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Title
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EX-DEPUTY TO FACE TRIAL IN JAIL DEATH
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Source Type
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Newspapers
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Publisher
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The New York Times
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Publication Place
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New York, NY
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Publication Date
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03/02/1967
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Transcript
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EX-DEPUTY TO FACE, TRIAL IN JAIL DEATH, MONTGOMERY, Ala., March, 1 (AP)-A former sheriff's dep-, uty accused of beating a Negro, prisoner who was later found, dead in jail was ordered today, to face trial on a Federal civil, rights charge., Harvey King Conner, a one-, time deputy in Elmore County,, pleaded not guilty to the Justice, Department's complaint after, United States District Judge, Frank M. Johnson Jr. overruled, a motion to dismiss the charge., Mr. Conner is charged with, violating the civil rights of, James Earl Motley, a 27-year-, old Montgomery construction, worker., Mr. Motley was arrested by, Mr. Conner last Nov. 20 and, charged with drunkenness, re-, sisting arrest and interfering, with an officer. Several hours, after he was jailed he was, found dead on the floor of a, cell., The Justice Department filed, the civil rights charge after the, Elmore County grand jury in-, vestigated the death without re-, turning an indictment and after, the County Coroner, Dr. Joseph R. Benson, ruled that Mr. Mot-, ley had fallen twice and that he, had died of head injuries that, could have been suffered while, falling., Federal attorneys contended, that Mr. Conner "did willfully, strike, beat and injure" Mr., Motley "with the intent and, purpose of imposing summary, punishment upon him."
