The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-03
OFFICER KILLED
BY PRIs,oNER
ON = ID JAIL
A Alfalfa Slayer
b. dght Here For Safe
Keeping
WARRIOR MAN
STAYS BROTHER
Also Lodged In County
Jail-Claims Self
Defense

An Alfalfa, Ala, policeman
was shot to death near Gads-
den by one of two men he was
taking to prison in a police au-
tomobile and a Warrior man
was shot and instantly killed
by his brother Sunday morn
ing. The men charged with
the deaths were brought to
the county jail here late Sun
day by armed guards. They
are:
w. II. Beard, of Albertville, Ala,
accused of Staying Officer Henry Ing
ram, of Alfalfa, early Sunday.
Jess Rickels, Warrior restaurant
keeper, charged with killing his brother,
Will Rickels, at 10 80 a. m. Sunday
following a quarrel which is said to
have occurred in the restaurant Satur-
day night.
Were Under Arrest
According to sheriff's deputies at
Alfalfa. Officer ingram left Alfalfa
with Beard and r. S. Latham, OF
Horton, to lodge them in prison after
arresting them on charge of drunk
eness. Beard was sitting on the front
seat with the policeman, who was
driving. it was said,
While the auto was travelling al high
speed, according to three witnesses
Beard whipped out pistol and pressed
it to Officer Ingram's neck. There was
a sharp report and the car, its driver
,sinBsped forward aerosa the wheel,
lurched to. the side of the road and
crashed into a garage, demolishing the
front of the structure.
Beard and Latham, witnesses stated,
leaped out of the auto and escaped. The
former was captured at a. M, Sun
day on the road to Albertville five
miles west of Alfalfa, his clothes
saturated with blood and pistol,
clutched in his hand.
Latham was arrested at his home in
Horton. Both were brought to Gads-
den jail, but shortly afterward Judge
o. A.. Steele of the circuit court Or
dered them brought to Birmingham. He
said he had been told it would be UNI
safe to permit them to stay overnight
in the county.
Near City Prison
The killing is said to have taken
place a short distance of the city
prison. Ingram is thought to have
died almost instantly. His jugular
vein was severed.
Ingram arrested the Two men and
John Beaird, a nephew of the other, at
a cafe, deputies said. The third pris-
hut LOT Nf1 rad
in Gadsden. He is being held as a
states witness. Officers claim the
three men brought a cargo of whisky
which was found in their car after the
killing. .N
w. II. Beard told an Age-Herald
reporter at the county Jail late Sunday
that the shooting was wholly acciden'
tai.
Il. pulled the gun out of my pocket
so could throw it away before we
were searched" he asserted. In doing
so the trigger caught on the pocket
and it went off, the bullet striking the
policeman in the neck. / didn't want
to shoot him. simply wanted to keep
from being charged with carrying con-
cealed weapons.
WUUCSSCu MAlluB
According to Sheriff ]. L. Cowart OF
Warrior, who said he was witness
to the killing of Will Rickels, the
brothers met in the restaurant of Jess
Rickels late Saturday night, Will
Rickels was drunk, the sheriff said
and his brother rebuked him. Will re-
sented the others interference and left
after threatening to return and kill Jess
the following morning, it was stated.
While Jess Rickels, Sheriff COwart
and several other men were grouped in
the store of Dewey Rickels, a nephew
about 10 80 a. m. Sunday, Will walk
ed in and challenged his brother with
Have you got your gun with your
Jess answered affirmatively.
you'd better get ready to draw it,
the other growled, "for I'm goin' to dc
what promised last night. I'm going
70 kill you"
Both men drew, according to Jess
and the latter fired first. Will dropped
to the floor, dying instantly.
Jess walked over to Sheriff Cowart
and handed him his pistol, saying
Take me to Jail. didn't want to dc
that. / had to shoot in self-defense."
Both Riekels and Beard are being
held here without bail until coroner's
inquests. 1t is expected that the cor
oner will summon juries to meet to
night.