The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-25
FEAR RACE RIOT
IN SCOTTSBORO
YOUTH SHOOTING
Officials Summon Company
of Militia, Put Extra
Police on Duty.
Continued From Page one)

one of the defendants in the famous
assault case, apparently was dying
of bullet wounds.
State highway patrolmen sum
moned from a wide area patrolled
the vicinity of the hospital, and OF
the county Jail, where Powell's eight
companions were imprisoned. City
police and deputy sheriffs main
tanned neavy guard at the Jail. Ex-
ira pat oils of police were placed
around negro districts of the city.
Deputy's Threat Slashed
Gov. Bibb Graves said the guard
was modified only for "eventu-
alities." Gen. Coleman said he did
not expect trouble. But trucks were
ready outside the Armory to trans
port the soldiers TO hospital, Jail
or any other point. The race hos
stilities that have made the Scots
boro case known internationally
kept authorities from regarding the
possibility Of riots lightly.
Powell, who cut the throat of &
deputy sheriff in an attempt to es.
cape from an automobile in which
he and two companions were beine
brought from Decatur, Ala, tx
Birmingham yesterday afternoon
was in a critical condition. The
wounded deputy, Edgar Blaylock
was not dangerously injured.
DR.. w. S. Littlejohn, eminent
brain specialist, removed two bullets
or two pieces of one bullet, from
Powell's skull and brain last night
He gave him less than a 50-5(
chance to survive.
Pals Knew of Plans
Deputy Sheriff Jack Taylor re.
ported that Powell told him, just
before he was taken to the operat.
ing table, that "all the boys"-his
companions accused of assaultine
two white girl "hoboes" on a freight
train five years ago-knew that he
had planned to escape.
He said he bough two knives
from Negro candy salesman fol
80 cents each and had been carry.
ing them three days." Taylor re.
ported.
The escape attempt was made
approximately 10 miles from Birm.
ingham, near Cullman, Ala, while
the nine Scottsboro youths were
being brought from Decatur, where
two of them had been on trial
Judge w. w. Callahan just hac
sentenced one of them, Haywood
Patterson, %, to rs years in prison
and adjourned the trials of the
others indefinitely because an i'm.
portant witness was ill.
The nine prisoners were being
taken to Birmingham in three au.
tomobiles, with carloads of state
patrolmen before and behind the
cavalcade. Powell, Roy Wright anc
Clarence Norris were in the middle
car, handcuffed together in the real
seat. Sheriff Sandlin and Deputy
Blaylock rode in the front, with
Sandlln driving.
Fires Point Blank Into Face
Sandlin said Powell, sitting on thu
right side OF the handcuffed trio
with his right hand free, precipitat.
ed the fight in the car by drawing
a knife and thrusting it at Blay.
locks throat.
Powell said later that he didn't
intend to cut Blaylock, that he
meant only to hold the knife at his
throat and seize his gun and Their
force the sheriff to drive the cal
during race for freedom. But he
lunged too far with the knife, OF
Blaylock jerked, and the long blade
slashed the deputy's throat. Sand
lin whirled in his seat and fired
into Powell's face.
When officers from the following
two cars arrived the three Negroes
sanding and his deputy were slug
ging each other violently in the
closed car.