Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-19
HYOU GOT THE WRONG'MAH"
mo-" Was the Laconic Reply of
Kennedy
BUT HE LOOKED AT PERCY w.
The States Evidence Is in and the Defense Is
Essaying to Prove Peaceable
Character,
BUT HE LOOKED AT PERCY w.

the preliminary trial of Sheriff Kennedy
the court was called to order at 410 p. m
Mr.. Bernard CASTOR. who was under
going cross-examination at adjournment
resumed and said: A colored man, sleep
ing car porter whose name do not
know, was the man who laid down and
rolled under the truck Mr.. Deyer, Mr.
Drakeford and Henry Cunningham were
the only other parties present. Drake
ford was inside the baggage room, and
probably might not have seen him at
first. The truck was about feet beyond
the two Woods. About the time Mr.. Ken
nedy called Look out" Mardis Wood dis
appeared. Mr.. Percy Wood seemed in
different and did not move at all.
Redirect-The posts were about 20 feet
apart. There is an ice box on the plat
form adjoining the baggage room. This
ice box is about 10 feet wide and the first
post was about 8 feet from the ice box
The Wood brothers were standing near
the post when saw them.
w. H. Deyer, sworn. said: was at the
union depot in front of the baggage room
when Percy Wood was shot. Was stand
ing just outside the door, probably foot
or two off. Heard the report OF a gun
and saw a man standing with gun. Saw
two men standing in front of me. Gave
the check to the porter, and about that
time the shot was fired. The man with
the gun called out Look Quit! The pof-
ter was in the act of going by Mr.. WOOD
when the warning cry was given. one or
the men ran shortly after the shot. Mr.
Wood made no effort to get weapon;
his hands were hanging by his side. l
went to him shortly after the second shot
His coat was not buttoned up. Someone
pulled his coat together. Kennedy
stopped after the first shot to load MS
gun. After shooting the first man some
one called to him that he had gotten the
wrong man, and he replied No He
then passed by the fallen Mr.. Wood ana
looked down on him. did not see him
break the gun, put saw MIN IN the act
of pushing the shell in.
s-examination-There is an opening
about or feet from the baggage room
Mr.. Kennedy was near that. Thene Is q
like opening next the river Mr.. kenne-
dy, after the second shot, passed around
near me and looked at Mr.. Wood, VINO
had been shot 1 have talked with MIR.
CASTOR and others about the shooting,
but not today. Do not remember that L
talked with Mr.. Drakeford.
Mr. ]. ]. Drakeford, assistant ticket
depot, testified: Was standing in the
door of baggage room on morning OF
April 81 Heard a shot fired. Saw the
man with the gun in his hand. When l
first saw Percy Wood he was standing
with his back towards Kennedy he was
ing by his side After the second shot
Kennedy passed me. 1 started to catch
Percy Wood as he fell. / followed Ken
nedy as he went around the corner. Mr..
Elliott was in the baggage room with
me.
baggage room door, leaning on the sta
tionary part of the door. After the shot
stepped out of the door. Mr.. Wood was
| the only man standing still. There were
quite a number of people on the platform.
Don't remember who was on the plat
form. Many strangers were there. Mr..
Deyer was talking to me just about the
time the shot was fired. Did not see
Mr.. Kennedy until after the second shot.
He preached his gun after the second
shot and passed between Mr.. Percy Wood
and myself. Saw some one disappear
around the corner. I followed Kennedy
around the baggage room The time be-
tween the shots was very short, prob
ably not more than five or six or seven
| seconds. A truck was standing between
Mr.. Wood and the Central train. l don I
know whether there were any people
| leaning on 1t or not. Could not say how
| Mr.. Percy Wood fell. Think he gave way
| at his knees and fell down.
| Mr.. John Elliott testified: Am bag
gage checker at the union depot. was
| at the depot when the first shot was
| fired. Did not know at the time of the
shot who fired it. Saw Mr.. Kennedy
| breech the gun after the second shot. Saw
Percy Wood fall and saw a man run.
Went up to Percy Wood. He had no
weapon in his hand and none lay about
him. stood and looked at him.
Cross-exan1ination-T desk on which
I was leaning Is on the south side of the
baggage room. / was about four yards
from the baggage room door. That put
me to the east, over half way of the build
ing. Mr.. Wood fell by the first post, near
L Ga a
not know that it was Mr.. Mardis Wood.
| He was standing near the man who fell.
| The man who fell was standing to his
left. There were good many people
about the depot.
river.
on April q and heard report OF gun. saw
| smoke, but baggage room hid the parties
from me. Heard two reports. First l
saw of the man with gun was when ne
stoned to break 1t. Did not see any
| thing more of the man with the gun until
some one called, There he goes"
Cross-examination-W in my carriage
| outside the baggage room when the snots
were fired.
r. D. walker-Was in Selma on the
morning of April 20. Left Selma on af-
ternoon of April 20 for Montgomery.
went through all the train to the baggage
| car. poked my head into the baggage
car. The mail car was separate car
| from the baggage car. did not go into
| the mail car. Mr.. Kennedy was not on
| the car. 1 went into every part OF the
| train except the mail car.
| Cross-exa nina toni made close ex-
| animation of each car; looked into all the
| closets. Was looking to see II Mr.. Ken
| nedy was on the train. Was doing this
| for my own information. Was not do
| ing 1T for anyone. Have known Mr..
Kennedy fifteen years. His character is
| good. His character In the community
| in which he lives as a law-abiding citi-
| zen Is good.
L.. p. Dawson-Was in Selma on April
| 20 and saw Mr.. Kennedy about 10 a. m.
| I took the passenger train at $3.50 p. m.
| for Montgomery. I went through the
| first and second-class cars and went to
| the door of the baggage car and looked
| in. Did not see Mr.. Kennedy on the
| train. Was not looking for him partic-
| ularly. Was looking for friend from
| Choctaw, with whom I wanted to talk.
| Think the mail car was partitioned car.
Cross-examination-H known Mr.
Kennedy for about eight years. His gen.
/ eral character in the city of Selma Ii
/ good His character for peace and quiet