The age-herald., 1900-09-23
Against Alleged Murderers of a
 Government lnfOrmer.
WORDY WOMEN WITNESSES
Reel Foot Mule, Illicit Stills, Stolen Money from Murdered Man, and Crimes Repulsive Story in
 General-Criminal Court

the verdict will be reached, remains to be seen.
 Some of the witnesses have been here from Sylacauga three times to testify about this little incident of mountain life, each time at the governments expense. They willing to come as often as desired.
 Everybody but the jury took a recess yesterday afternoon until 9SO Monday morning. The jurors will be obliged to associate with each other willy nilly. Judge swayne, however, instructed the baiiffs to give them fresh air, but not to let them read any accounts of the trial in the papers
 The Witnesses
 pr. J. E. Pearson of Sylacauga testified that Thompson died of wounds caused by gunshots. He described their character Said he had extracted the bullets from the body; that one of them would fit the gun in the possession of the marshal, which Is said to belong to Chess Notes.
 Daniel M. Thompson, a brother of the deceased, said that on the day of the kill ing two of the defendants, Blankenship and Littlejohn came to his house about 12 o'clock. Libtlhejohn riding a horse and
  claimed he wanted to buy corn, and Blank enship said he wanted to see witness about a debt he owed him.
 They appeared to be in a hurry, and rode eff in the direction of Littlejohn's; that after the killing witness followed the tracks of the animals and found that they left the road half a mile from his house and turned back due north in an opposite direc- tion from their homes and went through the woods over mile, going in the direc- tion of the place where Thompson was killed. The ground in the woods had been freshly burnt over, and he recognized the tracks of the mule as belonging to the one that Blankenship was riding. and the same as those said to have been seen near the place where Thompson was killed.
 A Criminals Wife
 Mary Taylor, wife of Robert Taylor, one of the defendants in the former trial who was convicted, next took the stand She smiled when she said her husband was in jail. She identified all of the defendants, who were neighbors of hers. She said that Thompson had been witness against her husband; that Chess Notes was at her house the day Thompson was killed and re- marked, Tt had been done." Her husband was present also. She went on to describe how Walter Notes and Jasper Robinson came to her house, and went off with her uuSDdifu uOWH the creek III the QlrectlOn Of Blankenship's and Littlejohn's. The wit ness identified the gun of Chess Notes and the pistol of Walter Notes. Said her hus- band stayed at home with Walter and did not to go to the funeral. Asked if they got an empty snuff box at her house to put money in, she said she didn't know, but that there were plenty of them around the house. She heard a conversation between her husband and Chess Notes in which the latter said: Ut had to be done"
 Ben Morris, another neighbor, said he had heard Blankinship say that if Thomp- son ever bothered him he would kill him. That Chess Notes had told him he had made one effort to kill Thompson. and would do 1t yet.
 How Far to Holly Springs
 Witness thought 1t was either 8, 10 or 12 miles from Syllacauga to Holly Springs church. It was hard to say, as the coun- try was hilly and some times it seemed longer than others. good deal of time was consumed trying to get at this dist ance, but without success. Knew It All Mrs. Kate Wallace testified she was widow now. but had not always been such. Knew everybody connected with the case, had known the defendants all their lives She wouldn't swear to lie. Heard Blank inship say that Thompson was a dog and had done his last job.
 A. B. Mitchell was the deputy marshal In 1898 for this district. He testified that In February, 1898, he had destroyed Blank inship's still. and arrested him. That w A. Thompson showed him the still That he also found stills on Walter Notes and Biankinships places.
 The last witness was B. ". Bell, who rang knell to some of defendants homes He was the special agent of the govern ment to work up the evidence in this case He testified that he got the gun from Walter Notes house when Chess was ar rested and identified Walter Notes pis- tol. Captain Bell explained map he had made of the locality and showed how Thompson could have been shot from be- hind several trees shown on the map He told about visit to a hollow tree with Bob Taylor, one of the defendants to get some money hidden there, but when | they got there the cupboard was bare" and | so the searching party got none. Bankruptcy Petitions in bankruptcy have been filed | by B. F. McCool of Birmingham and Mark | Powell of Blossburg
 | Judge Swayne yesterday handed dowr some decisions in bankruptcy matters. 1 The exceptions to the trustees in the case | of Ambrose Gabriel were dismissed Decision was reversed in the case of J | H. South, who appealed from the referees l decision.
 Judge Swayne set next Saturday as the | date for the hearing on a petition filed by l the creditors of M. Lebanoff of this city l for rule nisi compelling Lebanon to show | cause why he should not be attached for | contempt in refusing to turn over certain | funds, s6000, to the trustees. These funds l the bankrupt claims, he does not possess. In the case of W. D. Brown, the creditors | of whom took exceptions to the referees | decision allowing certain exemptions, dis. | missal was recorded.
 1 Criminal Court Tomorrow morning the Criminal Court | will take up the capital felony docket. The | cases set for Monday are Fred Hunter l cases.
 l The grand jury has not yet reported an, l true bills.