The age-herald., 1901-06-01
SCHAMBER TRIAL HELD YESTERDAY Required to Give Bond in the
 Sum of S25O0
IS CHARGED WITH MURDER
Defendant Superintendent of convicts at Meridian, and 1t Is Alleged He Killed a Negro Named
 Mack Brown.

Meridian. May 3.-(special)-The pre- liminary hearing of Will C. schamber. superintendent of convicts; George Kling. VIII Damon, city marshal. and James Hooper, charged with the killing of Mack Brown near Mount Barton, about two weeks ago, began today.
 As early as o'clock this morning the halls and various offices in the court house presented lively scene of activity, many citizens having assembled to be present at the trial.
 Will c. Schamber was the first man placed on the stand. He plead not guilty.
 Mir. Lewdy Monette of the police de- partment was the first witness placed on the stand. He stated that early Sunday morning. May 19. telephone message came to the police station telling that a man had been found dead in field near Mt Barton.
 He left the city immediately and hur- ried to the mountain, discovering the body in field about fifty yards from the road leading from the old Enterprise road to the springs.
 While there a number of negroes came up and he came back to the city to notify the coroner.
 Ofricer Monette said that when he ex- amined the negrps body pistol ball hole was through 1t
 He knew nothing about the shooting or who did 1t. neither was he present when the coroner's inquest was held.
 Sylvester shelton, a hack driver, was .-H- AH.- -AA 4aAA I..t he carried Will Schamber, VIII Damon, George Kling and a white man he didn't know, and the two negro women to Rock Springs. about o'clock Saturday night before the killing.
 Shelton stated that he got the men at the ice house, one of the women on Fifth street, just below the ice house. and the other on Sixth street.
 Tapped Reg of Beer.
 He stated that he drove the hack about fifty yards in the woods and carried tho keg of beer up to the springs, where he tapped 1t for the men.
 After taking several drinks the men came with him to the edge of the woods and assisted him to turn the hack around, so that he could come back to Meridian He returned to the springs at 1:30 o'clock that night for the party, but they had left the springs.
 Lizzie Evans, one of the women with the men, stated that she only knew two of the men in the party-Kling and Schamber. She said they, meaning the men and the other woman, Arbania Will son, left for the springs at g o'clock cn Saturday night, May 1S
 She stated that the hack stopped In Frog Bottom and that Schamber got out and went to get another party. but was un- successful.
 At house just before reaching the springs, all of the men, she stated, ex- cept one got out and went into the house to get a lantern and some cups, which had been left, according to the hackman's story to her in the afternoon
 When the springs were reached, she said. a fire was started. and everybody began to enjoy the beer drinking.
 None of them had the appearance of getting drunk and all were in a good humor
 Started Home.
 She stated that she wanted to leave about 10 o'clock, Kling going off and tele- phoning for hack, and coming back with Mack Brown to carry them home.
 Schamber stated she said. that Brown was not the one to carry her back, but that they would see her home.
 Schamber and another one of the party started off together with the witness and Arbania Wilson towards the city and Mack Brown was just ahead of them.
 '.As soon as the edge of the woods was reached, said the woman, Schamber and the other man called to Mack Brown. who answered. We were left by the men, and continued home
 Just up the road we heard a pistol fired but were too badly scared to go back, coming on to town in a run
 The woman stated that Schamber had stated during the evening that he liked ''old Mack. who was his right hand bow er."
 The woman was not positive what time she reached home, but said it was nearly 12 o'clock when she went to bed
 At the conclusion of the hearing Schamber was placed under a S2500 bond tn aXait the action of the grand iurY