Evening star., 1955-03-05
Fuller Claims He Was Friend
OF Slain Vice Foe Patterson
Former Phenix City Chief Deputy Sheriff
Testfies in Own Defense at Murder Trial

promised to clean up vice and
racketeering in Phenix City, and
that Fuller had that as a motive
for the murder.
Fuller testified he supported
Mr.. Patterson for attorney gen.
eral, and was criticized for it"
by other officials in Phenix City.
Fuller told the jury he asked
many people in Phenix City to
vote for Mr.. Patterson during
the campaign for attorney gen.
eral last spring. He said he
specifically asked leach and
every" absentee voter who cast
his ballot ahead of the Demo-
cratic primary to vote for the
anti-vice campaigner.
Called Target of Teasing.
Chief Defense Attorney Rod
erick Beddow tried to bring out
that the defendant was the tar
get of considerable teasing
around the courthouse" about
being "the only Office holder at
the courthouse supporting Pat
terson."
Fuller is the first of three men
charged with the Patterson slay-
ing to go on trial. The others
are Arch Ferrell, ex-chief prose-
cutor at Phenix City, and former
Alabama Attorney General 81
Garrett, the man Mr.. Patterson
would have succeeded.
Fuller was taken through de-
tailed explanation of his actions
for June 18, 1854, when Mr.. Pat
terson was shot down.
The ex-chief deputy told the
jury he had a conversation with
John Patterson, son of the slain
man and now Alabama's Attor-
ney General, at the courthouse
some five hours before the
murder.
Fuller testified John told him
"the old man is going to give
you a job" referring to a post as
investigator in the Attorney
Generals Office.
The defendant also said there
was never any ill will between
him and John Patterson prior
to June 18.
Outlines Critical Period.
Fuller outlined an account OF
the critical time between $3.50
and 9:20 PM. (EST) during
which he contends he was in the
Russell County Jail.
His testimony in the main
agreed with that given by six
previous alibi witnesses, but agair
there were some contradictions
Fuller said George Phillips
State highway patrolman, was in
the Jail Office talking to another
person when he (Fuller) walked
in.
Phillips had said in his testi-
mony that Fuller already was in
the jail Office when Phillips ar
rived.
Before this testimony Mr.. Bed
dow asked Fuller concerning q
knee and hip injury he had suf-
fered. Fuller said he had beer
hurt in an automobile accident
and his right leg had been bro
ken twice.
His knee and hip were stiff
he added. and he had gone to the
YMCA the afternoon of June 1s
for a heat treatment.
In response to a direct ques-
ton Fuller said he was mot able
to run on June 49,"
COntradicts Hacker.
That testimony was in direct
contradiction to the story OF
James R. Taylor, Columbus (Ga.
taxicab driver. Taylor swore he
saw Fuller run through a vacant
lot and jump into a getaway cal
a moment after hearing the
shots which killed Patterson.
Later in Fuller's direct testi-
mony, however, the defendant
said he ran up the hail. at the
jail Immediately after hearing
Mr.. Patterson had been killed.
Still later. as Fuller described
his actions on his arrival at the
murder scene, Fuller said he
Jumped out of the car and rar
across the street."
The defendant told the jury
he wore no pistol on June 18 al
any time of the day.
Cecil Padgett, the States stal
witness, had testified that he saw
Fuller, with a pistol on his right
side. and Mr.. Patterson in from
of Patterson's law Office a couple
of minutes before the Staying.