Atlanta Daily World

Man Charges Beating In Twiggs Co. In Presence Of State Patrol

MACON, Ga.-A 44-year-old Macon man lies in his meager home recovering from a brutal beating he said was inflicted in the presence of State Troopers February 12 after a traffic collision with a gasoline pump belonging to a white Twiggs County store proprietor.

Josh Cornelius, of 2050 Monroe Ave. was covered from head to foot with numerous bandages following the assault and allowed to go home and recover although Twiggs County Sheriff Earl Hambrick announced he had several charges against him, including the probability that an attempt would be made to show the brutalized Negro had attacked the unhurt white man.

But the sheriff and Assistant District Attorney Floyd M. Buford confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was checking the case, and although Buford scoffed it off as probable routine, it brought about belief that the story of Cornelius would at least be heard.

VICTIM'S ACCOUNT

The victim and his wife, Roberta, gave the press this account of the alleged brutality:

They were driving to an area near the store of Joe Bailey to visit relatives when Cornelius struck the pump. The man said he got out of his auto and offered to pay for the damage.

Bailey first ordered him to move the car, the victim said and then shot him in the foot. The white man then ordered him into his auto at pistol point, he said, and drove toward Macon leaving Cornelius' wife standing beside her husband's auto.

The victim said the white man threatened to kill him as they rode, repeatedly pointing the pistol at him. Hearing a safety catch click he grabbed the weapon and knocked it out of Bailey's hand, Cornelius said

The white man halted the auto and the two men struggled for the pistol, Cornelius continued,

During the struggle a second auto stopped and somebody opened the door and pulled him out on the pavement. The victim said the auto was a state patrol vehicle, but he did not know who pulled him out.

KICKED, BEATEN

However, he said, he did know that he was kicked about the face and body and beaten while the patrol car was there. He said he was unable to tell who did the beating because he was barely conscious.

Later, the injured man reported he was then put in the rear of the patrol car and told not to get any blood on it. They drove back to Bailey's store and questioned the victim's wife as to whether he had been drinking or not.

She said he had a drink of gin Saturday morning but was not drunk at the time of the accident.

She said he was then taken to Macon Hospital for treatment, by the state troopers. The sheriff later allowed him to go home to recuperate, but his sister was told that charges of driving while under the influence of intoxicants resisting arrest and assault and battery were being held over him.

A check with hospital attendants revealed he was actually brought in by the State Patrol and treated for gunshot wounds and lacerations, and later released to the county sheriff.

The State Patrol at Dublin was reported to have said no record could be found either of the accident or an arrest. The victim said men from the F. B. I. came to see him, but he did not know who informed them.