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Title
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Negro's Death in Jail Spotlights Town Again
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Source Type
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Newspapers
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Publisher
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The News-Herald
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Publication Place
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Franklin, PA
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Publication Date
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11/23/1966
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Transcript
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Negro's Death in Jail Spotlights Town Again Negro Claims Jailed 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 Sunday. Motley's 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 a, 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 interfering with an officer, making an arrest., Varner said Motley and five, companions were en route to Wetumpka from Montgomery, when their car was stopped on, U.S. 231, about three miles, south of here, by Deputy Sheriff, Harvey Conner., Conner ordered Motley and, 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, 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, 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. Varner filed a complaint with, the FBI in Mobile and with the, Justice Department.
