Statement given by Bowman; Attorney Notes

Working File
August 18, 1981

Statement given by Bowman; Attorney Notes preview

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  • Case Files, Bozeman & Wilder Working Files. Statement given by Bowman; Attorney Notes, 1981. 71c45fd4-ed92-ee11-be37-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/777eaee3-e5c2-45d8-b127-243f25760a05/statement-given-by-bowman-attorney-notes. Accessed July 13, 2025.

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    St:ltenrent given by Jeffery Dale Bowman' August 18' 1981 '

,..l,le and W:1t t.jhltman were walkin8 by the Sherlff ,S ca.r, The Sheriff and Pitt l.Iilson rere

settlng on the car with a HalexwiLLe nerspaper. The paper was oPned to the sectLon where

people voted. at. The Sherlff iald,: "Jeff, you vote at the recreatlon center ln Ha1ep111e'

don,t you?" I ""fa,--iherlff, 
f t"Jfy d'on;t-thlnk I can votr '@use I'm se:rrlng tfuoe on

felony charges for the state. The Sirerlff sald " pltt lrllson wr1I ca*y you and the other
- 

boys who have to vote ln Haleyvilre tonarrow, y'a1I do whatever pltt ter-rs you to do.''

The next day pitt ca:ried rr= to-x.re1rui11e, Wait Wi:itman voted. at Ashrid6e, r voted at the

recreation center 1n Haleyville, naniarr rr:ck and }Jillard Sanford' voted at the city Halr in

Haleyvi}le, then pltt brought us back. The boys who voted ln Double Sprlngs were just then

gettlngback.PlttgotthenatthetopofthestalrsgolngonthewaytothejallandSave
everbod.y ten dollars a p1ece, and, told' everbod'y he realIy d1d' appreclate lt'

Acoup}eofmonthslater,PittWilsoncaJnebackuptothejailroomandtalkedtothesane
- boys who vorec 1n the primary electlon. He said he need'ec us to vote again and we would ha're

to vote absentee ballots in "-oyce Marti'n's office' He earried us all to Joyce Martin's

offlce io ..cie. Af+,er we voted, we all went back 
"o 

the Same place and r+ere 6iven five

Collars aPie ce .

Questions ask Jeff Bownan by Pollce Chief Steve Roberts, August 18' 1981'

Chief Roberts: "Jeff do You Ianow

of dead PeoPle or
of any tnrstees who p:t ballots in ballot boxes ln names

others who were not qua-lified to vote?"

given this statement of my oun free will and rithou:'

ieff : ,,Yes, llichael Joe Rlch told me wl:en I first turned in, November 1l' 1978'

tha.t. he' pr:t several ballots that were no 6ood in the absentee boxes so

he woufd tlave speclal trrrivleges while he was lncarce:ated''

chief Foberts: " Dld. Mlchael Joe Rlch te]1 you who ord'ered hlm to do this?"

Jeff 3 ', yes " -He. sald the Sherlff told hlm to do anythlng he could ' cause

the turn-out wasn't looking good'

chlef Roberts: " Dld. anyone else that you Imow hear'Iiichael Joe Rlch say this about these

ballots? "

Jeff r "Yes, Walt llhltman and Fobert Allen'

chlef Foberts: " Jeff, d,o you know of any other iIIegaI acts done by the sheriff or anyone

in his dePartnent?"

Jeff : " No, not rlght-off-hand"

I, Jeff Eowman hereby state t'hat f iave
promise of any favors ;ersonal or legaI '

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