Atlanta Daily World

Prominent Writer To Appeal Conviction To Fla. High Court

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - (INS) - Attorneys for Free Lance writer William Bradford Huie attempted to obtain a habeas corpus writ Monday in Tallahassee, ordering the release of the writer from the Live Oak jail.

Huie was found guilty of contempt of court Saturday night for claiming that Circuit Court Judge Hal Adams desired the execution of Mrs. Ruby McCollum to keep the lid on the judge's gambling activities.

Judge Adams sentenced Huie to six months in prison after he refused to pay a $750 fine for criminal contempt. Had Huie paid the fine he would not have been able to appeal the decision. He denied all the accusations at the hearing Saturday.

Huie's release is sought while his attorneys prepare the appeal to the State Supreme Court.

The writer also linked former State Attorney Frank Slaughter and a murdered doctor, C. Leroy Adams, to a huge "Bolita" operation in north Florida.

HUIE'S CLAIMS

He claimed that the gambling ring was headed by the late Sam McCollum. His wife, Mrs. Ruby McCollum, was convicted of killing Dr. Adams two years ago at a sensational trial in the court of Judge Adams—no relation to the murdered doctor. Slaughter prosecuted the case against her.

She was granted a new trial, but this was cancelled when the 39-year-old defendant was judged criminally insane. Huie's charges against the alleged gambling kingpins were made public at the sanity hearing.

The writer reportedly made the accusations to a psychiatrist appointed by the court to examine Mrs. McCollum. The doctor disqualified himself and turned over the information to the state attorney's office.

Huie had tried for nearly a year to interview Mrs. McCollum in her jail cell, but his efforts were fruitless because of opposition from Judge Adams.
vs. D. T. McCollum case figure.