The age-herald., 1901-12-17
MRS. REED SAYS SHE ESAWCOFFMAN SHOOT MINISTER First Day of Preliminary Brings Out Strong Evidence
 for State
WOMAN WAS NEXT DOOR
Saw Coffman Enter House and Then Heard the Shcts-The Preacher Was Hit With Some Blunt
 Instrument.

Mrs. T. F. heeu was tne ihose AA.F ant witness who appeared yesterday Tn the preliminary trial of R. D. Cofrman' charged with the murder of the heV' d. w. Bradford at Brookside, where the oe- ceased was pastor of Methodist Church
 Mrs. Reed testified that she saw CoI- man shoot Bradford and that she had seen the two men evidently fighting in the hall shortly after Coffman entered the house. Her testimony Is considered by the states lawyers to be very damag- ing.
 Mrs. Reed lives next to the Bradford house, her back yard being on the sloe of the other house. She stated that just previous to the shooting she was in her back yard and at the time of the shoot ing was in her back window having an unobstructed view of the entire affair."
 Peeped Into Room.
 She testified that she saw Coffman go into the Bradford house, wiping his feet on the top step, and then proceed to window on the right of the steps and peep into the room in which light was burning He then opened the door and went into the house without knocking and shortly afterwards she heard loud talking, some one saying: Get out of my house; get out of my house right quick"
 She saw Bradford pushing the prisoner out of the hall and heard and saw scuffle between the two men, the deceased evidently trying to get the visitor out of the house. When in the hall, just before the door was opened, she heard three shots, then the door was thrown open and two other shots fired.
 At the time of the shooting she had gone from the back yard to the back window of her kitchen and just as she arrived at it, Coffman was at the door. He raised his right hand and fired three shots, the first rather law and the second and third higher, after which the door was thrown open and the other two shots fired in rapid succession and lower than the previous one.
 Called for a Doctor.
 Coffman then Walked out of the house to the end of the porch and called, "Oh, Doc! Oh, Doc" He walked back into ltle HOuSe anu TtIIldlHeu tucit tWO utes Doctor referred to was pr. Grove, a neighbor of the deceased.
 She stated that she was not a friend of the deceased and that she knew him only slightly. The shooting occurred about ten to fifteen minutes after the light ap- peared in the window of Bradford's study. She had not noticed anything in Golf 4l&1
 The other witnesses in the case were Dr. J. E. Robbinsand Dr. T. P. Grove, both of whom are physicians and attend ed MT. Bradford immediately after he was shot and remained until he was dead. Their evidence was chiefly about the di- rection and nature of the wounds the de- ceased received, and what course the bull let took.
 Doctor Gives Testimony.
 Dr. Robbins testified that he had at tended MT. Bradford and that he was dying when he arrived at the parsonage from pistol or gun shot wound in the right temple, the bullet having passed through the head It was from a 3S-cali- bre pistol. He testified further of a long scar on the head where triangular piece of skin had been taken off. The witness drew a diagram of the vestibule where the body was lying, showing it's position. As to the other wounds on the head the witness said they might have been made by any sort of instrument. even a pistol. He found, he said, an iron last about six inches long lying In the hall, which might have made the other wounds. He also testified as to the direction of the bullets in the door.
 Dr. T. P Crowe's testimony was prac- tically the same as that of Dr. Robbins, with the exception that he did not see any signs of struggle. which was ex- plained as due to his not getting there until late.
 The attorneys for the state and defense were on time early, and when court op- ened there was Solicitor Hefin, S. w. Jones and B. M. Allen for prosecution, while J. T. Shugart, John Mcqueen and Frank S. White appeared for the de- fense
 Brookside Residents There.
 Many residents of Broolsside, where the killing took place. were in the court room all through the proceedings. Among the spectators were also several Methodist preachers. It is said that if the prisoner should be convicted here and ask for a pardon, the ministers of Alabama con- ference will. as body ask the Governor to let the law take its course.
 Cofrman appeared in the courtroom in