Huntsville gazette., 1885-05-02
A GRAVE MATTER.
Terrible Charge Of a Girl Pupil
Against Her Teacher.
THE UNCLE OF THE GIRL SHOT
AT
In the Courts.

last sensation was created by a
shooting affray at the State Normal
School, and has been kept mp during
the week as the horrible ana revolt
ing details of the charge Of assault
and violation Of the person CT Martha
Mary Ellen Cl,y by the Principal of
the School, has been made public.
AS a result Of the shooting, case
was before Mayor Mastin Tuesday
against w. Il. Councill for assault
with intent to kill Blount McCravy,
and he was bound over in the sum Of
5000 to answer the charge. From
the evidence it appears that McCravy
went to the school house to see the
Principal about the outrage against
the little girl, who was his niece. Ow.
ing to the situation, the matter hav.
ing been partially known and talked
about, considerable excitement pre>
vailed. Three or four shots were fired
from revolver at McCravy by Coun-
Gill as he came out Of the school build
ing, only one shot taking effect, pro.
ducing a slight wound on one hand.
The firing was not returned. McCra-
Wy it is said, not being armed.
Then followed news of the filing be-
fore Justice Figg by Tom Clay, the
father of the above mentioned girl, a
complaint of rape againss the Princi
pal Of the school.
The preliminary trial before Justice
Figg is now in progress, the State
having rested its case Thursday even
ing, anC the evidence for the defense
now being heard. The State is rep
resented by Hon. D. u. Shelby aDd
+ E. Spragins, Esq., the defense by
Capt. John D. Brandon Oscar K.
Hundley.
The witnesses so far examined for
the State are DR.. Dement, and DR..
Scruggs, both Of whom testified that
they attended the girl as physicians
and found that she had been outrag-
ed, and that she said that Councill
did it.
The following summary of the
other evidence is clipped from the
Huntsville correspondence Of the
Chattanooga Times
Lizzie Daniels testified that on the
morning Of the alleged offence, she
went to school with Martha Clay;
that they did not stop on the way,
and that they arrived some time be-
fore school toak in. Irena Hall tes-
tilted that she left school with Martha
on the evening after the occurrence,
and was with her until Martha reach
ed home, and they did not stop. She
also saw Martha that morning before
school took in. while the children were
playing. The object of the prosecu-
ton in the examination of the two
girls was TO exclude the suppostion
that some one other than the defend.
ant might have committed the Of
fense whilst Martha was going to or
from school. Thomas Clay, the ia
ther OF the girl, was examined next,
and stated that he went up Saturday
to swear out the warrant, but was
advised by the Justice to wait and
deliberate to see if the Trustees of the
school would act. He finally went
Monday and swore it out. He did
not 60 up town Friday-the offense
was discovered Thursday evening
until late in the evening, because lie
was sick. In the evening he walked
nearly up town but was too weak to
20 SO far. The defendants counsel
asked him a number of questio us as
to his statements made to different
parties, that he did not consider the
defendant guilty and would not pros
eSute, and in particular, if he had not
said that if the trustees would dis
charge Council from the school, lie
would not ewear out the warrant.
All these questions rel.ted to state.
ments implied to have been made by
Clay between Thursday night and
Monday morning. He denied them
all. The same questions had been
put to his wife who also denied them.