The age-herald., 1901-09-10
DUNCAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY ID
 KIRKLEY MURDER Prisoner Calmly Smokes Cigar cite Before Opening of
 Court LAST OF A FAMOUS GANG He Is Under Life Sentence and His Only Punishment Must Be Death. The Jury Has Not Been
 Completed.
-AST OF A FAMOUS GANG


 Krixley, and plead not guilty.
 Duncan looks pale from his long con- finement, although his health seems to be good. He has been in solitary confne- ment since his attempted escape last Jan uary. He Is clean shaven except for small mustach, and wore yesterday a fad ed blue serge suit. He appeared cool and collected, and before court opened was smoking a cigarette. He denies that he shot the officer, and stoutly proclalms his innocence. He sat beside his attorney, John T. Shugart.
 Selecting a Jury.
 Several hours were consumed in organ izng the Juries. A panel of thirty-six jurors had to be selected to try the cases set for this week. Many jurors were ex- cused on one ground or another. Judging from the number of excuses offered, jurors, as rule. enjoy very bad health, and are a collection of physical imperfec- tions. One man was deaf in the off ear one couldn't sit still long, some had a. misery in the heart or shoulder, and a few had valid legal excuses.
 After two juries were organized court adjourned until 2 o'clock.
 In this case there are twenty-five wit nesses summoned on behalf of the State Besides Solicitor H. P. Eefin, B. M. Allen and General Fred S. Ferguson will ap- pear for the prosecution.
 More Jurors Summoned.
 Court reconvened at o'clock, Judge Samuel E. Greene presiding. It was found that the venire of jurors summoned had been exhausted and the requisite number of jurors required in a capital case had not been secured. Judge Greene there fore adjourned the case until 9:3o this morning. In the meanwhile additional names of jurors will be drawn from the box and the summons secured by the sheriff. .-
 Story of the Killing.
 Frank Duncan was one of the gang of expert safe blowers This gang in 1900 selected Birmingham as a field of opera tion. They dfifted here from different points of the country and assembled in a room in Twentieth street, where they planned the robbery of the Standard oil Co. Those who are known to have been present are Frank Miller, Frank Duncan, Frank Edwards, John D. West, Thomas Fay, "Sheeney Bugs and New York Harry" The latter was never arrested, and is believed by many to be myth, although Miller protested at his dying moment that 1t was he who killed the officers. and that Duncan was not pres ent. "Sheeney Bugs" gave the plot away when arrested, as they all were subse- quently, and was given his liberty.
 Frank Miller was the head of the gang and was one of the most daring and dan> gerous criminals in the United States He was credited with being the first to use nitro giycerine In safe-blowing, and when arrested a bottle of this mixture was found in his pocket The gang having re- connoitered the premises for several days to get the lay of the land, on the night of March 27, 1900. entered the office of the Standard oil Company, shot down the night watchman, J. A. Clayton, and robbed the safe of several hundred dol- lars. Then the gang scattered, the mem3 bers going in different directions The af- fair was soon reported to the police and every officer on duty was on the lookout for suspicious characters.
 Pistols for Four.
 About midnight Officers Kirkley and Adams saw two men coming from the direction of the Standard Oil Company and watched them. The men entered Simon's saloon. corner of Nineteenth and Third avenue, remained there few min utes and came out on the Third avenue side and walked towards Twentieth street. The officers overlook them, ques- toned them and finally decided to arr rest them. The men said they were em- ployes of the Alabama Great Southern Railroad and seemed willing enough to be arrested. The officers started with them towards police headquarters. While walk ing along the man In the rear suddenly drew his revolver and fired at Officer Adams, and the man in front drew his and shot Officer Kirkley. The two officers drew their pistols and returned the fire. About a dozen shots were fired when both officers fell mortally wounded The two men succeeded in making their escape. The officers fingered day or two before dying, and Miller was identified by Officer Adams before his death as the man who shot him.
 Through the information of "Sheeney Bugs" the entire gang. with the excep- ton of "New York Harry, were arr rested. Miller and Edwards were cap tured in Anniston and Duncan, West and Fay were captured in Chattanooga They were all convicted and given long sentences in the penitentiary, except Mill Ter. who was sentenced to be hung. He was executed last June, and Duncan, who was given life sentence for the killing of Officer Adams, is now on trial for the killing of Officer Kirkley.