The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1905-12-16
THE CIRCUIT COURT.
THE COURT STILL HAMMERING AWAY
ON MURDER CASES.
George BowIes Found "GuiIty as
Charged"

bAS SOuRo was hO0AAbS LILO OfA-
dence in the case of the State VS..
VIM. Dunn. This case was con-
cluded Wednesday evening and
the jury, after being out all night,
returned with a verdict of not
guilty. The theory of the defense
was self-defense and a good case
along this line was made out.
Thursday morning the case of
the State VS.. George Bowls was
called. The defendant was charg-
ed with the murder of Tom Tripp.
The facts of the case happened in
Brookhaven in what is commonly
called Mays quarters during last
May. Tom Tripp and Bowles
were living together in the house
of Mary Jane Smith at the time.
just about dark on the night of
the homicide Bowles, while drink
ing heavily, went down to his
home, from town, accompanied
by other negroes, and just before
reaching the house Bowles fred
his pistol twice, and, at the time
using very profane language, said
he would kill him a man that
night. 1t was shown that bad
feeling between the two had come
about just prior to the last trou-
BILE; and that night about $3.50
O'Clock while the negroes were
dancnig on the front gallery of
Mary Jane Smiths house, and
while Tripp was leaning against
the water shelf, near by where
Bowles was sitting, for some un-
explained cause Bowles drew his |
pistol and fired, the bullet taking
effect under Tripp's shoulder.
1t was dark on the gallery where
all the parties were, and just why
the defendant should draw his
pistol while part Of the company |
were making music and dancing
was never explained.
The defense was that Tripp and |
BowIes lived in the same room
together and were good friends;
that the firing of the pistol was
altogether accidental; that he |
found his pistol would not work
we'll and was trying to "break"
it to take the cartridges out when
the pistol was accidentally fired.
The jury, after hearing the tes-
timony and the arguments were
out only a few minutes when they
returned the following verdict:
"We, the jury, find the defendant
guilty as charged IN the indict-
ment."
The court has not yet passed
sentence, but, unless sufficient
reasons be shown to the court
why a new trial should be grant
ed, the court is bound under the
law to sentence the convicted
man to be hanged. 1t is said that
a motion for a new trial Will be
filed.
Bowles is young negro man
about % or % years of age, hav
ing come to Brookhaven about
two years ago from Durant, Miss.
The names of the jurymen in
this case were as follows: HI. F.
Middleton, W. G. Calender, j.
H. Garner, j. w. Magee, J. F.
Smith, J. A. Price, H. D. Bee
son, Eldon Smith, Riley Rawls,
j. M. Bigner, M. L. Crawford,
W. A. Brown.
On yesterday morning the case
of the State VS.. Jim Hunter was
taken up. The defendant is
charged with numbering Matte
Wimberly during August of this
year in the suburbs of Brookha-
ven. The State is represented by
the District Attorney and A. G.
McNair, and the defendant by r.
N. Miller and III. Cassidy. As
this report closes the first witness
for the State has just been called.
The names Of the jurymen are as
follows: P. j. Freeman, w. A.
Richardson, M. L. Crawford, j.
F. Smith, w. j. Hilton, Eldon
Smith, Riley Rawls, j. W. Magee,
Winfield Case, w. A. Brown, w. t
j. McClendon, I'll. E. Middleton.
In the case of Manion Co. VS..
R. M. Nalty, judgment was enter
ed against the defendant for the
sum of $4,000 and costs. This
was suit for debt on two notes.
The following felony cases are
on the docket and will be tried
next week: Louis Spearry, Rafe
Marshall and Marion McRee, each
charged with murder, and Edgar
James, charged with assault and
battery with intent.
The cases of those charged with
disturbing the Harmony school
are set for Wednesday.
Mayors Court.