The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-18
O'SHAUCHNESSY ACCUSES WITNESS OF BLACK MAIL Former Mobile Chief Says $1,0O0 Was Demanded
 For Silence JURY CONDUCTED
 ON TOUR OF JAIL Judge Erwin Reprimands Cazalas For COnversing
 With Visitors

MOBILE, Ala, May 1.-The third week of the trial of 59 de- fendants in the federal district court charged with violating the national prohibition law ended late this afternoon with the defense tes- timony not closed. The defense ex- poets to end their testimony some time next week and it is expected that the case will reach the jury probably Friday or Saturday. Blanket denial was made by for mer Chief of Police P. J. O'Shaugh- messy this afternoon of all charges made against him of conspiring to violate the prohibition laws. The ex-head of Mobiles department de- nied that he was on his way to Central America when he was ar rested after leaving train at New Orleans. He charged that Charles F. Howell, his former secretary, one of the governments witnesses and who is also a defendant, de- n1anded $l,000 of him to remain quiet and not to tell the govern ment what he knew. He admitted that he gave Howell SIS to return to his home in Columbus, Ohio. A letter giving Howell fine recom- mendation, signed by Chief o'Shaughnessy was read during the cross-examination by Prosecutor Hugo Black.
 Admits Selling I.iauOr
 O'ShAuguessy was called to the stand after Louis Nelson, another of fhe de- gendau3F, had 1sstifiea and adniftnd that he had SilId Iiau6r. bnf eafd IS dld not In any way conspire fo violate the law or of sending Federal prohi- bition Agent M T. Gonzauilas any money for protection. as the agent has testified several days ago.
 On the stand at the morning session were Assistant Solicitor Jack Courtney, who testified that from his observa- ton the sheriff's department did its duty m the enforcement of the liquor law: that considered Deputy George l.. Donaghue an excellent and capable officer and that Deputies Hudoff and Moore were all right: c. s Denton. partner with John E. McEyoy in the tire business; Armand Heil. s de- fendant; and J. NJ. Watcher. Connected with the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
 Denton declared he heard GonzaulI talking 10 McEvoy shortly before the big raid here last fall telling McEvoy tt he did not pay off he would raid him. He testified that McEvoy told Gonsaullas he was not in the whisky business
 Watcher declared that the reputa- t1ons of Holcombe and Cazalas were good. Armand Heil denied that he had been engaged in the liquor business.
 Jury Visits Jail
 A visit by the jury to the Mohile county jail yesterday afternoon where they were personally conducted over the building by Sheriff Cazalas and met and shook hands with William H. Hol- combe, both of whom are defendants in the conspiracy trial caused Judge Robert Erwin this morning from the bench to characterize the actions of the two defendants at that time aa improper" and to declare that he did not intend for the jury to have con- tact with defendants.
 Judge Erwin said that he was in- formed by one of the federal court bailiffs late yesterday that members of the jury had said they wanted to 70 to the county jail and see stills which the sheriff's forces had captured about which testimony had been introduced in the trial. He said he gave his con sent, as he wanted to give members of the jury all the liberty he could while they were engaged in the case. He said, however, that he had been told that the jurymen were met by Sheriff Cazalas and taken oyer the building and the difficulties of enforcing the prohibition law explained in connection with the jury's inspection of the col lection of stills. He declared that he had also heard that Mir. Holcombe shook hands and talked to the iurymen.
 Sheriff Cazalas explained to the court that the jurors were brought to the building by two federal baliffs, who said that they wanted to see the build ing. He stated that he went with them and explained the system em- ployed at the jail, but that nothing
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