The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-01

The preliminary trial of Captain W. IL. Taylor, charged with the murder or Patrolman l.. c. Griffin, was begun yes- terday before Justice B. H. Screws.
 The hearing began at o'clock and lasted until '. At that hour Captain Taylor had taken the stand, but an ad- journment was had before he had given any evidence. Only he and one other witness are to be heard. The hearing was had in the city court room. The roof1 was eiled hy an iuteTested aud curious crowd who hung upon every word of the witnesses.
 The testimony was interestings almost sensational. The widow of the dead officer took the stand and told how her husband had described to her the fatal difficulty.
 pr. A s. Billing, the physician who attended Patrolman Griffin for the three days that intervened between the shoot ing and his death repeated that officer s account. of the quarrel, the fight and the shooting.
 Two eyewitnesses of the fight were in- troduced, but their testimony differed. One swore that the men were some dis tance apart when the shot was fired and that he did not see any blows struck. The other swore that he was close to the fighting men and he saw 'Patrolman Griffin strike Captain Taylor over the head and he heard the blow. It sounded as if it had been made with club or a stick as he had distinctly heard it.
 Immediate Operation Necessary.
 One of the attending physicians testi- fled that inasmuch as an immediate operation had not been performed that the chances for Patrolman Griffin's life had been lessened.
 Before the ante-mortem statement of patrolman Griffin had been reepated the attorneys for the defense made strenuous objections to it's admission. They claim ed that it was not competent because he believed that he was going to get well. After it had been heard, however, they withdrew their objection and were willing for it to go in.
 Several witnesses were put on the stand to testify to threats that had been made by Patrolman Griffin before the difficulty Testimony was introduced to ehow his feeling toward Captain Taylor. Captain Taylor was brought over from the jail promptly at 3 o'clock He was nccompanied by Mrs. Taylor and num-
 
 progress of the hearing. He looked pale and worn. The strain of the past three weeks is shown in his face. He is ,nuch thinner than he was before the fatal affray. A dozen relatives sat around him during the trial, but his at tention was never distracted from the proceedings for q single instant
 On the opposite side of the room sat Mrs. L. c. Griffin. She sat between two of her friends and Elder Barnes of the Christian Church was nearby.
 q Am Going to Leave You"
 Mrs. Griffin was the first witness called. She spoke in a low tone and with sup pressed emotion. She bore the ordeal brayely, however, and did not break down The attorneys with appropriate delicacy, excused her when she had briefly stated the conversation that she had with her husband on the morning after he was shot.
 "I went to see my husband on Satur- dav. the morning after he was shot, she said. He lived until Monday night. On Saturday morning he said I am going to leave you. l am on my deathbed. understand that Mir. Taylor says that strurk him first. but I positively did nnt If I had struck him first I would have said so now" In answer to two ,uestion by the attorney for the defense She stated that her daughter was with her during the conversation. She said that her husband did not-say that he had struck Captain Taylor over the head with his club.
 Ante-Mortem Statement.
 Dr A. $. Billing testiKed that he at tended Officer l.. C. Griffin after he was shot. His death was caused by pisto sbnt wound through the abdomen. The hrIlrt had entered the abdominal cavity .I,nve and to the left of the navel. Ii ,,jArced the larger intestine and wen ,broueh the Kidneys It came out ont inch to the left If the spinal column al The left lumbar v2rtebrae.
 The witness had had conversation udth Patroman Griffin Saturday anC