The age-herald., 1898-02-01
ASHFORD'S TRIAL
 NEARING AN END The Defense Concluded Its Testimony
 Yesterday. FELIX BROWN NOT IN COURT A Part Of the COuFtland Affairs CF0epS
 Into the Hearing. TESTIFY TO ASHFORD'S CHARACTER Wrangle of Attorneys Still Continues a Few Spectators Present-The Argu-
 ments Will Begin This Afternoon
 Testimony Witnesses.
TESTIFY TO ASHFORD's CHARACTER

case is proving decidedly the stronger at- traction, for there were hardly a dozen people present when court convened yes terday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. Among the audience was a deaf and dumb man who has been faithful attendant since the opening of the trial. The defense concluded it's testimony dur ing the afternoon and several witnesses in rebuttal were examined for the prose- cution. The defense stated that they de- sired to ask Felix Brown few questions, but he did not make his appearance. Sev- eral witnesses testified as to the good char acter of the defendant. One witness, Phil Hawkins, of Courtland tesctfed as to Browns reputation for going armed say ing he was supposed to carry pistol wherever he went.
 The old Courtland affair between Fred Ashford and Brown was admitted to the extent that the news of the killing was communicated to Tom Ashford. A copy of the State Herald of Jan. 2, 1884, was shown, in which a letter from Mrs. Carrie Ashford, wife of Col. Ashford of Courtland giving an account of the mur- der. It was proven that T. T. Ashford had read that letter and knew the circum- stances of the killing. C. H. Greer TestIfes.
 c. H. Greer was the first witness intro- duced. He said:
 "I know Ashford, and saw him Dec. g at the Ledger office, in Second avenue and Eighteenth street He came to see about the mistake in the date in some circulars about the Alabama field trials He was at the Ledger office about ten minutes before the shooting is said to have occur red. He wanted to have the date on the circulars corrected. It was nearly night when he left. He had on no overcoat. I told him would walk up the street with him, but my attention was called to some thing else and I did not go. did not see Mr.. Sparrow there at the time. He might have been present I left the office and walked up to Second avenue and Twentieth street and was told by MT. Schillinger that the shooting had occurred"
 There was no cross-examnation.
 Phil Hawkins was the next witness. He said:
 "I am over 21 years of age and have lived at Courtland, Ala, almost all my life I have known Tom Ashford for about ten or fifteen years. I knew him when he lived at Courtland. He was in the habit of com ing there after he removed to Birmingham He has always had the reputation of being a peaceable, quiet man. I have known Felix Brown for number of years, he living at Courtland most of the time. Dur ing 1897 he was to Courtland the greater part of his time. He is a drummer Oscar Brown lives at Courtland. He left there for Decatur, and I think was 8 clerk at inc Bismarck hOtel".
 ''What was Felix Browns reputation as to going armed or unarmed?" asked MT. Weakley.
 Supposed to Go Armed.
 This was objected to by the state, but MT. Weakley had his authorities handy and argued the point
 The objection was overruled.
 Witness-"He is supposed to go armed on all occasions. I know Mrs. Colonel Ash ford. Her home was Carrie. She died in March. I clerked in the Courtland post fee and saw her write on numerous occa- sions, probably fifteen or twenty times. I knew her handwriting very we'll"
 The witness was here shown letter which was introduced on last Saturday, and he identified it as being in Mrs. Car -.- Ashfords handwriting.
 Cross-examination: q saw Mrs. Ash lords handwriting on a number of occa- sions. Ashford and are not related, but are on good terms. I have seen Mrs. Ash ford's writing enough to identify. Brown is supposed to carry pistol at all times. I have heard fifteen or twenty people say that he does.
 The witness here named several people that had told him that Brown carried weapon MT. Bradley inquired when was the last time he had thought over those names.
 "When you asked me-" replied the wit ness.
 "You recalled them without much diff ficulty," said MT. Bradley
 Re-direct-"The reputation Brown has as to carrying a pistol is not confined to Courtland I don't know to my certain knowledge that he carries weapon"
 J. M. Haran on the Stand.
 J. M. Haran was next introduced. He said:
 ..I have known Ashford for eight or ten years. His reputation is excellent. have never heard anything to the contrary"
 There was no cross-examination of him, not succeeding witnesses, who testified as to Ashford's general reputation as peace able, quiet, law-abiding citizen.
 B. F. Roden: 'I have lived in Birming- ham for twenty-six years and have known Ashford for thirteen years. Ashford Is esteemed by his friends and acquaintances as a peaceable citizen. I have never heard anything to the contrary"
 P. H. Earle: 'T have known Ashford for ten or twelve years have had busi- ness dealings with him, he being depos- itor in my bank. His reputation is good. | I have never known him to be engaged in | any fights, broils or disturbances"
 Policeman T. c. Mcdonald was placed | on the stand. and his first words then, as | on all occasions, were: 'I am chief of | police." He continued: