Jury Study Death Bullets at Tuscaloosa

Title

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Anniston Star

Publication Place

Anniston, AL

Publication Date

08/16/1933

Transcript

Circuit Judge Henry B. Foster, stressing the need for immediate action, today ordered the special grand jury to assemble again next Monday to continue its investigation of the lynching of Dan Pippen Jr., and A.T. Hardin, negro murder suspects. The panel recessed yesterday until September 4, after a two-day session. The panel recessed last night to allow time, according to officials for "additional investigation." Both Atty. Gen. Thomas E. Knight, Jr., and Circuit Solicitor Edward DeGraffenreid expressed confidence that the jury will be able to vote indictments when it reassembles here on Labor Day. Although the investigation has been chocked with secrecy, it was indicated the recess was taken to allow time for ballistic experts to study bullets removed from the bodies of the lynch victims. After ordering one of the lynch bodies exhumed for removal of bullets yesterday, the jury members themselves compared the lead slugs with weapons of the three officers from whom the negroes were seized while en route from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham for safekeeping. A report that lacked official confirmation said the bullets were from .38 caliber pistols, while the officers' weapons were of .44 caliber. The officers, Sheriff's Deputies R.M. Pate and M.W. Holeman and Private Detective W.I. Huff, were not called before the jury. Elmore Clark, 28 year old negro who escaped death at the hands of the mob of a dozen masked white men by feigning death with the first burst of pistol fire, testified.

Sources for

See all items with this value Dennis Cross