The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-09
SOLICITOR DAVIS
 RECRUITS FORCES FOR EVANS TRIAL
Makes Public Copy Of Letter Said Written To Gov
 ernor Brandon

Solicitor Jim Davis, Monday morn- ing requested Forney w. Brandon, deputy clerk of the circuit court, to set forward the date for the trial of Warden J. D. Evans of Banner mine, under indictment by the grand jury for assault and battery and as sault with a weapon. The exact date of the trial is still undecided. but probably will be set for october 20.
 In the meantime Solicitor Davis is working on the case and is ex- pected within a day or two to ask for the pI esence as witnesses, IT con- yicts flogged at Banner mine as pun- ishment for their alleged part in the munity September 10. Their testi- mony is expected to have an impor- tant bearing Upon the trial.
 Frank D. McArthur, attorney for Warden Evans. has been called out of the city by the illness of rela- tive, but expects to be back in time for the trial. MT. Davis spent only a short time in his office Monday morning, as he was still feeling the effects of his illness. He returned to his home before noon. Before leaving, however, he gave out for G. P. Crawford of Atlanta to Cover nor ". w. Brandon. in which the governor is reminded of a promise he is said to have made before his inaugura ton, to abolish the lash In the punishment of convicts. A copy of this letterNwas received by Solicit tor Davis Monday.
 The writer of the letter warns Governor Brandon that unless he is careful he is likely to "get the same that old Walton in Oklahoma is go- ing to get--impeached." A message to Solicitor Davis, added as a post script to the letter, says, Don't let ,x, The letter to Governor Brandon fol- lows:
 Atlanta, Ga., Oct. z. 1923 Hon. William w. Brandon, Governor. State of Alabama,
 Montgomery, Ala.
 Dear Sir.
 q am enclosing herewith clipping from the Labor Journal which is written by former guard of one of the convict camps, which the state of Florida leased out to private cor porations. ana It will be well worth your time to read over this and learn something, of what a sister state went through with in recent months gone by.
 Ut would seem from the recent dispatches contained in the press. that you are afraid for the honor able grand jury of Jefferson county to make certain investigations of your leasing system, more particu- larly at Banner mine, which the law of your state says they have right to do. What did you tell the people who honored yCu with the governorship on the day of your inauguration?
 "When you came here to Atlanta to present Clifford Walker with a diamond fraternity pin, what were your words on this occasion?
 When you presented this pin to whispering Cliff, at the Round Rob- bin at the great Cipital City club, didn't you say that your first official act would be to see to it that the flashing of convicts in your state would be abolished?
 What made you change so quick ly, governor, for no one requested you to make this promise? You made 1t of your own free will. Isn't those poor devils there in chains, hu- man beings just like you? Wasn't it | the same God who made them, the one who made you, and yet you wish to go on record as being satisfied with having them beaten and mis- | treated just because they cannot help themselves, but you had better watch with care. or you will get the same that old Walton in Oklahoma is go- ! iEs to get-impeached" Yours very truly,
 c. P. CRAWFORD, Care Princeton Hotel. Atlanta, Ga.