The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-24
STATES CASE
 DIFFICULT Silas Morley on Trial For Arson. IA WITNESS JOINS ARMY Believed He Was Influenced
 to Take Step. Judge speake wirl Investigate Causss V of. John Jo.es's Enlistment and
 Complicatiess May Follow James Armstrong Arrested
\ WITNESS JOINS ARMY

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 Huntsville, Sept. 23.--(special. )--The trial of silas worley, another of the alleged lynchers, charged with arson has begun in the Circuit Court. The State has very difficult case and so far no witnesses have sworn that ne saw Morley in the crowd that started the fire in the county jail.
 All morning was spent in the seiec- ton of jury. but the work was not SO dificult as in the Higgins case yester. day.
 'sheriff D. A. Rodgers was the first witness for the State. He testified that he saw parties making fire on the cement floors of the jail, but he did not remember having seen the defen- dant Morley in the crowd of men tend ing the fire.
 Sergeant William Giles of Company stated that he was one of the jail guards and when the company was ordered out of the jail he walked down stairs with the sheriff. As he reached the bottom step the defendant and two or three others tried to take his rife from him; the witness saw several men throw oil on the fire and others piled wood on it. Morley was the only man that he recognized among the number that tried to take the gun from him.
 Attorney Petty for the defense att tempted to prove that the witness was professional witness, but to this proposition Solicitor Pettus objected vigorously and the objection was sus- tained.
 Deputy Sheriff Ward testified that he saw Morley try to take Sergeant Giless gun from him and he went to the sergeant's assistance and the crowd was unable to get the weapon.
 The witness heard the defendant say burn her down. lets have him" This was after the negro had jumped from the jail and had been taken to the court house yard by the mob. but wor- ley and his associates probably did not know 1t. Witness said he warned Morley to get out of the jail and in- formed him that the negro was gone, some people were piling wood On the fire others were giving orders and many more people were just standing around doing nothing.
 A night session of the court was held. W. F. Morley, brother of tho defendant, swore that his brother was at home until after the time when the fire was started. Reuben Guiley, a prisoner in the jail. saw Morley in the crowd and said he appeared to be only spectator. He did not see him in the jail. and did not see him throw rocks at the ire department. Armstrong; Arrested. James Armstrong, young farmer. was arrested this evening on q charge | of murder, he having been indicted as one of the lynchers. This is the eighth | arrest. Armstrong left during the session of grand jury and went to New Orleans. returning to this city. John H. Jones. one of the important witnesses for the State. joined the regular army today after having been sworn in as a witness and was sent to St. Louis this afternoon. Judge Speake ordered him taxed with a fine of $100 and stated that he would cause an investigation to be made and if any l person was guilty of influencing Jones l to this course, he would be punished | to the full extent of the law.