The Washington times., 1924-02-25
BY b. v. 6TURDIvANT,
ImteRhetl0nal News Service.
Copyright 1884, ~ International
MANn aArNicA.A

News Sorvice.)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Feb. 26.-
Truth serum applied to criminals IL
o success because It actually ''un.
locks tongues" Il was asserted TO-
day by Solicitor James q. Davis,
who has administered the drug to
thirteen prisoners, ten Of whom
are suspected Of being the brutal
ak murdered whose crimes Of the
past three years have Mortified the
South.
II think It win be proved that
this serum (ScOpolamin) will win
the credit for the solution Of Birm.
inghArn's two dozen az murders"
Davis said. ''It has led to the
arrest OF parties whom we did not
suspect and against whom we have
since secured damaging evidence.
1T 10 an all-pOwerfI1l enemy Of
locked tongues and q Ifberator Of
the underWorId's darkest secrets.
It has great possibilities.
II ID Not Infallible.
IT do not mean to say that
6cOp0lamin 10 in1allIbIe. We find
that many statements made by
prisoners while under the drug are
meaningless but ] do say that in
every case which We have tried,
with one single exception, valuable
Information has been gained"
One AZ wielder already has been
convicted Of assault with intent to
rob because Of the. truth serum"
evidence, Davis said VI
Nine others, all negroes, have
told, when subjected to the drug, de.
tails of various AK murders and
assaults, the solicitor revealed.
These nine men are held In isolated
cells pending their trials which
were scheduled to get under way
today.
For three years Alabama officers,
aided by the best detective talent
of the country, have made desper.
ats attempts to break up the gang
or marauders whom they hold
guilty Of the bloody AK crimes.
For three years they failed, not get.
ting . single conviction, according
to Davis.
at took the truth serum to bring
the activities Of this murder syndi-
cate to light" Davis asserted.
In addition to the ten Az murder.
suspects, three other Alabama
prisoners were given the tests.
They were white men at Tuscaloosa,
one or whom was charged with
the murder Of a young woman.
Turn them loose-they'ro inno-
cent" Davis advised the author.
tiles after griIlinR them while un.
der the speil Of the serum. It de.
veloped that subsequently all three
we've released after q Jury trial,
They were innocent.
Physician Gives Drug.
The serum tests were admins.
tered by q man known in police
circles 40 DR.. A. A. Goldberg, which
IN q fictitious name. He IL, how.
ever, Q reputable Birmingham ply
stcian, who desires to avoid pub
Mcity.
In the tests conducted 90 far
the serum has not proved harmful.
Patients have suffered temporary
discomfort and slight tIlness-but
that was about ell. The serum IL
injected into the arm, although It
may be taken In capsule form.
II the patient has q weak heart,
bad kidneys or q diseased BRAIN"
DR.. Goldberg refuses to make the
test, he said. In either case It IL
dangerous and might cause perma-
nent insanity.
Thorough examinations were made
Of all prisoners before application
Uf the serum.
In most cases the subjects dropped
dreami1y of to sleep. They thought
they were being vaccinatod. They
suspected nothing.
And then they began to talk, to
answer questions, to make dam.
aging admissions Ito tell what police
wanted to know.
Awakened. they remembered
nothing.