The age-herald., 1898-09-21

man. He further testified that he was run ming a sorghum mill and that Littlejohn came into his field and offered to swap some whisky for sorghum.
 BurS's ? es imony
 Matt Burks was the last witness called and testified that he lived In Coosa county and knew Thompson and the defendants, Littlejohn and Blankenship. Saw Thomp son after he was dead. On March IA saw Littlejohn and Blankenship pass his home going in the direction from where Thomp- son was afterwards found dead. Blanken- ship was riding mule and Littlejohn was riding a horse. Noticed a peculiar foot on the mule; one of his feet were long; called a reel foot. Saw tracks near where Thomp- son was found; also saw shoe-print in ashes, big toe showed through shoe print. Witness was shown shoes and swore that left shoe would make print like one he saw. Appeared to be No. s; lived about three and l.alf miles from where Thompson was killed; was at home when Blankenship and Litlejohn passed; followed the tracks back for about one-half mile in the road.
 Witness also testified that he saw Blank enship and Littlejohn working in a distill- cry with Jack Smith,
 The several witnesses were put through cross examination by Attorney Cowart, but the testimony was not materially shaken
 Adjournment was taken until 10 o'clock this morning, when the trial will be re- stunned.
 Among the articles which will be intro- duced as evidence is an old muzzle-loading shotgun which is alleged to have been used to fire the first shot which struck Thomp- son; a pistol which it is alleged was used by Walter Notes in firing the shot in Thompson's head; the copper still which was destroyed by officers on information furnished by Thompson; the shoes which it is charged were worn by Chess Notes one of which is worn sufficient to allow the big toe to partly protrude.
 The crime which the defendants are charged with having committed is one of the blackest in the history of Alabama.
 On the 14th day of March last. when w. A. Thompson was returning home from this city, where he gave evidence before the United States grand jury, then in session, he was waylaid and shot to death.
 A short time ago Special Agent Bell was put to work on the case and after an in- vestigation caused the arrest of four of the defendants.
 In the preliminary examination held in this city before United States Commissioner wilson, BOD IaylOr, one or the ueteHudHeS, voluntarily took the stand and made a clean breast of the whole affair, implicat- ing the other defendant and Walter Notes and Jasper Robinson, who were in attend ance upon the trial as witnesses. The latter two were immediately arrested and the six men were jointly indicted by the last grand jury. Taylor entered plea of guilty while the other defendants pleaded not guilty.
 In the event that the men are convicted, the severest punishment that can be meted out to them under the United States laws is life imprisonment. Formerly where a felony was committed where conspiracy existed the defendants were punished ac- cording to the laws of the particular state where the crime was committed, but on account of the discrepancies between the laws of the several states, congress in 1885 passed law that punishment in such cases could not exceed life imprisonment.