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Title
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Jury Frees Deputy After Negro's Death
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Source Type
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Newspapers
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Publisher
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Press-Telegram
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Publication Place
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Long Beach, CA
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Publication Date
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04/13/1967
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Transcript
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MONTGOMERY Ala., (AP) - A federal court jury, of 11 white persons and, one Negro. deliberated less, than two hours today before acquitting a former, deputy of charges of violating the civil rights of a, Negro., The jury was out one, hour and 50 minutes before, freeing Harvey King Conner, 57. Conner, who is, white, was charged by the, Justice Department after a, Montgomery construction, worker, James Earl Motley,, 27, was found dead in the, jail at Wetumpka last, Nov. 20., Conner testified he, struck Motley with a slapjack (a weighted, oblong, weapon) after he resisted, arrest. Conner said Motley, fell on a sharp, pointed, fence at the rear of the jail. Motley's body was discovered several hours after, he was arrested, The former deputy said, Motley interfered-while he, was trying to arrest the, driver of a car in which, Motley was riding. He said, the other man had no, driver's license. State toxicologist Guy Purnell testified that Motley died of brain damage, caused by force. But he, said he doubted that blows, of a slapjack could have, caused the fatal wounds.
