The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-12-29

ldiuioTu-pOllCe iyncn gangs at
Notasulga (Reeltown) on Dec.
10, and handed over to the po-
lice by treacherous officials Of
Tuskegee Institute, the famous col
lege for Negro students which has
fallen under control of the Rookie
Teller interests.
Another Negro farmer was MIR
dered outright at the scene of the
shooting, so that the bloody total
Of three murders is made by the
deaths Of Bentley and James. who
were wounded by the lynch gang
and then thrown into prison.
Both Choppers Murdered.
There is no question that both OF
the cropper leaders have been nur-
dered. Cliff James BODY is covered
with bruises. James was shot twice
in the back by the sheriff posses
His body shows no bullet wounds in
front Bentley's body has at least
seven bullet wounds in the head. the
back, and the arms. The wounds
on both bodies are highly infected
1t is obvious that wounds had not
been dressed for several DAYS. Some
OF the wounds were not dressed at
all and are completely uncovered and
exposed.
That 1t was the intention Of the
authorities to murder the two share
cropper leaders was evident from the
time of their arrest. Both were taken
in an ordinary automobile from the
Tuskegee Jail to the Montgomery
County jail, quite evidently to die.
Sheriff Scroggins told visitors on
Sunday that he. expected both to die
Despite this, the two wounded lead
ers we're denied medical aid and com
pletely neglected by the county ply
ncians, DR.. Fred Reynolds and DR..
William Gunter, Jr When a private
physician was secured by a local
group to visit the men, he was re-
fused permission to treat them, DR..
Gunter declaring he would take care
OF them" AS far as known, no
physician was in attendance on them
before or at the time of their death.
Held in Pitch Darkness.
When visited by local residents last
Sunday both men were confined in
an upper cell block, with the windows
closed tight, no ventilation and the
place in pitch darkness. Both were
lying on filthy and flinsy blankets
on the floor. Cliff James was lying
naked on the floor in separate cage,
delirious from the loss of blood and
with blood soaked, dirty dressings
over those wounds which had been
dressed.
James died In the Montgomery
County Jail. Following his death,
conference was held at Montgomery
between Gov B. M Miller, Deputy
Sheriff Scroggins and DR.. Reynolds.
1t was only then that Bentley was
removed from h e Montgomery
County Jail in dying condition to
the Kilby Prison hospital. The death
of James, which occurred at four
o'clock Tuesday morning. was not re-
vealed until eight o'clock. Bentley
was removed to the Kilby Prison hos
pital at 1890 He died two hours
later.
LID. Active In Case
The International Labor Defense
attorneys, Frank B. Irwin of Biz
mingham. and Irving Schwab Of New
York City, today secured writs OF
habeas corpus for the five troopers
held incommunicado In the Mont
gomery County Jail.
The writs are returnable on Jan.
5, before Judge Leon McCord, circuit
county Judge.
Plan Mass Funeral
A mass funeral is planned for the
two murdered cropper leaders. The
body of James is at the H. A. Love-
less undertakers establishment: that
of Bentley is at the Ross Clayton
Funeral House, both In Montgomery.
New sections of the white toiling
masses are rallying to the defense OF
the Negro troopers as mass anger
mounts throughout the South against
these latest murders by the rich
landowners and their police. Pro-
tests are pouring in from all parts
of the country on Gov. B. M. Miller.
himself rich landowner in the
BLACK Belt" where he owns $4,000
acres. Workers and their organiza-
tons and all sympathetic elements
are urged to continue and intensity
the protest campaign and defense
movement for the arrested share
choppers and the nine innocent
Scottsboro boys facing legal lynehing