The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-16
Conductor ProWGII Who Killed
TrOtt Before a Justice,
WITNESSES ARE EXAMINED
Several Men Repeated Language Used
and Described Details of the
Traqedy-HearIna Continued
Until This Morning.

The preliminary hearing Of w. N.
Prowell, a street railway conductor, who
shot and killed Joseph s. Trott at Mary
Pratt station last Saturday night. was
begun yesterday afternoon at o'clock
before Justice II. B. Alternately. The trial
Is being heard in the criminal court
room, which was packed during the after
noon with a crowd of spectators.
The testimony of the state was intro
duced and a recess was taken until this
morning at o'clock in order that c. P.
Beddow, one of the attorneys for the
prosecution, might leave the city for the
purpose of making a political speech. 1t
is thought the hearing will be concluded
by noon.
In prosecuting the case. Solicitor Hefiin
is assisted by C. P. Beddow and Charles
Denaig. The defendant Is represented by
Hugh Morrow. J. J. Prowell of New Or
leans and I. l. canterbury of Demopolis.
In the court room yesterday was the
widow of the deceased with several rela-
tives A number of relatives of Prowell,
including Judge Sam Prowell. probate
judge of Marengo county, were also in
attendance.
The first witness placed On the stano
by the state was A. j. Johnson, who
testified he was on the car when the
shooting occurred.
my attention was first attracted to
Mr. Trott by a disturbance between his
son and himself near the Southern cross
ing. When the conductor collected the
fare the son handed him so cents. and a
remark was made, as the change was
given him, by Prowell that he had good
money. The young man replied that he
did have good money. The elder Trott
then said, That Is the man with whom 1
had trouble the other day.
From this remark the son and father
began some kind of row. the father abus-
ing the son. Several people said, Put
them off the car Some one rang the
bell and the car stopped at Mary Pratt
station. Before this the car was stopped
so that a young lady might get off the
trailer and get on the front car on ac-
count of the cursing. The conductor asked
Irott not to get back on the car, say
ing he had had enough trouble from him.
Trott then struck at him and turned to
run. AS be ran behind the car one shot
was fired, and then two more were fired,
as Trott continued to rum
On discrimination the witness stat
ed that he heard Trott call the conductor
a s. of a b when he collected the
fare, but that the conductor returned to
the front of the car saying he had no
time to fool with him, but that If he
would come to East Lake he would settle
the matter. The young Trott tried to
hold his father, continued the witness,
and in that way started the row between
the two. The elder Trott cursed his
son and called him a s---of band
they scuffled about sometime.
John Squires was next placed on the
stand. He testified that he was tenting
near Mary Pratt station and saw the
shooting. He said he looked up when
the first shot was fired and saw Trott
steps. during which time three other shots
were fired, and then Trott fell to the
ground.
J. B. Darden testified he was on the
front of the taller and saw Trott get
off. He saw him strike at the conduc-
tor and run. As he ran the conductor
followed and shot at him three times.
Sol II. Waldron was on the car and
heard the shooting. He saw the scuffing
between the two Trotts, but could not tell
what it was about as he was boiler
maker and slightly deaf He heard three
shots, all fired after Trott hit the conduc-
tor and run.
Jesse Smith was next to Waldron. He
heard the scufling between father and
son and heard the former call the latter
a s. of a b. several times. He heard
four shots fired after Trott hit the con-
ductor.
]. M. Conway saw the four shots fired
as Trott was running after he had hit at
Prowell
Coroner Paris described the wounds,
saying one entered the right shoulder
blade, one entered the left arm and one
entered the back near the spinal column
and passed upward through the heart.
F. e. Grow testified that the father and
son began scufflin/ and rowing because
the latter wanted to keep the former
from fighting the conductor. He said at
one time the son was either knocked or
pushed from the car and that the father
kicked at him while he lay on the
ground He also said he heard the elder
Trott call his son a s. of a b. several
times, and saw the shooting. Three shots