The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-12
HARRY NEWTON GUILTY
xxEE SENTENCE FOR SLAYER
 OF LACY.
Killing Occurred in Q Cabin at Wetumpka the Night tf octo- Der 13, I003-No Eve
 Witnesses to Crime.

Wetumpka, Jan. 11.-(Speciai.l lone of xhe most noted trials, and one .hat has ezic3ked more intere st and attenti. on rom the people of Wetumpka and surro SRnding country than any held in the county of Fillmore, came to a close this morning by xfz8 jury rendering q verdict convfc cting ffle defendant, Harry Newton, of murder zn tho first degree, and sentencing him to life Imprisonment in the penitentiary.
 The crime for which Newton was today convicted was perpetrated the night ot October B, f903 in lonely cabin about two miles south of Wetunpka, with no eyewitnesses to the deed. The evidence brought out by the State was that Harry Newton invited and in part forced Sam nel IT. Lacy to his home on the night fhe murder was committed. by getting upon one of Lacy's mules and riding the same to his CNewton's) home. There were 4MO witnesses at the home of Newton NsAo went there with the defendant and fhe deceased, one a small negro boy, Neal Powell, the other a negro man, Dave Drew. to whose house Lacy, with Neal R9WeiI, had gone for the purpose of em- pieying him to do some work. The two mN&roes testified as to what occurred from xIA6 time Newton met them until they fled fn alright from the home of Newton; about the defendants borrowing the knife of Lacy for the purpose of opening q jug of whiskey, but failing with the Kuffe he secured corkscrew and opened tho Jug. They testified how many drinks were taiken--three apiece; about Newton securing his gun and shells and that he bsxAn shooting recklessly in his home, breaking the mirror of a dresser and shooting out the lamp. setting fire to fhK house. Neal Powell testified that Lacy had asked for the return of his knife but Newton claimed he did not naev it.
 After the shooting, Newton and Lacy sat upon the edge of a cot and com nenced talking, the conversation drifted t0 the hogs of John Crommelin, some of which Lacy had killed for depredations upon his corn, and that Lacy drew from . scabbard pistol, remarking, 'If had had this Crommelin would not have struck me-" Newton resented the refer ence to MT. Crommeln, his employer, and with his gun compelled Lacy to put down the plstol, which he did placing it upon tho edge of the cot. Newton made Lacy remove the pistol from the cot and put ik upon the floor. At this point the me- Rwuns lied in fright, Neal Powell claim. ing he heard Newton tell Lacy after he (1eeAI) had reached the yard that Damn you, I am going to kill you anyway, but 1f you come in here will kill you now"
 The State introduced Archie Carlton and his son, who swore that Newton in their presence about three weeks or
 month before the killing said that Sam Lacy das a damned rascal and if the op- portunity ever presented itself he would put his polishing cap upon him."
 The interest in the case was intensified Nhen Newton was placed upon the stand 4p testify in his own behalf The Court not a sound was heard save the cool and deliberate voice of Harry Newton whose life was swinging in the balance. He cor reiterated the testimony of Neal Powell in full up to where the conversation turned uDOn John Crommelin and the killing of the hogs, Newton claiming that Lacy ap- oiled vile epithets to himself and his friend and employer.
 He corroborated Meals testimony as to fifs forcing Lacy to put his pistol upon the noor but said he ordered Lacy to leave the house, at the same time backing into an adjoining room. He claims that Lacy sprang into the room, clinched with him and a death struggle began. He claimed that he saw knife in MT. Lacy's hand and heard something strike the floor as Mir. Lacy grabbed him. He said he caught the hand of MT. Lacy in which he says was a knife, with his right hand they falling to the floor with Lacy or top. Newton states that while upon thu floor Mir. Lacy bit his nose and face while he was begging him to desist.
 Finally securing the knife he stabbed Else deceased in the throat and as he diC 60 1fr. Lacy sprang upand was leaning toward him in a crouching position ana me Thought he heard the clicking of ( plstol He said he sprang to one side, se'