The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-26
Outcome of Killing of the
 McBryde Brothers.
Attempt Made in Preliminary Trial to Prove that Conspiracy Was Entered Inte by Conner, La
 mar and Taylor to slay
 Cotton Valley Men.
M l.. F. Woodruff.

Tuskegee, Jan. 25.-(Special. )-At- tempt was made in the preliminary trial of Sheriff John Conner. Deputy Sheriff George Lamar, and Town Mar shal S. Y. Taylor, to prove that the officers of the law were parties to a conspiracy to murder Robert McBryde and his brother, James McBryde. by willis Ray, a negro, who was with the McBrydes throughout Monday one week ago.
 The State attempted to prove that while the two brothers were preparing to go to their buggy and start home ward, the Sheriff and his deputy and the Town Marshal, on the signal All right, all right" opened fire on them, killing Robert McBryde instantly. and fatally wounding James McBryde in desperate struggle in which the farm CT used his knife with painful erect on Sheriff Conner and George Lamar.
 The negro was on the stand practi- cally the entire afternoon He told of how Jim McBryde had cursed and torn panels off the fence of Net Menefee, negress; how he was arrested by Con ner who made his bond, took his pistol from him and allowed him to start on his homeward journey. He told how the other brother had come out and how the two started for their buggy.
 
 He described in detail how the .Sher- if. the Deputy and the Marshal inter posed and without warning opened fire. After Bob McBryde had fallen, his neck broken by a well directed bullet. the negro described how Jim McBryde, wounded desperately, was beaten on the ground by all three of the officers and how, after he had succeeded in arising. the last and fatal shot was fired.
 The defense made a determined eff fort to break down the testimony. It was proved that the negro had been convicted of a felony. They attempted to prove that the negress had called for assistance and that, as officers of the law, they responded. They also att tempted to prove by the negro that Me Bryde when arrest was mentioned, ad- vanced on the officers with drawn knife and had Sheriff Conner at his mercy when the firing began. The negro stuck to his story. however, although at times he was badly befuddled by counsel.
 Sheldon Abecrombie, a young man of A prominent Tuskegee family, was also an eye witness to the tragedy. He tes- tif1ed that he saw the shooting as he was coming into town from the country and told how Bob McBryde fell at the
 
 maining man was surrounded by the officers. His testimony was the subject of a severe cross-examination, but Ab- ercrombie stuck to his story.
 The case will again be taken up to- morrow morning at S:30 o'clock
 Large Crowd at Trial.
 The revival of interest in the sen- sational street duel in which James McBryde and Robert McBrvde brothers, N.XF rN aan of Macon County, George Lamar. one of his deputies and S Y Taylor. town marshal of Tuskegee, today brought persons from all sections of Macon County to the preliminary trial of the law officers against whom there are warrants charging murder.
 The McBrydes were popular and in- huential planters and land owners of Cotton Valley. nine and one-half miles from Tuskegee. Their relationship in the outlying country was wide and their friends were staunch and loyal. V Within the precincts of TuskeEee, sentiment undoubtedly is paramount in favor of Corners, Lamar and TavIor. These men have served the county and community long and have drawn around them strong faction.
 In the country around Cotton Valley. the sentiment is equally unanimous aSdinst the slayerS Of the McBrvdes.
 Cotton Valley is today an AdamIess Eden not man remained In the com munity. Early yesterday morning they hurried to Tuskegee and the wives and daughters were left in charge of their lares and. penates.
 These men from Cotton Valley are A picturesque lot IF there were tourists In Tuskegee today viewing the sights of the town and the famous school of Booker Washington they found the Cotton Valley men with their wide hats. black boards and long boots, de- cidedly the more interesting.
 Cotton Valley men contend that tbe McBrydes were murdered in cold bIood by Corners, Lamar and Taylor while