European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 6, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Bui Moore a Baltimore mailman was on a one Man equal rights March in 1963 when he was killed. The murder Case that will not die slaying of sex Marine is one of four civil rights eases Cuttina a new look c c by Christopher Sullivan the associated press the Walnut tree shading the place where Bill Moore died became a landmark for civil rights pilgrims and for the curious pinpointing the spot where a Bullet halted his one Man anti segregation March. The tree is gone now Cut Down to discourage visitors say the folks in Keener Ala. So much else remains unchanged since the White sex Marine was murdered on that Spring evening in 1963. Moore s widow mar Moore Birchard still has the same prayer Quot that before i died i d know who did it. They have got to bring  the investigator who found a Rifle that Fri experts concluded killed Moore is still angry that the Case was t pressed further. And a Man identified As a suspect at the time but released when a grand jury took no action still lives up the Road from the murder scene Quot thought we had enough to carry him to court or let him do some explaining Quot said Roy Mcdowell an Alabama Bureau of investigation agent at the time and later Etowah county sheriff. Authorities have reopened at least three other civil rights Era killings in the deep South the murders of a act a Leader Medgar Evers in Jackson miss., voting rights activist Vernon Dahmer in Hattiesburg miss., and Black Deputy sheriff Oneal Moore in Varnado la. Despite those actions and Calls by civil rights groups for Justice Many similar murder cases remain dormant. A i wonder Quot Bill Moore wrote a Friend on april 22, the Day before his death Quot if anything happened to me whether anybody would  the same question could apply to countless never prosecuted killings in the segregated South according to historians and groups such As the Southern poverty Law Center which has researched Many  them a Herbert Lee warned to Stop helping Register Black voters was fatally shot at a Cotton Gin in Liberty miss., in september 1961. A state legislator who pulled the trigger was cleared by a Coroner s jury which cited the testimony later recanted of a Black witness who said Lee had brandished a tire tool. A Louis Allen the Black witness to Leeds killing regretted his testimony told other voting rights workers that head been threatened into lying that Lee had a weapon and promised that if Given Federal Protection for his family head testify and Quot let the hide go with the  he was ambushed in his driveway in 1964. No one was Ever charged with his murder. A Henry Dee and Charles Eddie Moore died in May 1964 after klansmen in Meadville miss., accused them in a supposed plot to Start a Black uprising which turned out to be an unfounded Rumor. Although a Klansman signed a confession detailing their abduction and beating deaths a Justice of the peace dropped All charges a Quot without explanation and without presenting the evidence to a grand jury Quot according to Quot free at last Quot a civil rights history edited by Sara Bullard of the Southern poverty Law Center. Ironically the bodies of Dee and Charles Moore were found during the search for the victims in perhaps the most notorious murders of the time the killings of civil rights workers James Cheney Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner again in that Case though Federal prosecutors won civil rights violation convictions no one has Ever been charged with their murder. There Are two reasons to prosecute such killings said Julian Bond the civil rights Leader and educator who knew Louis Allen. Quot first they re regular Ordinary murders and they cry out for Justice. Secondly they re political crimes. Quot there s no statute of limitations on murder Quot he added Quot and there s no limit to the memories Quot the passage of 28 years has not dried the tears of Bill Moore s widow. She wept when talking with a reporter about the Midnight Call she got from Alabama about the outrage expressed the next Day by president Kennedy and about her own a and Moore s a premonition that he might die As he did. Moore a Stepfather of three was by All accounts a remarkable individual Quot a pure heart a As one admirer said compassionate if Tell and certain that if he could just get people s attention and reason with them he could win them Over to his Many causes a from the danger of radioactivity to mental patients rights. But this Don Quixote also chose to tilt at the Windmill called Jim Crow in his native South. Quot he said if he could just change one person s mind. A Birchard recalled. Quot he said lives Are being snuffed out and nothing s being done about it Quot once determined Bill Moore could not be stopped. He d use a vacation from his Job As a mailman in Baltimore he announced to his wife to conduct a one Man March from Chattanooga Tenn through Georgia and Alabama to Jackson miss. For his quixotic Armor he wore a Large sign urging Quot equal rights for  on the third Day of his March he got As far As Keener a tiny two store Village in a Valley beneath the Long Bluff of Lookout Mountain. Quot feet sore All Over Quot he noted in a log that would become evidence. Then As dusk gathered someone pulled alongside Moore on this lonely stretch of . 