The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-02-23
JESSE DURHAM
FOUND NOT GUILTY
DEFENDANT STILL HELD ON AN
OTHER CHARGE OF MURDER.
ACCUSED TEsTlFEs BEFORE
JURY IN HUNTSVILLE.

Huntsville, February 22-(speeial)-
After remaining out an hour and a half
the Circuit court jury last night acquit-
ted Jesse Durham of the murder of Frank
Blackwell The trial consumed two days.
Durham is still held for the murder of
John Scott, who was killed with Black
we'll.
The hearing of evidence was concluded
yesterday and the attorneys for both
sides devoted the afternoon to arguments
of the case.
The defendant was on the stand In his
own behalf and told how Blackwell and
John Scott had assaulted him in the
Papworth saloon on the morning of the
day of the tragedy Bystanders prevent
ed trouble and Blackwell and Scott heard
Durham make an engagement with the
saloon man for the afternoon. The defen-
dant said that when he returned TO the
scene in the afternoon he met the two
men and that after a few words they as
saulted him, Scott making a motion as if
to draw pistol and Blackwell coming
at him with a pair of brass knucks and a
heavy stick. Durham then pulled pistol
ana SnOl three lllneS dl DldChWtii anu
once at Scott every bullet taking effect
Witnesses for the state testified that
Durham provoked the difficulty of the
afternoon by pulling pistol and demand
ing an apology for the morning occur
renee on the other hand the defence
claims that the two men laid in wait all
day for Durham.
The trial has kept the court house pack
ed with people during the past two days.
Walter Ming well known planter of
Lawrence county. was tried before Com
missioner Conway yesterday on charge
of retailing whisky. King was placed
under 800 bond for appearance before
the United States grand jury
The Chamber of Commerce of this city
has determined to make an effort to
secure the peabody Teachers college for
this city The Chamber of Commerce will
be backed up by the business men of
the city and it is believed that the many
offered will be favorably con- |
sidered by the directors.
Within the next few days work on the |
second mill of the Merrlmack group will |
begin, and will be pushed to completion
as rapidly as possible. The new mill will
5000 spindles and 1000 looms, and
/ will be one of the largest plants of its
Kind in America. Several Of the contrac-
.ors of the company are here and ground
)lans of the structure are being laid Off
Everything will be ready for operation
lbout the first of next January. With the
of the second mill the Mer-
'imack company will have 10000 spndles
and 1900 looms in Huntsville.
Austin Jenkins of the Huntsville Lum-
ger company was held up and robbed on
Church street last night by two white
The men followed him to
onely spot and drawing pistols, com
handed him to throw up his hands. Luck
ly Jenkins had only small amount of |
money on his person and this was taken
by the robbers. They left him after warn
ing him not to report the robbery to lie
police.
After remaining in session three weeks
the Madison county grand jury has adj
journed. Seventy-two indictments were |
The books of all county Of
ficers were examined and found to be cor
rectly kept.
J. VIII Cooper, a clerk at the Hunts
vile hotel was seriously injured on Me-
pike last night in a collision |
with a two-horse wagon. Mr.. Cooper's |
buggy was demolished and he was thrown
TO the ground and lady hurt.