Negro Says Son Beaten To Death

Title

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

The Daily Herald

Publication Place

Provo, UT

Publication Date

11/24/1966

Transcript

Negro Says Son Beaten To Death WETUMPKA, Ala. UPI)- Wetumpka is inconspicuous on the map of Alabama (it's just above Montgomery), but it has an affinity for catching the nation's attention. Last May, the town couldn't find room in its public cemetery -other than a pauper's grave- for its first Viet Nam casualty, Pfc. Jimmy L. Williams, 19, a Negro. Williams was buried in a national cemetery at Andersonville, Ga. Today, the death of another Negro has the town back in the news. The man, James Earl Motley, -23,--died in the Elmore (Wetumpka) County Jail Sun- day. Motleys stepfather, William Varner, charged Monday that "my son was beaten to death.' Sheriff Lester Holley counters that if Motley was beaten "he wasn't beaten in jail." Holley said an investigation was being made and "when I have à report, everyone will know it. Holley said he was out of town when Motley was arrested Saturday night on charges of drunkenness, resisting arrest and interferring with an officer making an arrest. Conner ordered Motley and n the driver of the car, Wilbur : Jackson, to get out of the vehicle, Varner said. Motley - Objected that the Elmore : County officer had no authority in Montgomery County. But they got out and talked w with Conner and then returned - to their car, Varner said. : Conner fired a shot and summoned two state troopers : on his car radio, the father said. He charged that when the 2 troopers arrived, they held - Motley while Conner beat him on the head "with a black : object that was large at one : end. Then they put Earl in the : deputy's car and told the others to go home.' Varner said Jackson came to his home around 2 a.m. Sunday : and told him "that Earl was in jail and he was beaten up - pretty badly." He said he was on his way to the jail to arrange bond when a funeral home : notified him Motley was dead.

Sources for

See all items with this value James Earl Motley