The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-28
Jet and White Closely Guarded
by Soldiers
SENSATION is EXPECTED
Witnesses Who Were Afraid VIII Now
Appear In Court and Testify-All
Spectators Are Searched
for Weapons.

Jackson, Ky. May 27.-The special grand
jury this afternoon began the investiga-
tion of the assassination of City Mar
shal James Coclril here last July. As
in the Marcum case, the assassin was
stationed in the court house, shooting
Cockrill with a Winchester rifle from
the courtroom window as he stood In the
street. 1t was Immediately after this that
men in sympathy with the Cockril BROTH
ers had to fee the county for safety.
Among them was Capt John Patrick.
who, in a letter to Judge Redwine soon
afterward said that he and others saw
the assassin and said he would come back
and testify If troops were sent to protect
him. The knowledge he possessed put
a price on his life Judge Redwine de-
clined to ask for troops and had an at
tachment issued for Patrick, who. to
escape going back to what he considered
certain death, has since had TO live in
seclusion 1t is said that he will appear
tomorrow to testify and with others will
name the assassins. The assassination OF
DR.. Cox, the Coekrill boys uncle, will
be taken up next.
Marcum Case Next Week.
1t seems certain now that to avoid a
mistrial the trial Of Curtis Jett and Tom
White, accused of the assassination of j.
b. Marcum, will not be entered into until
next week. when the regular term begins
The special term ends Saturday.
Separate trials will likely be asked for
the men. In the court room today when
their cases were called and by agreement
continued until tomorrow, Jett and White
were guarded by twenty soldiers. The
prisoners were not ironed.
Judge Redwine issued an order for every
searched for weapons. He also gave Col
onel Williams authority to make ar
rests in town for disorderly conduct or
any misdemeanor which makes martial
law in jackson practically absolute.
detail of soldiers will be sent into
the interior of Breathitt county to bring
in witnesses Captain Ned Strong and
Henry Back. Strong was quoted say
ing to a number of people, among them
Mrs. Marcums father, that he overheard
a discussion of the plot to kill Marcum
in blind tiger. three miles from Jack
son, the day before the murder. Being
unable to go himself to warn Marcum, he
sent Back with message, Back arriving
Just in time to see Marcum shot down.
intimidation Charged.
Upon publication of these statements
Strong and Back made aftdavits before
Judge Hargis that they had made no such
contradict the afhdavits. say that both
We're intimidated In making the affidavits
through fear Of assassination.
1t is believed that when once started,
testimony which will uncover the ring
from which the numerous assassinations
have emanated will be given freely and
amply. The possibility of this and des-
perate measures that might be undertaken
to prevent 1t still makes the guardians of
the peace and some citizens uneasy and
apprehensive.
1t was determined this afternoon to sus-
pend further investigation into the Mar
cum murder until the witnesses present In
the Cockrill case could be examined and
the detail of soldiers was not sent after
| Strong and Back. They may be sent for
tomorrow or Friday. Twelve witnesses
were examined In the CoclSrill case. Sew
enty-five are to be heard. The Hotchkiss
gun and ammunition arrived from Louis
vile this afternoon. A test of its destruc-
! tive work will be made on trees tomor-
/ row