The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
HoIcombe Attacks Boyles

MOBILE. Ala. Dec. 2a.-Former Sheriff William H. Holcombe, Jr is- sued a statement today criticising United States District Attorney Au- indictment in connection with the wholesale liquor ring exposure at Mobile Mir. Holcombe, who is also a member of the state legislature as we'll as being a deputy sherlff under Sheriff Paul Cazalas at Mobile, said the indictment against him was the result of personal venom on the part of the district attorney.
 "The fight between Boyles and will go on to a finish, and the under hand methods of Boyles will be final Iy exposed" said Mir. Holcombe. The former sheriff said that Boyles had misled members of the reoeral grand jury in his capacity as adviser to the grand jury.
 Stating that he had the greatest respect for the federal grand jury, which has just adjourned, and that he had respect for all courts, MT. Holcombe declared that he was indlf- ferent to the indictment returned against him. He said that ultimate result will show that it was through the misleading influence of Boyles that the indictment was brought against him, claiming misstaten-ents were made by witnesses to the Jurors.
 The ex-sheriff severely arraigned the district attorney for advising or an indictment against Paul G. Ca zalas, sheriff of Mobile county, for conspiracy to violate the national prohi ibition act out of an incident In which the indictment itself admits grew out of eagerness of the sherl1l department to enforce the prohlbl- ton law. Aubrey Boyles admits that after months and months of intensive | only thing that he can say against the chief executive officer of this county is that he beat the federal officers to the job and arrested and convicted the guilty parties.
 Acting Under Orders.
 "Boyles was unwilling to admit before the federal grand jury testi- mony showing that in going to the place where the alleged violation of i law occurred the sheriff of this county was acting under an order contained in search warrant issued by the judge of the inferior criminal court of Mobile county. and if the sheriff had failed to execute this warrant promptly and in the manner l in which he should execute it, he would then have been guilty of neg lect of his official duties. He was unwilling to let the grand jury hear the other side of the case, because in his eagerness and unreasonable hate | it was his desire to place the stigma of an indictment against the man who was responsible for the report ing to state and federal officials Of his own misconduct
 The statement continued: If the man who now poses as martyr, and who, to gain the sympathy of the public, states that his life has | h@ ,lxf claims that his policy in the future will be to refuse to submit to arrest by state or county officials, in de- fiance of our state law, Is the inno- cent abused and framed up consci- entious government official that he would have the people believe, why did he not accept a hearing when the opportunity was offered him" The statement referred to the prelimi- nary hearing of the federal district attorney before Judge N. R. Clarke of the inferior criminal court this week when examination was waived, a jury trial demanded and Boyles' bail was set at $500
 MT Holcombe's statement is very lengthy, much of which is devoted to a challenge of Attorney Boyles' veracity. For my part l ask no quarter" said the ex-sheriff T an- nounce to the people of the state that the fight between Boyles and my self will go to a finish. To my co-workers in the legislature of Alabama, to my friends throughout the state. and to the public in gen eral I can say that. having faith in right and justice. my name will be cleared of any stigma placed upon it as a result of the underhand methods of Aubrey Boyles and that he will fi- nally. be exposed"
 The action of the city comm ssion came as a big surprise in Mobile, as Police Commi ssioner George E. Csaw- ford had repeatedly stated that he would stand behind Chief O'Shaugh- messy until after his trial In the fes- eral court.