The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-18
THE ALEXANDER MURDER CASE
FIRST WEEK OF THE CAUSE CELE-
BRE HAS COME TO CLOSE.
I'm It's Persecution of "a Dali
las Business Man.

Dallas, Texas, June 1.-THE Grst weeh
OF the Q. H. Alexander murder trial closed
with the State still introducing testimony
and with large number OF witnesses We,
to be examined. AS the defense has more
than 100 witnesses subpoenaed, 1t Is clear
II all called to testify the end Of the trial
viii not be In sight at the close OF next
week, as there are eleven lawyers en-
gagged In the case and all will probably
address the jury.
Inc state Is STILL working for a positive
identification OF the pistol with which
MAJOR kandle was killed as the property
OF @. II. Alexander. and that he gave Il
70 h. p. Erwin as weapon with which
10 XIII Major Randle. The State is also
endeavoring to show that the motive for
ueSirlnS the killing OF handle was that
alexander owed him large sums of money.
Hdll a dozen witnesses were on the
stand today and the defense fought many
points OF law stubbornly, particularly op-
POSING the Introduction of grand Jurors to
ts as 10 what took place in the grand
jury room. Scores of exceptions were
taken by the defense Court adjourned
at o'clock this evening till o'clock
Monday morning.
The case has been almost exclusively
the topic OF conversation
NO more interesting case ever engaged
the attention of the Dallas courts. The
court room has been crowded to the doors
at every session OF the court and stated
ments of the witnesses have been carried
on every lip
l. G.. Randle. the deceased. for the kill
Ing or whom Alexander is being tried
Ior MS HE, was one of the best known
characters in the state. He was a wealthy
capitalist and investor who had an inter-
estlng record, He had killed several
men and was known as handy man
with a gun" He had lived In Brazos and
Washington counties before coming to
Dallas
Randle was shot and killedaon the night
Of December 49, 1885, Hiram p. Erwin
OF Forney was arrested on the charge OF
having murdered him. He was On ex-
convict and claimed that Randle had had
much TO do with working his ruin When
put on trial ON April Is last Erwin plead
ed SELF defense and, much to the surprise
OF the Dallas public. was acquitted
Shortly after Erwin's acquittal County
Attorney Allen and the grand jury became
very active. An indictment charging
Charles ii. Alexander, who was Randle's
business partner and president OF the Dali
las Consolidated Electric Street Railway
company, at the time of the killing, with
the murder OF Randle was returned. II
created a genuine sensation. Alexander
was admitted 10 bail In the sum of $25 900
and week later he was indicted on the
charge OF arson.
His trial on the murder Indictment be-
gan on June IL, last Monday After much
legal parleylng both sides announced
ready" a splendid array OF legal tails
ent consisting Of Crawford e Crawford,
Hudson Moody & Lively and Walter NJ
Chandler OF Dallas and John NJ. Duncan
and Thomas y. Jones OF Tyler appeared
for the defendant Mr. Jones is BROTH
er-in- law of Mr.. Alexander Colonel Rob-
ert B. Seay, who defended Erwin, was
employed by Mrs. Rnndle to assist Coun-
" Attorney Allen In the prosecution OF
Alexander
The State has sought to show that Err
win was hired 70 murder Rande by Alex
ander; that the latter was afraid OF Ran
die and desired him out OF his way on
account OF business troubles they had
been having All this. OF course. has
been strenuously denied by the defend
ant
The case has been hard fought one
Every Inch OF ground Is being scrapped
for and the haal outcome will be awaite
with great interest. The trial will prob.
ably consume another week. possibly
more It is Dallas chief attraction a.
present All the visitors try TO push thair
way into the crowded court room and
half dozen baillffs are necessary to keep
order