Hide Article Text (OCR)
LukeBrewertrialFrom Staff, Wire ReportsTALLADEGA — A defenseattorney for Luke Brewerformer Talladega CountySheriff, said he plans to put Brewer on the stand today in his own defense.Brewer’s trial started after »the jury was selected Monday afternoon, with the wife of a 3lt;ey defense witness doing most of the testifying for the stateprosecuting attorneys.The former sheriff is facingtwo charges of embezzlementand will later faces charges of buying and receiving stolen property, accepting a bribe, challenging to a duel and making threats over the telephone.JIM FULLAN, Brewer’s attorney, said of his plan to put his client on the witness stand “We couldn’t put him on the stand during his impeachmentopenshearing because anything he said could be used against him in the criminal trial.”Brewer was impeached by the Alabama Supreme Court last year for misconduct while serving as a public official.Prosecuting the case are Asst. Atty. Gen. Bill McKnight and Deputy Dist. Atty. Bob Morrow of Selma. Both menpresented the impeachmentcase to the State Supreme Court.Along with Fullan, Brewer’sattorneys are Huel Love and Mrs. Huel Love. Huel Love served as a defense witness during the impeachment trial.THE TESTIMONY of the two state witnesses concerned a 1964 red Chevrolet Impala Super Sport reported to have been stolen in IndeDendence.Mo., on Aug. 16, 1969.Mrs. Joyce Carroll, wife of Johnny Carroll, who has been described as a key defense witness in the trial, testified the car was stolen by her husband and brought to Talladega County in August, 1969Mrs. Carroll told the court that she sold the car to Clarence Cook. She said when Cook stopped payment on the check he had written for the vehicle she picked up the car. She further testified that on the same day Brewer confiscatedthe car and placed it in the county jail yard.Mrs. Carroll said that from October, 1969, through June, 1970, she called the sheriff's office concerning the vehicle and was told by Brewer that he was still checking to see if the car was stolen.and then on the automobile lot listed the VIN as 414475154812.**SHE SAID later she saw the car on the Sylacauga Highwayof Baucum and Ellison.Morrow told jurors he expected to show there was a conspiracy between Clarence Cook and Brewer to convert the car to their use and profit by it.Love said he would prove the char ges against Brewer were apolitical conspiracy thatBrewer was not a part of. “He’sjust on the receiving end,” Love said.Much of the testimony in the trial is expected to center on the alleged stolen car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) and how such numbers are used to trace stolen automobiles.LOVE SAID not two state auto investigators, Roy McDowell and M. D. Tucker, secured the car in Bessemer did the VIN number come in question. Love said when the stolen car report was made by the original owner of the car itAccording to Love the VIN later became 41447S154812 and he charged that McDowell and Tucker were “trying to give Luke Brewer a car he has never seen.”The second state witness to testify Monday was Mrs. Faye Eason, chief clerk in the Talladega probate office. She produced a tag receipt and an application for a tag issued to Gloria Shears for a 1964 Impala Super Sport with a VIN of 41447S154812. The tag receipt was issued on Aug. 26, 1969, Mrs. Eson said.Morrow said Mrs. Carroll used the name Gloria Shears to purchase a tag for the stolen vehicle.The trial before Special Judge L. S. Moore is being held in Talladega Circuit Court.Brewer, if convicted, could draw a sentence of 10 years for each embezzlement charge.
Newspaper Details
Anniston Star
Anniston, Alabama, US
Tue, Mar 06, 1973
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Tom T.
USA 17 Nov 2022
Other Publications Near Anniston, Alabama
Anniston Semi Weekly Republic
Anniston Republic
Anniston Evening Star
Anniston Evening Star and Daily Hot Blast
Anniston Sunday Star and Daily Hot Blast
