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Title
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Closed Door Inquiry Held In Beating Death Of Negro
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Source Type
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Newspapers
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Publisher
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The Sandusky Register
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Publication Place
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Sandusky, OH
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Publication Date
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11/24/1966
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Transcript
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Closed Door Inquiry Held In Beating Death Of Negro WETUMPKA, Ala. (UPI)-A, preliminary inquiry was held, behind locked doors Wednesday, into the death of James Earl, Motley, a 27-year-old Negro who, allegedly was beaten to death, by police., Five state troopers, three, other white men, several, Negroes and two FBI agents, were present at the 8 a.m., inquiry, quietly called by, Elmore County Coroner Dr., Joseph R. Benson., Benson conducted an autopsy, on Motley's body and his, findings, along with the results, of the preliminary hearing, will, be turned over to County, Solicitor U. G. Jones for, possible presentation to a grand, jury., Motley, known to his friends, as "Bronco" because of his, habit of wearing Western garb,, was arrested Saturday night, and charged with drunkenness,, resisting arrest and interfering, with an arrest., His body, reportedly covered, with blood, was taken from the, Elmore County Jail Sunday., Five of the six companions, who were with Motley at the, time of his arrest were at, Wednesday's hearing. They sat in a waiting room and one-by-one gave testimony, some, taking as long as two hours., Later, several of them, repeated for reporters a story, that Motley's stepfather, William Varner, had related, before, that Motley and his companions were stopped by, Deputy Harvey Conner, got into, an argument with the law, officer, and that Conner-after, radioing for aid from the, highway patrol-severely beat, Motley while the troopers held, him.
