The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-25
TOWN IS STIRRED UP
DEVELOPMENTS IN PHENIX
 CITY BURGLARY CASE.
Marshal Claims Young Man of Columbus is Implicated, But Young Woman Prevented
 Prosecution, Which
 She Denies.

Pnenix City, Feb. 2l-lspecial.) .)-This little city has been stirred as seldom In It's history by a series of exciting ana unusual circumstances which eliminated today in the publishing of signed cards in a Columbus. Ga, paper by w. c. Camp bell, Marshal of Phenix City, and Miss Minnie Waller, well-known young wo- man.
 Some three weeks ago there occurred at the residence of Samuel Waller, just west of Phenix City, one of the most exciting and outrageous affairs in the history of Lee County. A lone burglar. while prowl- ing through the house, was discovered in a dark room by members of the family He began shooting and the family fled into the yard. Mir. Waller Is old and in firm and had no weapons with which to defend his household. so he started to town for help. As two elderly ladies, Mrs. Waller and Mrs. McCroan, ran through the yard, they were met by the burglar, who fired at them, without hit ting any one. One of the shots struck the spectacles on Mrs. McCloans nose. shatering them, without, however. injur- ing her eyes.
 The ladies and two negro women. ser- wants. took refuge in a servants house in the back yard. locking the door. The burglar broke in the door. and as he come in the ladies Jumped through the windows. The negroes also jumped out about the same time. The whereabouts Of the party in the house would perhaps have not been discovered had 1t not been for the fact that the negro women. in their terror, began praying aloud. Mrs. McCroan was painfully injured in get ting through the window. She ran to the house of a neighbor a half mile away. Mrs. Waller crawled under the residence. The burgess set fire to the servants house, which was burned to the ground. Mrs. Waller remained under the resi- dence until the resouing party from Phe- nix City arrived on the scene.
 Marshal Campbell immediately began an investigation of the case. It seemed shrouded in mystery. as the persons at the house appeared unable to state whether the burglar was white or col- ored. He obtained a clue, however, which he worked up. and now asserts that ne obtained enough circumstantial evidence to create the very strong suspicion, If not proof. that the burglar was a profni- nent young business man of Columbus.
 The marshal states that his investiga- tions were brought to a close however. by the disposition of Miss Minnie Waller not to prosecute the case. He produces statement. signed by her. to the effect that she did not care to prosecute. This statement was published. and Mss waller replied in a card yesterday afternoon. in which she said. in effect. that she only gave the statement. or notice, to Mr. Campbell at his earnest solicitation, that he might clear himself before the police committee Of the Phenix City Council. She says that the use of the statement in the way that the marshal used 1t is un- just. and that 1t causes her to be placed in false light; that she does not object to prosecution, if the investigation of the case is gone about properly, and any real clues are followed intelligently- Miss Waller Is the daughter of MT. and Mrs. Samuel Waller.
 To this card. Marshal Campbell makes reply in a card published this morning, in which he reiterates his assertion that he had a good clue in the case, and could have worked It up and made an arrest with a chance to convict. had 1t not been