11 and shot him in the head at close Range. Page 14 a the stars and stripes monday m a lot of people did t believe in it. Felt that anyone who d take part in it ought to be shot. 1 guess that s How some of them telt.,r Moore s widow Mary Moore Brichard keeps the same prayer a that before i died id know who did it Medgar Evers also was slain in 1963. Deputy Oneal Moore was killed in 1965. Vernon Dahmer died in a 1966 arson. Images of that evening haunt Roy Mcdowell who was among the first on the murder scene and probably the last person to talk with Moore. Under orders from his state police superiors he d stopped to interview the equal rights Marcher who had caused a stir in every Little town he passed. In the agent s car its Interior Light illuminating the evening gloom the two talked for 45 minutes. Mcdowell warned of the unpredictability of local Quot Kun Kluvers and whatnot Quot and suggested Moore Stop at a Motel just ahead. He agreed to and Mcdowell left. The agent had barely reached a nearby Coffee shop when he got a Call from the Highway patrol Quot that Man you be been talking to up yonder he s laying Down in the Highway  Mcdowell left his Coffee and raced Back to the Valley where he found Moore sprawled on the Edge of the Road less than a mile from where they d talked. Quot they ust shot him Down like a dog for really no reason at All Quot he said. Picking up the spent casings of 22-caliber bullets that Lay in the dust Mcdowell began a probe that included local state and Fri agents. They retraced Moore a route interviewing people at every House and store. They combed his diary which noted that a Black car had been Quot harassing him All the Day Between Here and fort Payne Quot Mcdowell said. Within Days they searched a House near fort Payne and seized a.22-caliber Rifle. Mcdowell flew with the gun casings and other evidence to Washington where Fri ballistics experts concluded the gun had killed Moore. Quot the next Day Quot Mcdowell said Quot we picked up the fellow who we got the gun  pending grand jury action Floyd Simpson was charged with the murder less than a week after it occurred. The operator of a country store he told authorities that he had talked with Moore but Only out of curiosity. Simpson denied any involvement in the crime As did others who were questioned. Contacted recently by the associated press he would not talk about the Case. As Rural Etowah county waited to see whether the grand jury would indict Simpson Quot Freedom marchers Quot tried to continue Moore s trek and were arrested. Quot things were All in an uproar Here Quot Mcdowell recalled. Quot a lot of people did t believe in it. Felt that anyone who d take part in it ought to be shot. I guess that s How some of them  in september 1963, the grand jury deliberated More than four hours before deciding not to indict Simpson or anyone else. Quot More investigative work must to done Quot said the late judge Virgil Pittman who presided. Quot this Case will not to allowed to die on the  he was wrong. Mcdowell who later served As county sheriff said there was no further investigation. Quot to be honest with you As much work As we did on it and As much sleep As we lost we Felt kind of let Down by the grand jury a he said. Quot we Felt like that was the gun that did  the Case is not closed according to current District attorney James Hedgspeth who was in Junior High school in 1963. But with 1.000 fresher crimes to prosecute and no new evidence from police in the Moore Case it might As Well be. If she can overcome a deep fear Birchard who lives in Pennsylvania said Shell travel to Etowah county to talk with officials. Meanwhile in her voice Hope mixes with anger. Quot i was so glad when i heard about the Medgar Evers Case Quot she said. Quot i thought Well they re not going to get away with this. I m glad people Are Starling to talk. Maybe somebody s going to Start talking about Bill. Quot you can t just let it  uary 6, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 15