The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-04


P. G. Bowman, who is attorney for
the prosecution in the Goggans murder
case, made this statement in politi-
cal speech last night:
81 have the bullet in my safe that
killed Ira Goggans, and it did not come
from the pistol of Cliff Cahoon. l had
the two bullets weighed, and the one
that killed Goggans weighed nearly
twice as much as the one left in Ca
hoons pistol"
If the theory of the prosecution is cor
rect, Ira Goggans met his death from two
different sized bullets, and Cliff Cahoon's
SS-calibre pistol was not the only one that
figured in the tragedy.
The theory of the prosecution is that
there was plot to kill Goggans, because
he won money in the gaming room over the
Arcade and that possibly three or four
men we're concerned in it. They base this
on the allegation that the particles of one
bullet extracted from the dead mans head
weighed more than a SS-calibre ball. Ono
arrest has already followed. A warrant
was sworn out for G. A. Griffith, Wood
lawn merchant, who was In the saloon at
the time. He gave himself up at the police
station. He was in the saloon when the
killing occurred, but what connection he
had with it is not given out. 1t is alleged
that on one of his hands is wound that
appears to have been made by the hammer
of pistol swapping on it.
An Autopsy Was Held
At the instance of Attorney P. G. How-
man the body of the dead man was brought
back from the cemetery yesterday and
closer examination had of the wounds
Doctors Copeland Wyman, Chapman, Tat
ly and j. A. Goggans of Alexander City
assisted in the autopsy and made an OK
animation of the wound in the skull The
bullet was located and finally removed.
DIR. Copeland, stated that in his opinion
it was a SS-calibre, but DR.. Goggans and
his attorney, p. G. Bowman, refused 10 eX-
hibit the bullet. 1t was taken to Abbott's
jewery store and weighed The ball struck
a bone in the skull and split into two
pieces. The larger of these was weighed
and it is said weighed grains more than
| the 3S-calibre ball left in Cahoon's revolv-
er.
AS soon as this news reached the streets
excitment was rife. All kinds of rurlors
were circulated; one saying that three or
other warrant had been sworr out for la
hoon, who had just been released on bond.
Another Arrest Followed
The facts considerably modified these ru-
| mors, however, and only one man was
| placed in jail.
| G. A. Griffith of Woodlawn, hearing the t
| a warrant for his arrest had been issued
| went to the warden at the police sta ton
| and surrendered himself. He was in the
| Arcade" saloon at the time of the shoot
| ing and it IS supposed that he was arrested
| on suspicion of being implicated in the af-
| fair. His attorney Frank s. White, IN
structed him not to make any statement
and in speaking to the reporter he closely
| followed the advice.
1t was reported on the streets yesterday
that the negro porter in the Arcade sa-
loon had skipped out and could not be
found The truth of this statement could
not be ascertained last night as the people
about the Arcade" positively refused to
| discuss the Saturday tragedy.
Many startling developments are expect
ed within the next few days, and if it is
clearly proven that Goggans was shot by
more than one man some sensational ar
/ rests Will De mace. III is nlnteQ tnat tW(
| are certain to follow.
In a political speech last night P. G. Bow
man said 81 have the bullet in my saf'
that killed Ira Goggans. and 1t did not comt
from the pistol of Cliff Cahoon. had the
two bullets weighed and the one that killed
Goggans weighed nearly twice as much a.
the one left In Cahoon's pistol
When Funeral Was stopped
Quite a sensation was created at th'
cemetery yesterday when the funeral wa:
stopped and the body of Ira Goggani
brought back to the undertaking establish
ment. For the first time in the history O
Rirrningharn a hearse In