The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-22
NEGRO ON TRIAL FOR
WRECKING 4 TRAIN
Alleged VIII Morgan Tempered
With Railroad IreStIe
THE ENGINEER WAS KILLED
Accident Occurred at Leeds on Central
of Georgia, When Freight Crashed
Through Trestle-Nesro
Discharged Empioye.
THE ENGINEER WAS KILLED

Will Morgan a negro about 30 years OF
age, is on trial In the Criminal Court
charged with tampering with trestie
on the Central of Georgia railroad at
Leeds. which resulted In a freight train
falling through the trestie ana hiii'hs
Engineer Whitsey Webster
The accident occurred October IL OF las,
year. A double header freight tram
was going east and fell through this
trestle. resulting in much damage besides
killing an engineer. VIII Morgan was
charged with the crime as he had peen
discharged from working for the railroad
that day and left in an angry mood II
was thought he came back during the
night loosened one of the bents win
jack so that a train going over IT wooid
crash through.
Mr. B. W. Cospar, who was In charge
of a gang of workmen on the bridge tes-
tilted that Mill Morgan was working un-
der him and that they were repairing
the trestle Morgan was SO stupid III
using a saw that he cursed him and ne
left n.eIecting to get his money, which
was due him. He testified that he was
not present at the time of the wreck out
that the bridge was practically compiet-
ed and In safe condition. On cross-exami-
nation he said that at the time OF the
wreck part of the trestle was not oolteo
but only braced. This was the guard rail-
but the bridge was perfectly SAFE Tor
train going six miles an hour. He did
not know at what speed the train was
a. 81
know how long a time had elapsed before
the train preceding this had passed
over. He testified to some jacks being
on the trestie and said any man OF aver
aye sense could operate them. He had
resigned voluntarily from the company
two weeks after the accident. but remain
ed there until the trestle was rebuilt.
The foundations of the trestle were solid.
Mr.. @. R. Shaffer of Dadeville testified
TO having seen the defendant In the jail,
having gone there to see him at request
of defendants father. He talked with de-
PENDANT In jail, who told him that ne
did not do the wrecking. That this was
done by another fellow whose name ne
did not mention, and said he went with
him to see It. He afterwards denied haV-
ing gone with him. and said he went TO
Hollins He said that the work was done
with a jack
Mr.. Cospar was then recalled and asked
how long It would take green hand
| to undermine the bridge In the condition
| II then was. He said 1t would take about
| fifteen minutes. That he could put In a
| tack. raise a bent and pull out the
blocks.
/ Mr. Oscar Franklin, a contractor and
the marshal of Holins, a lumber camp,
testified to Morgan's arrest there, and
| said that he seemed very uneasy. Morgan
said that 1t wasn't him that did the work,
but another man. He then took me to
trestIe and showed me how 1t was done.
| He did not give the name of the other
man, and first denied having worked for
the Central and claimed to work for the
| Louisville and Nashville. He said the
| other man put a jack against the bottom
of a post and showed 1t up.
Kirby Patterson. negro. then testined
to having employed the defendant for
three years, and said he left for Birm-
inxham about two months before the
wreck He saw him afterwards at Hollins
and asked about 1t, and defendant told
him four people had been killed.
At this point court adjourned until $3.50
this morning.
Grand jury Indictments.
Among the indictments recently return
ed by the grand jury are the following:
Peter Durrett. murder Durrett Is
charged with killing Charley Sentell an
Ayondale boy, who was shot several
weeks ago. ..
Bud wingo, Robert Ransom, Richard
Reed. Nose Truss, Barney Bowen, War
rem Davenport and Coleman Peters, as
sault with intent to murder.
Amos Smith, murder Smith is charged
with killing Jim Watkins. convict, In
Pratt Mines.
Alex Ross and Lee Barnes. burglary and
grand larceny and receiving stolen prop
erty.
John Bell and Will Jones, grand lar
ceny and receiving stolen property.
Aaron Burr, grand larceny
simon Ford, alias VIII Grayson, lar
ceny from store.
Sam Reeves. larceny from person.
Gar6aId Folk CARRYING concealed wpap-