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Title
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Autopsy Shows Negro Died of Head Injuries: Witness Told Newsmen Alabama Deputy Clubbed Victim While Police Held Arms
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Source Type
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Newspapers
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Author
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Jack Nelson
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Publisher
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Los Angeles Times
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Publication Place
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Los Angeles, CA
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Publication Date
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12/03/1966
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Transcript
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WETUMPKA, Ala. A state autopsy report shows, that James Earl Motley, a, 27-y e a r-old Negro who, E, witnesses say was beaten, by a white deputy sheriff,, died from head injuries., The beating occurred, Nov. 20, but investigating, officials have refused to, disclose any of the details., The Times published a, story of the beating Nov., :22. It was based on inter-, views with four witnesses., The deputy remains on, duty. So do two state, troopers who were with, the deputy at the time of, the beating. One Negro, witness asserted to a reporter that the troopers, held Motley's arms while, the deputy clubbed him in, the head with a long black, object. The deputy has refused, to discuss the case with, newsmen., Motley, a construction, worker, was pronounced, dead in a Wetumpka jail, shortly after the beating., Although state and local, investigating authorities, had refused to release the, autopsy report or give other details of Motley's, death, Atty. Gen. Richmond Flowers secured a, copy from state toxicologist C. J. Rehling and released it to the press Friday. The report said that, Motley suffered skull-fractures and brain damage. It, noted that sheriff's deputy, Harvey Conner, who arrested Motley, was present, during the autopsy and, identified the body. An attorney representing Conner attended a coroner's, preliminary hearing into, the case which was held, behind closed doors Nov., 23, it was learned., In a cover letter to, Flowers, Rehling said the, "nature and extent of head, injuries tend to identify, three forceful injuries of, the head, those on the, right side causing the, death. The characteristics, of these do not identify a, Specific agency or instrument.", Negro witnesses who, were in a car with Motley, the night he was beaten, said he had refused an order by the deputy to get, into the deputy's car. The, car in which Motley was a, passenger was stopped for, a drivers license check., The witnesses said that, the deputy accused Motley, of being drunk, but that, Motley denied the charge,, declaring that he had only, had "two or three beers*, after getting off work several hours earlier., The autopsy report showed an alcoholic content of .14%. Alabama, courts and the Montgomery Police Department define drunkenness as a content of .15% or more., The Alabama Journal, disclosed that in addition, to at least six Negro witnesses in the case, three, white persons witnessed, circumstances surrounding, Motley's death., The Journal quoted one, white witness as saying he, saw the deputy "drag", Motley into the jail. "Motley didn't take a step on, his own," according to the, witness., None of the Negro witnesses to Motley's beating, were questioned by law, enforcement officers until, after newsmen began interviewing them a day after his death., Dr. Joseph . R. Benson,, Elmore County coroner,, held a preliminary hear-, ing three days after Motley. died. He barred the, public and the press, but, said that he permitted an attorney representing Conner to attend. Dr. Benson told a report that the case "has far reaching implications" and has caused "trouble and ill feeling" in Wetumpka. He refused to discuss the autopsy report, but said, "we're not trying to cover up anything.
