Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-25
x.sss Dr. collett.

t1onS then. l couldn't say that l Knew his character, as I had never heard it discussed He was mere boy at that time and I knew very little of him. He may be about 25 years old. I have never heard his character discussed or attack ed. Court sustained defense's objection to the states question as to witness per sonal knowledge of Nations character. Court said witness must know the char acter before he can testify as to what it is Deputy B. A. Thompson.
 I am deputy sheriff. I am familiar with the pistol that was in the prelimi- nary trial as the pistol of P. G. Bowman. It was 38-caliber self-acting pistol, like the .one you have before me except as to calber. The pistol turned over to me as Eugene Jeffers' weapon was a 32-caltber hammerless se1f-acting pistol.
 Deputy Alfonso Morrow.
 I arrested Bowman and delivered the pistol to Deputy Thompson. Mr John Bowman gave me the S2 pistol. It was a few minutes after the shooting in the Florence hotel. P. C.. Bowman's pistol was a 3S self-acting Colts.
 John Bowman ---' I am P. G. Bowman's brother. I re- member the time when Eugene Jeffers was killed. 1 was arrested and was in jail about three weeks. T was one of the defendants before Justice Benners. l was committed to jail. Did not give bail. I was before Judge Sharpe, and was not afterwards committed to jail. was with my brother the evening of the killing in the Florence annex. I came by the hotel and heard that a policeman was looking for him to give bail for fight With MT. Tom Jeffers. He and came down stars together and as we neared the saloon my brother said that the policeman might be in there, and suggested that we go m and see. We entered-my brother f1rst and I behind him or 5 feet. MT. rom Jeffers was standing at the par. young man was standing near the fold ing doors. I did not know he was MT Jeffers' son until after he was Killed: Mr. Latham, the bartender, was behind the counter, near MT. Tom JeHers. l looked down the counter, and the young man had a pistol pointed at my brother. I tried to grab the pistol and Just as did there was a shot fired and the young man fell. did not have hold Of Eugene Jeffers. I had no seuffle with nm. l didn't touch the boy at all. l picked up the pistol from the floor and gave IL to an officer I was not armed at the time. Nothing was said as my brother and l came down the steps Something was said about finding the policeman There sis a small hallway at the bottom or the steps and landing about halfway up. Eugene Jeffers' pistol was hammeriess' small-make weapon.
 Dump Mcdonald did not have hoid or me when the shot was fired NOBODY nad hold of me. did not see Dump McDon- aid in the saloon. Eugene Jeffers was standing up when the. shot was nred The pistol fell from his hand Nobody had hold of Eugene Jeffers when the shot was fred I noticed no one standins III front of the saloon doorway. as l came down. I didn't see anybody Tn the Stalr- way did not know that MT. Jehefs or his son were in the barroom. AS we came down the stairs myebrother used no sucn expression as he s..would kick h-l or knock or shoot h--nliout of the -- II he found him. 7! E-s@.2Scs@s
 Cross by Solicitor Ferguson-I was be- hind my brother several feet Don know that he addressed any such re- mark to me- I did not see Dump Mc- Donald in front of the saloon or Tn IL. | was not bit excited. It was my purpose to catch the pistol. I did not catch hold of his arm. My brother fired the shot. l didn't see it. My brother was B or feet from the radiator. Mir. Tom JeHers was standing against the counter. :, did not see my brother circle around anu shoot My attention was attracteu py the young man with the pfstoi. NIT. 1el fers said that was his son. l Was3 or feet from young Jeffers. I made. step forward. I think he fell backwards. didn't see him draw the pistol. He had the pistol pointed. I did not see him raise his hand and put it on my broth CTS shoulder. Witness explained the DO sition of the parties by the diagram.
 Peyton G. Bowman. esee
 am defendant in this case. 's1n June, 1894 on the 18th or 18th of the month, MT. Tom Jeffers and myself became in volyed in a difficulty about. 5:30 o'clock. Just after that difficulty was over ne went out of the saloon and Mr. Frank Edwards came to me and said that MT. Jeffers and should make friends. This, I think. was in the lobby of the hotel. l said I would be glad to do it and was sorry that it occurred. He said he would go and get MT. Jeffers for the purpose of making up. He went away and came back and said that he had been una Die to find Mir. Jeffers but that police man was looking for me to put me under bond, and he suggested that go up and wait in the headquarters; until could find MT. Jeffers. 1 went up ana presently Officer Neuman came up ana -toio Mrs' Watham that a mob was looking TOT me- I thought I was excited and de- cided to wait until some one came in to go down with me. Presently my brother came in and asked him about the mob. He said he had not noticed g mop down stairs, but a policeman was looking for me to give bond. My pistol was in desk and took it up and put it in my pocket for protection from the mob suggested to my brother when we went down stairs that we go into the saloon and we might find the policeman inside We entered and saw MT. Jeffers and spoke to him, saying that we should be friends. Just then I noticed the young man pointing a pistol at me. I drew my weapon quick ly and fired as soon as could. I was not drunk at the time and was as sober as I am now, though I had had two drinks in the afternoon. They were the last that I have taken and the last that I will ever take. made no threats when I came down the steps with my brother. Eugene Jeffers was standing straight. My relations with MT. Tom .Jeffers have always been most friendly. He was one of the first men that I met when came to Birmingham. did not know Eugene Jeffers. Did not know that he was MT. Jeffers' son.
 The state objected to the question as to whether defendant was angry with MT. Jeffers when he entered the saloon. Sus- Aained by the court, < !. x.. .s,.eas.. 5=
 Defendant illustrated how he shot Eu- gene Jeffers. se+a.fs .is~ seQ
 ECross-I spoke to MT Jeffers in friendly tone of voice., I did not have my hands on my pistol, when I spoke to MT. to trat