The age-herald., 1898-01-05
PR|TCHARD MURDER CASE On Trial in City Court at Mont
 gomery THE HISTORY OF THE CRIME Killed a Negro School Teacher and Editor Named Patterson in the Pulpit of
 a Negro Church.
 
Special to The Age-Herald.


 Montgomery. Jan 1.-The George Pritch- ard murder case is on trial m the oi1y court here today Pritchard killed negro school teacher and editor named Patterson last July. shooting him dead in the pulpit of the Columbus Street negro Baptist church here. There had been factional fight in another negro Baptist church here of which one Brown, a negro, was pastor and one faction of Browns congregation had bounced him from the church on charges of immortality. He had, however taken the other faction and established aa church of his own. g
 On July 2S congress of coiored Baptlses of the state had assembled in the Colum- bus Street church and Brown headed delegation from his church which asked for seats in the congress. The negro Pat terson fought the proposition bitterly. He had delivered himself of speech on the subject and taken his seat in one Of the chairs in the pulpit, when Rev. A. J. Stokes, the pastor of the Columbus Street church took the floor and in advocating the seating of the Brown delegation took occasion to explain that the only oppo- sition came from the riff raff' element in the church. Patterson demanded to know what he meant and Stokes rep.ied: q mean the low down negroes" Patter- son sprang at him and others on the plat form ran forward. Suddenly a pistol shot rang out and Patterson. fell dead.
 The shot was fired by George Pritchard. who was seated in the audience Stokes was his pastor and he declined to see any body strike him. In the conmotion, how ever, nobody knew who had fired the pis- tol. The shot was followed by a stampede and in less time than 1t requires to tell it, the crowd was pouring out of the windows and doors. Pritchard was among thedn He made his way several miles out of town and was captured in plum thicket, It having developed after the excitement cooled down that he had done the shoot ing.
 Patterson's friends were greatly angered at the killing and had Stokes, Brown, Deacy and Mace Coleman, all Baptist preachers or laymen of high degree, in dicted as accomplices of Pritchard, on the theory that the latter was only the tool of conspiracy.
 The state made out it's case against Prtchard this morning. It was demon strated that he dtd the killing, and while the other negroes under indictment were not defendants in this case there appears to be little in the testimony adduced to in dicate a conspiracy.
 The defense is endeavoring to prove jus tifable homicide on the idea that Prichard saw that Patterson was endeavoring to draw weapon as he rushed upon Stokes, and therefore shot him, to prevent a felo- nious assault. The case will go to the jury about noon tomorrow.
 Judge Sayre, in the city court i'll equity, has rendered decree in the suit of John Lucas &s Co.,, ct als., general creditors, vs. the Builders and Painters Supply company. A motion was made by the attorneys of the company to discharge the receiver. Judge Sayre decided however, that the company was insolvent, and while he did not con slider the charges of fraud, the effort to create a preferred creditor in the First Ma tional Bank, which holds a judgment of s1S,0OO against the company, the motion to discharge the receiver was denied.
 In the case of Griel Bros. & Co. vs. T. B. Rushing, ct al., decree was rendered ordering MT. Rushing, as assignee for Logue Bros, of Pike Road and Fftzpat- ricks, to file bond of sS,OOO with the regis ter in chancery by Friday.
 The following officers of St. Peters branch c. K of A. have been installed into office: Rev. D. Savage, spiritual director; John P. Kohn, president; Hugh, Gallagher. yice-president Lawrence Dunne, recording secretary; John c. O'Connell, treasurer; M. J. Byrnes, sergeant-at-arms; R. c. Taylor. sentinel; T. H. Morality, John Connors, w. B. Janney, trustees.
 The oratorio, Birth of Christ" was rem +t,o rcf praa huf church fhiS evening under the direction of Prof Kirk patrick, who was assisted by several solo, ists and chorus of eighteen voices. The solos were as follows: Contralto. Mrs. Kirk patrick; soprano, Miss Naomi OConnell; bass, J. L. Sparrenberger, Van Pelt; tenor, Charles Smith.