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Timeline
The Clean-up, 1954-1955
1954 |
- Backed by the RBA, Albert Patterson runs for attorney general.
- Patterson wins the Democratic Party’s nomination despite
vote fraud by the opposition.
- Reporter Ed Strickland notices a discrepancy in the election
totals and reports it.
- Lamar Reid testifies before the grand jury that Arch Ferrell
and Si Garrett showed him how to change figures on the election
recapitulation sheet.
- June 18, Si Garrett is called before the grand jury to testify
about vote fraud.
- June 18, Albert Patterson is assassinated leaving his office.
- June 23, Si Garrett is called before the grand jury a second
time. After more than 10 hours of testifying Garrett leaves
Alabama and checks into a Texas mental hospital.
- Gen. “Crack” Hanna, commanding general of the
National Guard, is called in to keep the peace, assist law enforcement
and close down the gambling joints.
- After four weeks of investigations local law enforcement,
under the direction of Sheriff Matthews, fail to turn up any
evidence.
- Governor Gordon Persons declares a state of martial law in
Russell County, the National Guard take over the responsibilities
of local law enforcement.
- Albert Fuller is indicted for the murder of Albert Patterson
along with Arch Ferrell and Si Garrett.
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1955 |
- After running unopposed, John Patterson takes his father’s
place as attorney general.
- Albert Fuller is convicted of murder.
- Arch Ferrell is acquitted of vote fraud and murder.
- Si Garrett, still residing in a mental hospital, gets his
case dropped.
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