Evening star., 1949-11-23
F|ogging Trial Witness
Says Deputy Watched
|As Cross Was Built
By the Associoted Press

ROME, Ca, Nov. 23.-TWo wit
nesses said today one Of the IL
defendants accused Of conspiracy
in the flogging Of seven Negroes
was present st a cross building.
The witnesses were the first
called by the Government in an
effort to prove Dade County Sher-
If John w. Lynch three of his
deputies and eight others con-
spired to violate the Negroes civil
rights.
Their appearance was the ini-
tial step in the tediously prepared
case by United States District At
torney j. Ellis Mundy to prove
that the beating of the Negroes
and the building and burning Of
two crosses were related incidents.
Tom Glover, a boat builder, and
his wife, Mrs. Gertrude Glover,
both told the Federal Court jury
that Deputy Sheriff William Hart
line saw the two crosses made.
Both said the crosses were built
with lumber from a house under
construction next door and were
covered with burlap.
Admits Chance Of Error.
At the time of the cross build
ing the Giovers declared, Mr..
Hartline was their landlord and
the new house was being built
on his property.
Under cross-examination by
Defense Attorney Frank Gleason
Of Rossville, Ca, Mrs. Glover ad-
mitted that the crosses possibly
might have been cross beams for
a padded barn stall for pedigreed
livestock.
Mr.. Glover. however, who iden-
titled himself as skilled car
penter, said he had never seen
cross built in such a way.
Before the appearance of the
witness, Democratic Party politics
had been made an issue in the
trial.
The defense declared it would
prove that politics inspired the
Government to accuse the IL de-
PENDANTS.
Wrong Arrests Claimed.
Mr.. Gleason also said the de-
tense would prove that the Gov
ernment had brought the wrong
IL men into court.
The jury was named from a
35-man panel which included two
Negroes and six self identified
members or former members Of
the Ku Klux Klan.
Both Negroes were rejected as
jurymen and so were five of those
who identified themselves with the
Klan. Tn sixth, James Enfield
Berry of Summerville, Ga, became
(one Of two alternate jurymen.
Mr.. Gleason told the jury. I'VE
expect to show that in 1948 that
Dade County was the scene of a
most bitter political battle and
the prosecution was inspired. con-
ceived and born" politically.
Police Activity Charged. !.
The defense attorney said proof
would be1 given The sjtry., thai The
prosecution stemmed from the
victory of the regular Democratic
Party candidate, Sheriff Lynch,
over an independent .candidate.,
J.. H. Beatty. In the general e1ec-
ton.
Mr.. Beatty was one Of two can
didates who opposed Sheriff Lynch
in the Democratic primary. Sher-
i'll Lynch won the primary and
Mr.. Beatty subsequently ran as
an independent against him In
the general election.
Mr.. Mundy opened the trial
with the assertion that the
charges were not brought on be-
half of any group" and that the
Government would prove that
after the arrest of the Negroes.
the Dade officers deliberately and
in accordance with a pre-con-
ceived plan" delivered them to a
robed band. which hogged them.
He charged the officers stood
by and refused to interfere with
the whipping Of the Negroes.