Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-22
THE RROC EeOlNGS.

Ht hhUC ttUlN6S,
Court was called to order al 1925 a. m.
Col. w. H. Tisdale.
Col. w. H. Tisdale took the stand and
testified: Selma is my home. Have lived
there since 1888. Have known Kennedy
ten years. He was a member of the
company of which I was captain. His
general character was good His char
acter for peace and order was good.
No cross-examination.
J.B. Ellis
testified: Know Mr.. Kennedy. Have
known him all my life. His general char
acter in Selma Is good. His general char
acter for peace and order is good. Have
been closely associated with him.
No cross-examinat ton.
z. L. Pettus
testified: I live in Selma. On Sunday
before the shooting was at the office of
Pettus Roberts. Mr.. Bob Kennedy was
there. Percy Wood came to the office.
He told Kennedy he wanted to see him.
They walked off together. Saw Percy
Wood that night. Percy Wood spoke of
wanting to make Kennedy look at let
ter from Mardis Wood. He said Ken
nedy was making a fool of himself. He
told me that if Kennedy hurt Mards
Wood that he would have him percy
Wood to kill.
oss-examination-I told of this threat
to General Pettus. Did not tell it to Mr.
Robert Kennedy.
The state moved to have the evidence
of this threat ruled out. This motion was
opposed by General Pettus, and the court
held the decision in allegiance.
Redirect-Mr. Percy Wood told me that
he had told Kennedy himself of this.
ross-examination-I am Intimately ac-
quainted with Mardis Wood, Felix Wood
and Robert Kennedy. All are my per-
sonal friends. l do not think | told Felix
Il Ir
oil about the relations between Mardis
Wood and Mrs. Kennedy and that it
would be best for Mardis not to return
to Selma. Probably told Felix Wood
that hoped Mardis would not return to
Selma, as 1 apprehended trouble. | saw
Mardis Wood here on the day before the
convention. Told him that Kennedy was
not in the city; told him that my in
formation was that he was not on the
train. My information came from my
private secretary. | wanted to know who
was on the train particularly as to Judge
Caffey. Told Mardis Wood there was
no one on the train he was interested in
except his brother, Percy Wood.
Berry Tatum
testified: 1 know Mardis Wood by sight
Saw him here on the night of April 90
Saw him coming out of the ladies' en-
trance of the Exchange hotel. He had a
rifle in his hand. He got in a hack. Did
not notice which way the hack went
The state objected to the admissibility
of this testimony. The court reserved it's
opinion, holding that unless the rifle in
cident was connected this testimony
would be ruled out.
Defendant rested his case at II AS.
The court recessed for thirty minutes
to give the counsel for the state time to
consult as to testimony in rebuttal.
THE REBUTTAl.
rSo,,,4 ,,o..orol.ioa .o oa
torneys for the state called Mr.. j. T.
Chambliss.
Mr.. Chambliss
testified: l am passenger train f1agman
on the Louisville and Nashville railroad;
do not know Mardis Wood left here on
the Mobile road the night of April 90
A man came to me and introduced him.
self as Mardis Wood; he had a gun with
him; asked how long his ticket was good
for; told me he was going to see man
on the Selma train, and asked me If he
did not return to take the gun to Mobile
and check it at the lunch stand; it was
a Winchester rifle; / took it to Mobile
and checked it.
Mr.. n. H. Stewart
testified: Am in the merchandise broker
age business in Selma; am city clerk;
was mayor up to last May; have known
Robert Kennedy four or five years; he
was sheriff most of the time was mayor;
have observed nothing in Kennedy's con-
duct since February to make me believe
that Mr.. Kennedy was insane. 1 believe
that he was sane.
tion-It is my habit to
go to my office in the morning All of
my business is on Water street; the sher-
iff's office is at the west end of Alabama
street, about three-quarters of mile
from my Office on Water street, about
same distance from the council chamber
have had no social relationship with Mr..
Kennedy; when leave my office at din
ner hour. since January, have been rid
Ing in a buggy. ] as a rule go directly
home. Mr.. Kennedy is not in the habit
of frequenting Water street. have not
seen him there since January; usually
go immediately home in the afternoon,
unless take a drive with my daughter;
do not think have had any conversation
with Mr.. Kennedy since January; have