The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-01
WHITE MEN KILLED THE WRONG NEGRO Shot Will Taylor Instead ot Id Bennlngs CORONER'S INVESTIGATION Adams and Wright Sent to the County Jail on Warrants Charging Them
 With Murder-Excit-
 Ing Testimony.
 

From, inc evidence before Coroner Paris Will R. Adams and Walter C. Wrlght' fireman and engineer respectively on the Frisco. killed the wrong man Wednesday niebt ar rather not the man they were after when they shot and killed VIII ray Tor. a negro, at Ninth avenue and Twenty fifth street.
 The two men say they were looking for Ed Bennings, another negro, and 1t was he whom they sought to kill and thought they had killed. Coroner Paris started an investigation of the case early yesterday morning. and as a result the two white men are in the county jail on warrants sworn out by Coroner Paris before Judge Benners of the inferior court charging them with murder
 Yesterday morning Adams was seen by Coroner Paris and admitted that he ana Wright were together when the shooting occurred. He stated that Wright had the pistol and shot the negro. He stated however. that he himself had pick in his hands and that he went to his engine and got the pick after he had the previous difficulty with the negro Ed Bennings Adams said that he had the trouble with Bennings, then went back to his engine and got this pick whicA he used for break ing coal, and also got Engineer Wright who brought pistol with him.
 Shot Four Times. q
 Wright stated to the coroner that he did the shooting, and that he shot four tlmes His testimony, however, conflicts with that of Adams. and other witnesses, in that he states when he arrived at the house where the shooting took place two negroes had Adams down beating him, and that he shot to help Adams.
 The circumstances of the shooting as obtained from the witnesses before the coroner are that Lafrankie Butler, ne- gro girl IS years old, and her brother Willie Butler were going through the railroad yards when Adams called the lit- tie girl and gave her 50 cents. She rap to the house of her brother-in-law, Ed Bennings, fnd Adams followed her. When he got there Bennings asked him what he wanted, and he demanded the 50 cents Bennings told him he was drunk and put him out of the house, saving to Adams that he did not wish to have any thing more to do with him. Adams went back to the engine got Wright and they went to the wrong house looking for Bennings. They broke open the front door of 6 house in the same yard as the Bennings house, but occupied by John and Ella Alexander and Will Taylor. the negro boy killed.
 Negroes Testify.
 The testimony of John and Will Alex ander before the coroner was that they l and Will Taylor were seated at the 1 table eating supper when there was a knock at the front door. Before they could get up to open the door the panel was broken open, and then the door was burst open. The larger man, they state, referring to Wright, grabbed VIII Taylor in the collar, willie Adams stood with the pick drawn back as if to strike The next they knew Taylor was on the floor and Wright was shooting nim.
 Will Edison, fireman on the Louis- | vile and Nashville, who was in Ben- ning's house when Adams fonowed the | negro girl there stated that after Adams left they closed the door and sat around and talked. They heard some one in the l next house beating in the door, and then l beard the pistol shots. He swore that I Bennings did not hit Adams, and that he himself did not lay his hands on the | white man He said they were the only men on-the place.
 Adams and Wright both told Coroner Paris that, they were drunk when the shooting took place. Theetrial will prob ably come up before Judge Benners this week, or early next week.