Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-24
BEING TRIER FOR PERJURY Fl s'FT11ad Parrish in the Inferior
 2. Criminal Court
 SWORE IN THE PATTON CASE ta fstsfs .fse atf And Was the Principal Witness for the Defense :. -,--.--State Witnesses Disposed of 's'= ''H Attendance Very Large

sThad Parrish was placed on trial yeg-
 terday morning on the charge of perjury in the inferior criminal court. He is
 being deGeEded by Messrs. P. G. Bow
 man, J. L.. Megde and c. R. Harsh. The
 prosecution is represented by Messrs.
 J anies Weatffer1y, fer Solicitor Brown,
 L. C. Diekey and J. H. Edwards.
 s It will be remembered that on October
 10 last, John c. Patton, a young white
 boy, was killed by a Southern freight train near. Brookside. He was iri the
 employ of pr. Ralph M. Russell a.s fas
 distributing circulars and other adN E s.
 ing matter along the railroad.
 et-s boarded, the train at Brooksi1e and sabout ons mile east of that place was killed. It was alleged that the hagman,
 Ernest Gibson, showed the boy off car ard caused his death.
 lss Hiram Wider, 1n, as administrator,
 brought suit a6 enst the Southern rail Way company and recovered $5000 dam- ages on the strength of the testimony Of .Thad7 Parrish. who swore that he had seen Gibson shove the boy off the car. I'hs case was tried in the city court | One J, H. McFarlane swore out war
 rant a few Gays later charging Parrish | with perjury, and it is this csa5 that IS I how being heard. Quite a crowd was present at the. trial, and owing to the l inbrest iaroussd larger attencance will
 
 At : 10 o'clock yesterday morning, inn medfately after disposing of the regular docket, Judge Feagin began hearing the i~eas.s.s as~beth~siGss were ready. Quite number of witnesses are yet to be exam ined for the deferl5ant All Of those for the pros5cution have bee. heard.
 The testimoy adduced yesterday tend ed to show that Parrish had been drink ing after the trial or several days and had stated that he received money for alais- -tj a c p-iNan in the WiRemA1 vs. Southern railway case. Several WIt- I nessas were Introduced, who gave testi-
 monyvas to remarks made by Parrish. r The tfiagman gave his version or the
 occurr snces near Br-okside. He disclaim- l ed any criminal connection with the a. l fair, and stated that Patton fell eff. Wh le l falling he caught Gibson's arm. The i latter saved himself by catching on the ear but Patton fell to his death. GID l son, however, is undsr an indictment on
 the charge of showing the boy off the 1 car and causing his death.
 I At 1:30 o'clock court adjourned for dinn CT, but reoi5nvened at o'clock. The main WItn6sS examined was MIG | F,arlana, the man who swore ou; the war l ram; against Parrish. He was on the stand nearly all t3e afternoon, ard his | testimony was listened to very attentive | ly by all in the court room. The cross
 examination was particularly severe and the defense seem5d perfectly sia isied. He admitted that he did not know Par l risla, buE a few days after the trial met him
 on the street and asked him 10 have a | drink Several drinks w.re aken at Mo 1 Farlane's invi'taaion. He did nct remem- Der telling the bartender 10 let Parrish
 have anything he warted.
 l - A Alth-algh a-si-rangsr, he invited Parrish l to his house the sams night, bu, came to l she latter's room Himself in the rain. He | brought up the, Wideman trial and tried to get Parrish 10 talk about il. Finally he asked Parrish to come to his house in Ayordaae, that there. they could discuss | the case in McFarlanes cellar, where no
 one could hear them.
 He admitted tkiaf he wanted to get Par rish to say that he had perjured himself in the former trial in the presence of some one else. He stated that was his | object in nesting Parrish in several sa- Icons and of gc3ng to lae lstter's room | in the Wilson building. He denied that | he was to receive S120 for his services in
 getting Parrish to admit swearing falss- | ly. He said Parrish admitted to being | promised S100 for his testimony
 | The cros;-exainination became very
 pointed, and MT. Bowman wanted to 1 know if MT, McFarlane was not a pro- 1 fesSLinial witness hunter Several caus- | tic rsmarks were passed between the
 leading attorneys of either side, and
 Judge F'eagin had to call them to order | M ernbe'rs of the train crew were exam | ined as to whe her any one rode on the 1 train. Some claimed no one was aboard and tfey did not even see John Patton
 on the train.
 At 4:12 e'cleclS, all of the witnesses for
 the prosecution having been examined, I the court adjourned until his morning. The case will be again taken up after the | regular docket is reviewed. Th:, vii ] nesses wsre excused until 9:30 o'clock this | morning, when those for the defense will | be placed on the stand.