The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-18
MYERS SECOND TRIAL BEGUN.
THE DAY DEVOTED To INPANEI.-
LING OF A JURY.

A Big Crowd I'm the Court Room.
The Father of the Murdered Man
Among the SpectatOrs-The Father
of the Prisoner by His Sidc-Thc
Latter Appears TriGe Nervous.
The Plan for the Exposure OF the
Brown Allen Myth.
Atlanta. Ca. June 1.-THE trial OF VII
lie J. Myers. charged with the murder OF
Forrest L. Crowley. was begun in the
criminal division Of the superior court this
morning. The impannelling Of the jury
occupied the whole days proceedings.
Judge Hart Of the Oconee circuit is presid-
ing in the case instead of Judge Richard
H. Clark.
When the court opened, the court room
was jammed with a curious crowd. on
Myers former trial the crowd overran the
court room. and in granting new trial,
the supreme court held that allowing the
crowd TO invade the bar and come in close
proximity 10 the jury was good ground for
a rehearing. To avoid a repetition of the
scenes Of the former trial, Judge Hart,
upon assuming the bench this morning.
had the bar enclosure cleared of all per-
sons except the lawyers and viii keep the
crowd back during the trial
Seaborn Crowley, father of the murdered
man. was one of the first persons to appear
in the court room this morning. Instead
of sitting with the states counsel how
ever, as heretofore, Mr.. Crowley, who has
devoted himself 10 the task of procuring
evidence against Myers, took a seat in the
crowd of spectators.
Myers appeared in court dressed in a
neatly-fitting dark suit. He appeared
somewhat nervous at times. but gave no
IL.
by his years imprisonment He sat by
his father and his attorneys, W. T. My
ers and Virgil Jones
Solicitor Hill Is assisted in the prosecu-
ton by Hon. Steve Clay and w. c. Glenn.
The story Of the Crowley murder is
still fresh in the minds of the people.
the crime being one of the most afro
cious in the criminal annals of the state.
One day last August. Forrest L. Crowley
a steady-going business man of thirty,
came down from his homo at Roswell to
effect sale of mules to Willie ]. Myers
a boy of twenty. Myers having negotiated
for them at Roswell. When Crowley ar
rived, his father being along, Myers took
him In buggy and drove him out 10 a
tract of land west Of the city known as
Westwood park TO meet a third party and
look at some land. The third party whom
Myers claimed would meet them there
was to buy the mules. Myers returned
10 the city IN the bug
gy alone excited. and with
muddied clothing He bought a new suit
of clothes and after going to hotel and
registering under a false name, changed
his clothes and left town. Before he got
10 the train. however, he was met by the
murdered mans father, who asked him
where his son was. Myers replied that he
did not know. The next day Crowley's
body was found in a gulch at Westwood
Park by his father who, with detectives
had been securing the woods for him, sus-
pieion Of foul play having been aroused
Gus disappearance.
Myers was arrested in Cincinnati, hav-
ing had his hair dyed to effect a disguise
He denied and persisted in his denial that
he killed Crowley, who was robbed of his
money and jewelry, but declares that the
killing was done by Brown Allen, a crook
who used him as decoy and tool Brown
Allen has so far proven a myth. as no clue
to such a person has ever been found.
On the first trial Myers statement was
the only testimony for the defense. This
time however, a number of witnesses
have been summoned and will probably
be introduced for the defense.
Among the witnesses for the state viii
be an old farmer named Brown Allen. In
the motion for a new trial the defense al
legged that the mythical Brown Allen lived
on Cherry Hog creek, in Clayton county.
The state went down there and found
Brown Allen TO be the old farmer who
had never been In town before and he
was promptly brought on to Atlanta to
knock the vitality out of this part of the
defense.