The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-16
FATE OF JIM WEBB
WALTON'S SLAYER
TO Be KNOWN TODAY
Trial Began Yesterday and the
Evidence Was All
Taken
lEATHERW0OD TRIES DELAY
Attorney for Negro Claims He Was
Interfered With In Having Pri.
waite Interview With
His Client.
LEA1HERWOOD TRIES DELAY

Ahe late Oh Jim webb. the negro who
shot and killed Policeman W. p. Walton
on the night of March IS, VIII be decided
today. All the evidence was introduced
yesterday and the argument will begin
this morning
Inc defendants attorney made an ef-
Tort yesterday to have the case postponed
saying he had not had time TO prepare the
case, and further that the jail officials
had refused to allow him to talk prI
vately with his client This was over
ruled and the line of defense followed
was that Webb thought his door was be-
ing broken in by John Brown. a negro
with whom he had had a quarrel that
day, and that when ne shot through the
door he thought he was shooting ~
Brown, and did not know it was Police
man Wa. The state introduced wit
nesses who Testified that Policeman Wal
ton called to Webb to open the door and
| that Webb knew his voice, and also that
| Webb admitted that he was shooting at
an officer and said he expected he would
hang for it.
When court convened at half past nine
the room was crowded, mostly with me-
groes, although there was a good sprink-
ling of policemen.
call the witnesses in the Jim Webb
case" said Judge Dan A. Greene.
The witnesses for the state were called
and Solicitor H. p. Henin announced
ready.
Negro Appears Cool
Turn Jim Webb out" said Judge
Greene. and Webb was removed from the
prisoners cage and took a seat at the
table used by the attorneys. He wore a
blood-red flannel shirt and a rusty brown
suit. He appeared cool and collected, and
as he sat down at the table he picked up
the indictment charging him with the
murder Of Policeman Walton and care
lessly glanced it over.
IF 1 was to be tried for murder 1
wouldn't wear that bloody shirt" said a
lawyer who was watching the proceed
ings.
The defendants witnesses were then
called, and Attorney r. l.. Leatherwood,
who is defending Jim Webb announced
that several Of his witnesses were not
present and that he was not ready for
trial on this account, and for the further
|
pare the case as it had been set for trial
so soon after the defendant was indicted;
that in fact it appeared that the docket
had been disarranged in order to give the
case an early assignment, and moreover.
that he had not been allowed to talk pri-
vately with his client until yesterday, as
the Jail officials would not allow it,
Judge Greene said that the defense had
had nine days in which to prepare for
trial; that Webb had had a preliminary
trial and that the dockets had not been
disarranged in setting his case, as all the
cases for this week had been set at the
same time.
Net Allowed to See Client.
Attorney Leatherwood then stated that
he had complained yesterday to the
sheriff about the way the officials at the
Jail treated him, and the sheriff went
over to the Jail with him, and that this
was the first time he had seen his client
alone.
TT seems that you obtained private in
terview with your client as soon as you
complained to the sheriff." said Judge
Greene. ''If you did not complain sooner
| IL was your own ldult II mas Deen IL
month since the preliminary trial, during
which time you could have seen your
client and as the witnesses are all pres
ent / do not think the case should be
passed"
Sheriff A. w. Burgin who was in the
room, was then sworn and questioned by
Judge Greene, who asked him If any COM
plant had been made by Mr.. Leather
wood prior to yesterday. The sheriff
piled in the negative, and said that his
orders to the jailors were to allow at
torneys to see their clients, and he had
been informed that Mr.. Leatherwood had
seen Jim Webb every time he went to
see him.
Mr.. Leatherwood replied that Tailor
Burke would get behind his client every
time he came to see him, and that he