The age-herald., 1902-02-16
DEFENSE TRIES ID
 PROVE EBRADFORD'S
 DISPOSITION BAD
Evidence Introduced Showing That the Minister Car
 ried a Revolver
JUDGE RULES OUT LETTERS
State in RebuttaI Introduces Witness Who Claims to Have Had the Preachers Revolver When
 the Killing Occurred.

The trial of the habeas corpus pro- ceedings brought by R. D. Coffman, the Brookside justice of the peace who Is in jail on a charge of killing the Rev. J. ". Bradford, a Methodist minister at that place, and who is seeking to obtain bond pending his final trial, was practically concluded yesterday as far as the intro duction of evidence Is concerned. There are only two or three witnesses yet to testify. and the case will probably be concluded Thursday. when the hearing will again be taken up.
 The petitioner concluded his evidence yesterday morning and the State then be- gan introducing evidence to rebut points brought out by Coffman's attorneys. Ccffman sought to prove by number of prominent citizens in the county that Bradford's character was violent and turbulent and that 1t was his habit to carry a revolver. His attorneys endeav- ored to introduce in evidence several let ters which had been written by Brad ford and which were said to be of a most remarkable nature, speaking in violent terms to the persons to whom they were written, but Judge Samuel E. Greene, be- fore whom the case is being heard. ruled that they were not competent.
 Say Bradford Was Not Armed.
 The main point relied on by Coffman is his statement that he was sent for by Bradford to come to his house. and that when he went there the minister began
 
 shoot him in self-defense, the shooting being done with Bradford's own pistol, 3S-caliber, which dropped to the floor In the scuffle and was seized by Coffman. The State introduced evidence yesterday to show that Bradford did not have pistol at the time; that his pistol was 92-caliber and that he had given it to friend two weeks before the difficulty to sell for him.
 The bullet that killed Bradford, which Is of 3s caliber, was also introduced in evil dence It was slightly blunted, and Coro- ner Paris testified that 1t was bloody when given to him just after the killing. A. c. sorrel, the marshal of Brookside, was the first witness He testified to having seen Coffman going in the direc- ton of Bradfords house on the Sunday afternoon of the killing, and that there was nothing unusual in his appearance. That later in the afternoon he saw Golf man, whose collar was torn and hat in- jured and who gave himself up, saying he thought Bradford was shot. He also handed witness an Iver-Johnson 3S-cali- bre pistol which was fully loaded. He did not say anything about having Brad fords pistol and he did not search him. He allowed him to remain at home that night and he was brought to Birmingham the following day and put in jail. He left the pistol which Coffman had giv- en him on the mantlepiece of Coffman's house that night.
 The witness was then shown one of the pistols in evidence and said he thought that was the one.
 Deputy Sheriff w. J. Armstrong of Brookside was the next witness. He told of going with Coffman to Pinckney City the morning of the difficulty and returned about o'clock. Later in the day he saw Coffin an going in the direc- tion of Bradford's. He spoke to him but Coffman did not stop, just bowed and kept on. He said that half an hour later he saw Coffman with Marshal Sorrel That he took charge of Coffman and carried him to his house where he stayed that night in an adjoining room, Coffman did not tear his clothes. When witness saw him his hat band was torn and in bad shape It was all right when they were in Pinckney City. Coffmans pistol was loaded all round.
 Minister Had a Pistol.
 T. P Boles. salesman for the Repub lie Iron and Steel Company at Warner mines said that Bradford conducted protracted meeting there a short time be- fore he was killed. That he slept with him and Bradford had a pistol at that time. He thought it was a blue steel Smith & Wesson.
 Marion Kemp testified that he saw Bradford carrying a pistol the latter part of November or sometime in Decem- Der. That he saw him transfer it from one pocket to another.
 M J. Moseley said that on the Sunday he was killed he saw Bradford going in the direction of Coffman's house. Coffman was sitting on his porch about o'clock that afternoon. z. B. Mitchum also testi- fled to seeing Coffman on his porch talk ing with his wife about that time in the afternoon
 '. l.. Lacy, the official court stenogra- pher, was called and testified to seeing Coffman bare his arm at his preliminary trial and display several bruises. John R. Hornady, reporter for the News. also testified to seeing this bruise, and H. P