The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-07
HOLCOMBE
FINED $3.50
BY JUDGE
Said To Have Hurled
Epithet At French AS
He Testified
THREE-WAY SPLIT
BROUGHT TO LIGHT
City, County And Federal
Officers Were In Deal,
Witness Says
DECLARES LIST CAME
FROM SHERIFF'S AID
Voluntary Informer Tells OF
Collecting Thousands OF Dol
lars For Himself
THREE-WAY SPLIT
BROUGHT TO LIGHT
DECLARES LIST CAME
FROM SHERIFF'S AID

MOBILE, Ala, A "three-way split
for the sheriff, police and federal de-
partments from the graft proceeds OF
Mobiles alleged rum ring was pro-
poeed in conference with j. II. Nc
Evoy,> Robert L. Holcombe, r. j.
O'Shaughnessy and Percy Kearns. ac-
eording to testimony Of Harry French
yesterday in the trial OF go persons
charged with conspiracy. to violate the
national prohibition act now proceed
ing in federal court. All of the men
named as participants IN the conference
are defendants in the case.
French testified that he volunteered
his services as an informer to Aubrey
Boyles, United States district attorney,
that he worked without salary or a
commission as federal officer and that
MS instructions from the department OF
Justice was to ''get all the money he
could from the bootleggers and keep
IT, He said he collected thousands of
dollars from scores of bootleggers, in
Guiding about half the persons now
en- trial, and that he kept and spent
every cent he got.
Were Distributors
Detective William Moody Of the po-
lice department, Deputy Sheriff George
=. DonAghsie Of the therifi,e depart.
nreFt. who IL al.e 81 The defendants. eEaq
Nimssif Tor tie federal den aeNt staa
10 receive the .rum ring payments,
French said. and distribute them for
their respective departments. Shortly
sitter the conference with McEvdy, Hol-
eombe and 0,Shaughnessy, French said
ne received the Alist from Donaghue in
the jail.'' This list, containing 222
names, including many well known per-
sons, was introduced BY the prosecution
into the evidence.
HOlcoHn5e filmed
One of the features Of the trial yes
ferday was a fine Of 500 imposed
upon William Holcombe. one Of the
defendants, on the charge Of French,
that Holcome hurled vile epithet at
him while he wa on the witness
stand.
Don't you cuss me, Willie Hol-
eombe," shouted French, from the stand
shortly after he had answered ques-
Sion pertaining to Bob Holcombe under
cross examination.
Judge Erwin halted the trial for an
investigation. Attorneys Ambrecht,
Hale and Tompkins for the defense, who
were sitting near Holcombe, rose and
said they heard no remark as alleged
BIZ French. Only few feet separated
Holcombe and French, Court Stenog-
Hapher Strain being between. ON be-
ing questioned BY Judge Erwin, strain
aaid he heard some one make the re-
mark alleged, and Judge Erwin an
Rounced the fine would stand.
French took the stand during the
morning session Of court and was still
being questioned when court adjourned
He viii be called for further cross
examination at the rec0nvening Of
court. Al thrill Of expectancy ran
through the crowded room when he was
called to testify. French began his
testimony under questioning by Special
Solicitor Black, with the statement that
he had commissions from both
OiShaughnessy and William Holcombe
before he became federal informer
Donaghue, he said, revoked his com
mission after raids by federal Agents
Prender and Messenger with the re.
mark that he wanted nobody in the
aheriff's office to be Apimping for that
long legged-Aubrey Boyles and his
crowd"
Volunteered Services
French then ssid he volunteered his
services to Boyles and worked with
Federal Agents Nesnith, Calhoun
Asher, Gonzaulles and others and that
these agents occasionally deputized him
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