: {:
 "This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of the nineteenth instant in which you request the attorney general of Alab abama to make an inn mediate investigation of the charges preferred against you by the recent federal grand jury.
 Tt is not difficult to appreciate that any law enforcement officer is embarrassed and his influence as such officer impaired by any fact that even creates a suspicion as to his official integrity and I tully agree that 1t is to the interest Of good government that the truth or falsity of any such fact should be es- abolished as soon as practicable For several reasons, however, l do not think that the immediate investi- gation of these charges against you by this office Is either proper or ad- Visable."
 Wants To Co-Operate.
 Several months ago the request was made that the federal forces be given an undisturbed field of opera ton in Mobile county, fer the pur- pose of thoroughly investigating al- legged violations of the liquor law. In the spirit of cooperation and in compliance with this request. mem bers of the state law enforcement depa rtment were withdrawn from Mobile. To now attempt an investi- gation of the findings of the grand jury would place this office In the position of not keeping faith with this understanding, as depreclatlng the federal grand jury as endeaVor- ing to anticipate and influence issues which can only be properly settled in the court in which the charges have been preferred"
 "Furthermore than this. this office has no way of ascertaining all the facts available to the federal au- thorities on which they rely to sub stantiate this indictment, and there fore could not be assured that the
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