The age-herald., 1899-03-14
ffs WALTER AND
 CHESS NOTES Convicted of Illicit DiStilling in U. s. Court. NOW UNDER LIFE SENTENCE For the Murder of w. A. Thompson in Talladega County The Tragedy Grew Out of the Illicit
 Distilling Case.
NOW UNDER LIFE SENTENCE

With life sentence already hanging over them, Walter and Chess Notes. who were convicted at the last term of the United States court, were yesterday tried and convicted on the charge of illicit dis tilling, out of which grew the bloody tragedy which sent them to their doom.
 The Notes boys were indicted by the United States grand jury organized for the spring term of 1897, together with several of their neghbors, charged with having violated the laws of tho United States by making whisky in <the hills of Talladega county. The principal witness against them was w. A. Thompson. the fathsr-in- law of Ches Notes, who came to Birming- ham in response to summons by the Unit ed States marshal and gave evidence before the grand jury on which the indictment was returned. 1t will be remembered that while on hts way home from this city, Thompson was waylaid and murdered, and for time no clue was found to unravel tho mystery The case was finally placed in the hands of Special Agent Bell, of Mont gomery, who after several months work, caused the arrest of Chess Notes, Dodger Blankenship and Bob Taylor, charged with the murder. The prisoners were brought to this city and wore given a preliminary hearing before United States Commissioner Wilson, during the progress of which Bob Taylor took the stand and confessed the crime, duplicating his fellow prisoners and Walter Notes and Jasper Robinson, who were In attendance upon the trial as wit nesses. They were immediately placed un- der arrest and at the fall term of the court the five men were indicted on the charge of murder.
 They Were All Sentenced
 Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge. and the remaining four defendants after a sensational trial were convicted and sen fenced to nfnety-nine years imprisonment. On account of having turned states evil dence Taylor was given a short sentence, which he is now serving In the United States prison at Raleigh, N. c. In the case of the other prisoners a stay of execution was granted pending an appeal to the United States supreme court.
 When they were arragned yesterday on the charge of illicit distillng the first wit ness called for the government was w. A. Thompson, whose knowledge Of the case cost him his life, but notwithstanding his absence the jury returned a verdict of guilty against the two men, who, if the United States supreme court refused to interfere in their behalf care little what sentence is imposed upon them, since their lives are already doomed to be spent be- hind prison bars.
 Other Cases Disposed or
 The following additional cases were dis posed of:
 George Covington, retail liquor dealing, plea of guilty and fine of $100
 Ira Stout, forgery, plea of guilty and sen fenced to one year and one day at hard labor in the state prison at Nashville, Tenn, and fined $100 and cost.
 The grand jury made another report yes- terday and returned the following true bills
 Forgery-Ira Stout.
 Retail liquor dealing-Amos Strickland, Henry Brown, James Murphree, Vernon Gibson, Jim Campbell and Lizzie Horton.