The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-26
CONTINUE TRIAL
 POLICE OFFICERS
Scrutiny For Alleged Conduct Members Of Force Under Board

The defense alibi of w. w. We'll born, appearance of q number of char acter witnesses. and presentation of rebuttal testimony which is expected to throw no little light on the case, fea- turcd the trials of w. w. Wellborn, Sam Taylor and w. A. pritchett, sus- pended patrolmen, whose hearing be. gan before the civil service board MOn- day night.
 The trial of the trio accused by Chief McDuff of conduct unbecoming officers was continued until Tuesday night at o'clock.
 Most of the legal skirmish Monday evening that developed under the bat tery of questions laid down by separate counsel for each of the three suspended patrolmen, members of the board and Chief McDuff, centered around Sam Taylor, who was the only one positively identified by witnesses. Wellborn was designated only as "a man with glasses Pritchett was identified by none of nine witnesses who said they had seen 40 gallons of liquor taken from the Hamburger home near Gate City February 1.
 Despite this fact the board refused to drop the case against Pritchett on the motion of his attorney, passing its opinion largely upon the promise of Chief McDuff that during rebuttal he anticipated connecting him with the case.
 Evidence Conflicts
 During the procedure against Fay Tor, the time element played an inn portant part. MT. and Mrs. A. J. Sims of Trussville testified that they had seen Taylor at their home around o'clock on the day in question, while two employees of the Mcdonald Ore and Mining company, Harry Burgess and J. w. Cheney, declared he had been in their office from 4 10 to 4:45.,
 John Burkett, city patrolmah. testi- fled to seeing Taylor at ten minutes to four in Gate City, which is about one and quarter miles from the scene of the alleged raid.
 The testimony presented in the case against the patrolmen was largely as had been given out when the three men were place under indefinite suspension. l.. F., Tom and Frank Cole, Herman Phillips, James Cooper, Clifford Parks and H. N.. Byers told of seeing three ihSh 1a1u SSEI between 3 80 and f o'clock the after noon of February I; seize eight five gallon cans of liquor. and drive away, supposedly in Taylors car.
 Testimony Attacked
 During cross-examinatiOn of these witnesses the defense attempted to bring out that all of them had been in some sort of trouble with the officers before In attacking the testimony of Byers, who was the star" witness since he was the only one who said he had lifted cork from one of the cans and smelled the liquor, Johnny Jones, deputy sheriff, and Tom Mccullough, city at torney, were called to the stand, each testifying that from what they had known of Byers they would not believe him under oath.
 Testimony, as a whole, was generally conflicting, leaving no particularly strong case on either side. Wellborn is expected to attempt to prove an alibi Tuesday night, while no testimony i1 this regard is expected from Pritchett None of the three men are expected tc take the stand.
 According to charges made by Chiet McDuff, the Hamburger raid was not reported to police headquarters and n, arrests were made.