Atlanta Daily World

Charges Against Savannah Ball Players Unjustified

The five of six baseball players who were held for the death of Sheriff Paul Sikes of Hinesville, Liberty County Georgia, have been absolved of charges for the cause of the death of a man who slapped one of them and suddenly collapsed and died of a heart attack. The news story of all six being held for the murder of a man who let his anger run away with his physical condition, resulting in his death had gone to the rounds of the nation.
The original report on the incident stated the deputy sheriff would charge all six persons with murder. However, those of better temperaments and relations would spare that section and the state of a stigma suggesting that Negroes were being held responsible for the sheriff's physical condition.
However, the binding over of a sixth man for a hearing on the death of Sheriff Sikes is still a mystery. He is reportedly charged with assault for cursing in referring to the sheriff just prior to the heart attack.
It is hard to understand in what manner any one could be held accountable for a death pronounced of record as of natural causes, a heart attack. The sixth man, held under a $500 bond, could hardly be convicted for something assigned as in the course of natural events, neither could evidence for the "strain" which caused Sheriff Sikes' death, be sufficiently produced, and traced to the man being held whom admittedly the sheriff slapped just before he died.
The entire incident is unfortunate and we regret Sheriff Sikes' death, but one unfortunate occurrence should not unjustifiably produce another.