Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-04-24

Testimony i'm the PrOudfit Azur.
der Trial.

AT two o'clock yesterday evening
the hearing of witnesses in the case of
A. II. and james Proud6t, charged
with the murder of Axel Winberg,
was begun. The widow, Mrs.
Laura Winberg, testified that on the
18th day of January last James had a
dispute near their door with her hus-
band and called to his brother Adlai
to come and shoot him. They came to
the door, pulled him out and Adlai
shot him. Axel went back into the
house and saying he was shot, fell
bleeding to the floor. Adlai called
and asked: Have l killed him,
Laura2" Jim said, come back you
fool" Two shots were fired.
Mrs. Winberg was so much over
come that shs was obliged to leave the
stand before concluding her testi-
mony.
Ferdinand Miller, carpenter at the
DeSoto Oil Mills, said only one shot
was fred. and Winberg threw the ak
at Adlai before the latter pulled
trigger. Adlai, when Winberg was
dying, said For Gods sake go and
get Doctor" Cross examined said
Winberg kept advancing on Adlai,
who repeatedly told him to go back.
John Carnes, little colored boy,
testified that Winberg ran
after james and threw the ak at him,
and when he was returning Adlaishot
him.
Dan Dennis testified that the
Proudfts cursed Winberg and told
him to come out. Winberg came out
with an ak in his hand.and just before
he was shot by Adlai, exclaimed:
Boys, / don't want to hurt you"
Robert Ellis, small darky. testified
he saw commotion about the house
of Winberg, and heard him say to the
Proud6ts: Boys, what have / done
to your" when Adlai ran and got his
pistol and shot Winberg, The YER
batim statement of James Proudft.
made at the preliminary trial
before Judge Hadden, was
then read by the Attorney General,
and the testimony closed for the day.
At half-past nine o'clock this
morning the testimony was resumed.
Louis Gray, the first witness, testified
that James had brick and Adlai
pistol. They went in and brought
Winberg out and one Of them shot
him. Winberg threw his ak at the
moment of the shot. The State closed
with this witness and Mr.. W. P.
Proudfit took the stand for the de-
Tense. He explained a map of the
scene of the killing.
Stanley King testified that Winberg
told him on the day of the killing that
the Proudfit boys had been telling lies
on him and that he would FIX" them
This was about 1l:30 o'clock, shortly
before the killing.
Mrs. Hardy testified she was present
shortly after the killing at Winberg's
house, and Mrs. Winberg was crying,
but stood up bravely and said she was
the cause of her husbands death;
that Mrs. Sperry and a dozen
others heard her. Why" said wit
ness, "she said in there yesterday
(pointing to the clerks ofice) that
she-well, she acknowledged" She
was interrupted by her attorneys here
and not allowed to proceed. Continu.
ing, she said: Weinberg laid on the
bed some time, and begged them to
send for doctor"
Mrs. Sperry, who lives at the corner
Of Tennessee and Trezevant streets,
testified Have seen Mrs. Winberg
twice, yesterday and the time of her
husbands death. / was at his house at
the time of his death; be was lying on
the floor; Mrs. Winberg sat by the
cradle with the baby; she said in
conversation that her husband took
an ak and went out to bluff the boys;
that she had told him something to
make him angry; he ran out to scare
the boys with the blunt end of the.
*, but he would not hurt them; she
said she was the cause Of his death.
The ak lay by the safe in the hall,
Mrs. Winberg said her husband went
out and stopped the boys; then he
came in and got the az, and said he
would knock their heads off. Mrs.
Hardy was there Mrs. Winherg Dried
and said, oh, if l hadn't told himp
Mr.. Straeder, timer. said he had
lived in Memphis since 80 the last
time and had been here off and on II
years. Didn't know Winberg. Saw
him the day Of his death. was re-
pairing the roof Of the DeSoto oil mill,
/ saw Winberg and wife in their gar.
den. AS ! came ont through the
gangway Of the shed | walked across
the street and started up the railroad.
saw the two boys at the door, and
stopped few minutes. Adlsi was on
the south side of the door. Jim was
on the north side. heard them say
come out here" | heard no reply. I
stood there till Jim wenti in the house
His brother tried 70 catch him, but
Jim slipped in. Axel had Jim in his
arms in the hall and carried him out
the door, where they stumbled. Axel
went out, and turned toward Ada.
who retreated. Winberg followed snd
after be was shot threw the az. Picks
ed it up, wsikei back, struck the door
three time and got ia.
! know Mooney the painter. l did
not say to him 1t was a shame
and outrage and those men had pur.
tued the man into his house and
shamefully murdered him. | saw no
brick in Jim's hand, but saw a pistol
In Adlai's hand. | had a Eve minutes
conversation With Adlai and Jim in
the hall Of the courthouse to day. |
said that there were only four or five
that saw the difficulty. WinberS
could have killed Jim in the hall With
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