Quiz Begins in Death of Negro

Title

Source Type

Newspapers

Publisher

Los Angeles Times

Publication Place

Los Angeles, CA

Publication Date

01/12/1967

Transcript

ATLANTA - An El-, more County grand jury, in Wetumpka, Ala., began, an investigation Wednesday into the death of, James Earl Motley, a Negro who died in a county, jail cell Nov. 20 after allegedly being beaten by a, white deputy sheriff., The jury subpoenaed, about a dozen witnesses,, including several Negroes, who reported they saw the, beating. At least two of, the Negroes asserted to, newsmen that two state, troopers held Motley, while the deputy clubbed, him in the head with a, long black object., Among those subpoenaed were Deputy Sheriff, Harvey Conner and state, troopers Perry Stacks and, Lanier Wilson. Stacks and, Wilson reportedly answered an "officer needs, help" radio message from, a deputy on the night of, the clubbing. The sheriff's, office reported that Mot-, ley resisted arrest on a, drunkenness charge., The grand jury presumably also will make a general investigation of conditions at the jail, where at, least two other Negroes-, neither of whom were, charged with a law violation-have died in the past, six years., One of them was jailed in 1960 after being injured, critically in an auto accident, and he died the, next day. The death of the, other-last July 12-was, attributed to alcoholism., Several Negroes have, also complained of harsh treatment in "the hole," a, solitary confinement cell., Circuit Judge Joseph J., Mullins told the grand jury it had a right to "investigate the jail to see if it is, a-safe place to keep prisoners."

Sources for

See all items with this value James Earl Motley