Inquiry Start Behind Closed Doors In Alabama Negro&#039;s Death

Title

Inquiry Start Behind Closed Doors In Alabama Negro's Death

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Anderson Herald

Publication Place

Anderson, IN

Publication Date

11/24/1966

Transcript

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. Sheriff Lester Holley, who is retiring next January after 20 years in office, has promised to make public a report on the case, but denied Motley was beaten in jail

Sources for

See all items with this value James Earl Motley