The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-01
Longest Case in The History
Of Jefferson County
SOLICITOR HELM SPEAKS
Judge Greene Did Not Finish His
Charge to the Jury Until After
Seven O'Clock In the
Evening.

The famous case of the state OF Ala
bama against Glen Havis, charged with
murder. went to the jury last night at
7:l0 o'clock. at the close Of the 14th court
day. Judge Greene began his charge at
5:45 O'Clock and finished shortly after
seven.
There was something extremely solemn
about the close of this trial that has ex-
cited so much interest not only in Jeffer-
son county but throughout the whole
state. 1t had grown late and few
pickering gas gets had been lighted. which
shed wierd rays over the courtroom.
The ladies' including the mother Of the
defendant and several of the sisters of YIN.
Wise, the co-defendant, remained In the
room all afternoon with the prisoner wait
ing for the judge to come In and call the
jury The crowd Of spectators which has
been In such constant attendance on the
trial since its beginning came as usual
early In the afternoon. but as the courts
coming was prolonged they went away
one by one until there were only scat
tering few present when the judge enter
ed the room.
At the adjournment of the morning ses-
sion Judge Green announced that court
would reconvene at 2 O'clock, but the at
ternoon was entirely consumed in going
over the written charges.
Hefiin's Speech.
Solicitor H. P. Hefn closed the case
for the state during the morning. He be-
gan at $3.50 o'clock and finished at 1910
o'clock. Mr.. Hehn said in part
IF it please the court, gentlemen OF
the jury, come now to make the closing
argument for the state in this case, and
l feel as though 1 ought to apologize for
taking more of your time, but it Is my
duty as well as your duty. This is the
longest case ever tried in the Criminal
| court of Jefferson county, so far as l
know. From the facts brought out by the
evidence / don't believe a more impor-
tant case has ever been tried in the
county.
"A great deal has been said by the de-
Tense about prosecuting this young man.
They have said that our states attorneys
are receiving big fees to convict him. Do
you believe that there is an attorney in
the case that has given his services free?
Haven't l the right to come here and
charge that the attorneys for the defense
are receiving money to try to turn loose
guilty man; that they are receiving
money to turn loose on this community a
criminal that ought to be in the peni-
Tertiary or ought to be hanged?
What made Captain " hite get up here
and tell stories that would bring tears to
the eyes of anyone, that even brought
tears to his own? 1t was the fee, gentle
men of the jury, and Captain White al
ways demands good round one when he
tries a case.
Il come before you now as your repre-
sentative, the solicitor OF Jefferson coun-
ty, and l shall try to present the EVIL
dence impartially."
Mr.. Morrow for the defense objected to
Mr.. Helms line of argument at two
points, which were sustained.
Ask Jury to Be Careful.
when you go into your jury box con-
tinued Mr.. Helm. 'be careful TO make no
mistake against the state, because the
state has no appeal. II you acquit the de-
PENDANT the state can do absolutely moth
\ ing more. But il you convict him the
court or the defense have recourses which
| they can take.
you may be sympathetic and your
| hearts may go out to the father and
mother of the defendant, but know you
are not going to violate your duty in the
| jury box. would rather see a man that
was willing TO break into the jail and
| take a prisoner out than to see him vio-
late the oath he takes as a jurymen, be-
cause to break into jail would show some
H. Il l.
BILE.
What other objection has Captain
White made TO witness Dyar except that
he parted his hair In the middle? For no
other reason than this, the captain has
called him libertine, a debauche ard a
liar. Wasn't he an intelligent looking
man? Wasn't he well dressed?''
Whites Objection Sustained.
| Captain White objected to the line of
| argument when Solicitor Helm was max
| ing personal comments about him, and
| the court sustained the objection.
Captain White is trying to divert your
attention from this foul murder" said
| Mr.. Hefiin, ito a man that parted his
hair in the middle! Robert EsLee. Kich-
| ener, Balfour, David Crockett, Dewey,
| Sampson, Schley-all these men parted
| their hair in the middle. Some of you
| men may KNOW captain w 1He ana De-
! lieve in him. He is a good lowyer but
don't let him lead you away from the
| facts In this case He may have brought
| tears to your eyes, may have played on
| your sympathies, but when you get to the
jury box you must put aside your feel
ings and bring in verdict in accordance
with the law and the evidence"
| Captain White objected TO Mr.. Helms
statement that white man had never
| been convicted In Jefferson county for
| killing a negro, and was sustained. He
| also objected to later statement about
| the men OF Jefferson county which Mr..
| Hefiin withdrew.
Gentlemen of the jury" continued Mr..
| Hefiin they have brought William Wise
into this case more prominently than
| Glen Havis Do you know what that is
| for? 1t is to lead your minds away from
| the main facts"
| Mr.. Hefiin devoted much time to Mrs.
Rubel and the connection Of the rela-
| tives OF Wise with the case. 1T may be-"
| he said. that no letters were ever writ
| ten to Lathem by Mrs. Rubel; II may be
| there was never any criminal intimacy
| between them, and that Wise has dragged
| her name in here to help clear this de-
| PENDANT. thereby lessening his own
| chances of conviction. All the evidence
| we have of such things has been brought
| In by the defense"
| Mr.. Hefiin then took up the testimony
| OF witnesses Cox. Dyar and Hogan to
show the capability OF these men to tes-
| tify.
A. to Motive.
1.-The evidence shows you. rentlemen Of