The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-02

signing the bankruptcy proceedings as the direct cause of the murder. Tranimeli & Co. he explained to the jury, owed ray- Tor certain amount. When Taylor skipped to Texas, Mir. Fuller said, Tramneil & Co.,, as we'll as other prom inent firms of Roanoke, testified before the referee in bankruptcy that they owed Taylor an amount smaller than that which they really owed. When Taylor was brought back to Alabama, he had his books with him to back up his own testimony. Byron Trammell and other men of Roanoke, he declared, were close to an indictment for perjury Something had to be done. There was but one way to keep Taylor quiet-"dead men tell no tales"
 This was the condition of affairs in Montgomery on the night of June g, M-. Fullcr declared. Taylor. knowing nothing of the conspiracy, was playing pool in the Silver Dollar Saloon and drinking with the very men who were plotting against him. Trammell went to the Hotel Mab- son to ind B. (. Jones. He was directed to the Silver Dollar Saloon. where Jones and others were trying to get Taylor drunk. There were plenty of witnesses present to swear that the killing was done In self defense. These witnesses swore to 1t on the preliminary examination, but on the trial no response was made to the call of B. C. Jones and w. H. Welch, Why? Mr Fuller asked. They couldn't stand the fire Trammell went outside where. according to the testimony of Massie Anderson, whom, he said, evcry man on the jury knows to be a truthfu, man. and De Neff. he must have laid in wait ten or twelve minutes. Tay- Tor finally came out. Jones, wciCh and others were in convenient places to swear that the killing was in self defense. None of these men were present at the trial except Foster who ta testified ra that ,,ss as soon as saw Taylor Welch." and ran in the bar.
 Why did he cry Look out Welch?' Mir. Fuller asked. Because he knew that the time for the scheduled shooting mad ar. rived.
 He contended that there were more shots than those fired by Trammeli poured into Taylor's body. TrammelIs revolver was 8 five-shooting weapon. All of the shells were exploded. The defence admitted that there were three bullet holes in the body. Then how, asked Mir. Fuller, did the defence account for the bullet in the panneling of the Exchange bar, the ankle of the transfer wagon horse and the tire of Patrolman Downs's bi- cycle
 Mir. Fuller argued with the jury that Mrs. Trammell and the little boy should not be considered. They were not on trial but Trammell was on trial for g murder, which he declared to be the foul. est conspiracy in the criminal history of Montgomery. He closed with an impas- stoned plea for conviction for murder in the first degree.
 Argued by MT. Stanford.
 T. D. Sanford of opelika then spoke for the defense.
 He began his argument by impressing on the jury the responsibility resting on them. He urged them in considering the case to consider the evidence as they heard 1t and not as was given to them by counsel for the State in theories derived from facts. which they turned only the way they wanted to turn and facts which 1t stretched their imagination to believe
 For some time he spoke of the good character of Trammeil as proved by the half hundred prominent persons who tes- tifiod in his behalf and urged that such man be not convicted until the jurors were satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that he was guilty. He spoke of the bloodthirsty turbulent character of Tay- Tor, as testified to by numbers of wit negses.
 Did the jury blame Trammell for fear ing such a man and wishing to avoid him in and around the United States Mar shai's office? asked Mr. Sanford.
 The State, he declared, had signally failed in it's effort to try to prove that relations between Trammeli and Taylow were friendly uatil the night of the shoot ing. Trammell had left the Silver Dollar Saloon as soon as he saw Taylor, he had gone on the outside, had met Postmaster Starke of Troy and after walking with him a short distance was suddenly ac- costed by Taylor, who after shaking his first In his face according to. the evidence of every eyewitness, struck him, and made an overt motion to his hip-pocket where every one knows pistol is gener- ally carried. He knew Taylor had threat ened his life. What was there to do? Do what any other man would have done, defended himself even though he did take life.
 Mir. Sanford spoke on the testimony of Prophet in reference to the alleged plot to kill Trammell. The State had tried to prove the man bad character. Did Tay- Tor want a man, other than a bad charac- ter to accompany him on any such mis- sion? asked the speaker.
 Mir. Sanford attacked Pierce's evidence whom he declared had asked for $40 to testify for the defendant. He reviewed at length the evidence of Young Searcy and Young Rollins and closed with an eloquent appeal for acqulttal.'
 The court then at 6:30 o'clock recessed until 9:30 o'clock this morning.