Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-04
WILLIAM s. BLOUNT
Held by the Coroner's Jury for the Death of Paddle Wallace at
 Pratt City.

A"Murdered at the hands of William s. Blount,' was the verdict oi the coroner's jury that Investigated the killing of Paddle Wallace in the city hall at Pratt City yes- terday.
 The remains were viewed Wednesday by ihe coroner, and the following jury was empaneled: James Echos, J. V. Samplers, w. G. Powell, Wiley Wood and J. Sauls- berry, but at the hearing yesterday Mir. Saulsberry was absent and MT. w. r. Grange was put in his stead.
 The evidence WAS commenced at 10:30 and the last witness was heard at 80.
 The first one to testify was Fred Stetch, the bartender who was behind the counter the night of the killing, but who refused to tell anything about the shooting. He testifies that Wallace was in the bar when Blount came in, and they began to quarrel over debt of long standing. Several words were passed and it had quieted down. He was in the act of opening the register to make some change and had his back 10 the men when the shot was fired. and just as he turned Wallace reeled toward the door crying, sOh, my God, you have shot mel' He saw no revolver, nor did he know who shot Wallace.
 M. L. Thrayer was then called. He is the main one who suppressed the evidence the night of the killing. He was oue of the eye witnesses, but would only say Tuesday night that he had no knowledge of the Killing. He came in and made the following statement:
 went in the bar and found Blount there. We went away together. He was very drunk. left him on the corner, telling him to wait till returned, and went to Odom's bar for bucket of beer. While was there Blount came in. Wallace and Mckay were there drinking beer. Blount went up to Wallace and they commenced to quarrel. Hot words were used. sep arated them and got Paddle Wallace to sit down. Blount still abused him and finally went out the back door, coming in again in a few minutes. He approached Wallace and commenced to beat him in the face. Wallace was still sitting down. He arose while Blount was atill beating him and they clinched. Blount then pushed Wallace of him, and as he started toward him again pulled his revover and fired, the mouth of the weapon almost touching his victim's breast.
 After the shooting Biount remained in the saloon for several minutes, finally leav. ing; ,.o ..u.. o.,.r ,,.,o..s. u,o swore practically the same thing, and all say that Wallace made no attempt to strike Blount until he had beat him in the face.
 The jury were only a few minutes in com ing to the conclusion that Blount was guilty of murder, and the following verdict
 "We, the jury empaneled in the case of Paddle Wallace, who on the night of Jan- uary I, 1895, was found dead in the bar room of J. J. Odom, at Pratt C1ty, nave heard all the evidence in the case, and after due deiiberation come to the conclusion that the said Paddle Wallace met his death by being unlawfully shot with a pistol in the hands of one William s. Blount, and that the said William 5. Blount is guilty of muIder.'
 Then each juror signed his name to the verdict,
 John Mckay, Elridge Young, the col orsd bartender, and Leonard ThFayer, the three men who were locked up with Blount, gave bond in the sum of sl0O6 to appear be- fore the grand jury.
 Blount wes visited at the Jail after thI verdict was rendered aud apprised ofI d &tate of afiairs. He refused ton Che thing In regard to the mstto ISv any, sayt everything will bsG st sii. and tffAh which will te5n And out at the Jsffaeo aas s1'.If MGpfS's ; e. place ssturday in
 U dseply regrsttsd by every oth the men were well known liked by all. They were never g. have quarrel with any one oe- were considered tho most easy. 10 Pratt ;City, their only feuil
 occaoional epIeeos tnoS noveS