The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-30
CoTOnef's Jury Returns Sealed Verdict After Setting for
 Three Days
CITIZENS DETERMINED
 ID PUSH PROSECUTION
from Evidence ObtainabIe It Seems That the Negro Who Was Lynched Was Only Charged With
 "Presenting Pistol"

Selma, December 2s.-(Special) )-After sitting the best part of three days the coroner's jury in the investigation of the lynching of the negro and burning Of over half the town of Pineapple this af- ternoon brought in a sealed verdict which was turned over to Justice of the Peace C. A. Crawford, acting as coroner.
 The jury was composed of seven of the most representative citizens of Pineapple to wit: J. M Jackson, foreman; J. T. Adams, A c. Luckie, J. J. Cook, J. B. Coleman. w. H. Grimes and Professor Claud Hardy.
 Solicitor Quarles of the fourth circuit, who. pursuant to the request of the meet ing, went to Pineapple Sunday, assisted in the labors of the jury in getting the witnesses and bringing out all the evil dence possible.
 The bringing in of a sealed verdict and turning it over to inc justice who, under the law, if there is evidence duplicating any person in the crime may issue war rants and hand them to the sheriff for him to serve. indicates that the murder and arson has been placed upon some- body's shoulders and arrests will follow.
 Citizens Are Determined.
 The information received here is that the best citizens of Pineapple are deter mined to prosecute the matter to the full est extent, personally and with their money.
 From reliable sources it is learned that inc evidence brought ogt before the cor oner's jury was to the effect that on De- cember 22, on the bank of a creek near the Pineapple depot, that four young white men of respectable families Clin- ton Melton, known as Pig Melton' ana three others, engaged in a game Of craps win four negroes. Toward the end or the game A quarrel ensued, participated in by Melton and negro named John west lev. The latter drew pistol and In scuffe for the weapon it was discharged accidentally or otherwise, the ball en- terine the left side of Pig Melton, rang lng downward and lodging in the lett thigh and producing a painful and per- haps fatal wound.
 Arthur Stewart another negro also Id tbe game, is claimed to have picked up his gun and walked away. Melton claims stewart drew his gun on him, md made him let John Wesley alone.
 swore Out Warrant.
 On December 2s, Walter Stewart, the regular constable, and brother-in-law of Pig Melton, swore out warrants charging Westley with assault to mur- der and Arthur Stewart with present. Ing a gun. Westley fled and has not been apprehended Constable stewart arrested Arthur Stewart Wednesday evening, and took him to his own home about three hundred yards from Pig Melton's home. Arthur's trial was set for Thursday by Justice of the Peace Crawford, and when the case was call ed it was continued indefinitely on ac- count of Pig Melton's inability to at tend.
 Constable Stewart kept the negro in his custody until dark of Friday, Christ mas Day, when he in company with two others, turned the negro into the cala- boose.
 About o'clock the next morning. with heavy clouds in the sky, and with town marshall Payne sick in bed, most fav- orable opportunity was offered for the lynching.
 Neoro's Head Cracked Open.
 The lock to the calaboose door was broken, the prisoners skull cracked open like a cocoanut by terrific blow, his body and the building saturated with kerosine and fire set 10 it. The evidence to all this is mostly circumstantial. but so plain as to leave no doubt of it's truth.
 The flames found it mere pastime to leap from the calaboose to the other buildings, and nine stores and build ings went up in smoke, the rest of the town being saved only by the heroic work of the citizens. who had no wea- pons, but willing hearts and hands and pais of water with which to fight.
 
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