The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-17
MEVOY DENIES CRAFT PAYMENT
 TO MOBILE RING
Quit Liquor Business When Fined 2 Years
 Ago, Says Defendant

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 MOBILE, Ala, May 16.-(Spe- cial Leased Wire. )--John H. Me Evoy, one of the defendants in the liquor conspiracy cases on trial in federal court here, took the stand this afternoon and denied that he ever accepted or paid money for protection or that he had conspired with any of the other defendants to violate the national prohibition law. He is charged by various govern nnent witnesses with having collect ed protection money" from local liquor dealers, sold liquor, assisted in raising campaign fund for Commissioner George Crawford from Mobile bootleggers, given Harry French check for $2,550 for protection, signed a note for $S,000 for debts alleged to have been incurred in the Cazalas cam paign for sheriff and of having had other illegal dealings with local officials and liquor men.
 McEvoy denied these charges and said he quit the liquor business after he was fined in federal court about two years ago.
 Denies Protection Payment
 .McEvoy in explaining the check which he gave French and which is said to, have been seen by several fed eral court officials here before it was cashed, said that Jake Zuckerman, one of the defendants who turned state's 6 evidence, gave him the money to pay French. He said he took the money and gave 1t to French. He denied the money was from him for protection.
 George l.. Donaghue, deputy sheriff, a defendant in the case, was on the stand during the afternoon session. The deputy, who said he was Tchief field forcement, made sweeping denial that he had accepted protection" money from local liquor dealers, or that he had played favorites in the enforcement of the dry laws.
 The deputy testified that he re- ceived $200 month salary and va rious fees. He said his bank account represented both his personal funds and money given him by Sheriff Caza- las for expenses. He did not keep these NAOSo examination said he did not keep any account book, check stubs, returned cheeks, or memoranda regarding these funds.
 Won On Races
 On cross examination he stated that two checks which were given him by Leon McKeon were his winnings on two races in New Orleans that he had knkr av.k A Black questioned him as to whether or not it was against the law to make bets on horse races in this state. Donaghue said the judge of the inferior criminal court had held that it was not a violation of the law if the bet was an oral one and was with an in- dividual.
 He declared that he had no personal knowledge that McKeon was gambler. He said he had arrested Cliff Con- ners two or three times on charges of gambling. He declared also that Shine Tanner reported @to him that McEvoy, Joe Frommel, Cliff Corners and Mason had taken a quantity of liquor from him at the point of d pistol, but he had not arrested these men because Tanner would not swear out a warrant for their arrest. He was cross examined at length about the raid on Sam Powe's place on the Cedar Point road, in which the federal and state officers had a dispute as to who had the right to make a seizure of whisky found there.
 DiscIaims Part In Fight
 The deputy denied that he took any part in the fight which Bruce Ether idge, government witness and admit ted liquor dealer, said took place at Etheridge's place. Donaghue said "Hu- doff (another deputy who is on trial1 licked Etheridge." The deputy stated from the witness stand that he had never received money for protection from any one and denied that he ever gave any protection.
 Dr. A. G. Ward, who was one of the original defendants in the conspira- cy case and who was discharged last Saturday on the ground that the goy- ernment had failed to make a prima facie case against him, was called to the stand this morning for the defense and denied that he had had any con versation with Harry French with re- gard to fixing United States Dis trict Attorney Boyles. He denied that he had told French about any confer encG 0C the office of the Mobile De- livery company, where French testified the three way split of graft among city, county and government agents was arranged.
 Saw BOyIes Onee
 The witness said he saw Mir. Boyles once and that the latter sent for him. The court would not allow the witness to testify with regard to this confer ehce, ruling it had no connection with the conspiracy case.
 Inferior Court Judge Norborne R. Clarke testified that the regulations of Sheriff Cazalas and Deputies Will liam Holcomhe and George l.. Donag- hue were good. He also said that Percy Kearns bore good reputation. Under cross-examination Judge Clarke said that if a. man formed a secret partner ship with the United States district attorney to practice in the federal court it would reflect seriously on his legal ethics. Kearns has testified that he formed q partnership with Boyles.
 HerSdon Radcliffe testified that OA~ & ~