The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-08
WHITE MEN CHARGED WITH KILLING NEGRO Wright and Adams on Trial in
 the Criminal Court
  FOR KILLING WILL TAYLOR State Introduced Several Negro Wit nesses to Prosecute the Two De-
 fendants-Wrsht and Adams
 in Jail Since Last June,
FOR KILLING WILL TAYLOR

Walter c. Wright and Will R. Adams, both white, are on trial In the first di- vision of the criminal court of Jefferson county, charged with murder in the first degree, Judge Samuel L. Weaver pre- siding
 The two defendants are charged with taking the life of Will Taylor, a negro, by shooting him with pistol one night last June. Taylor was killed, it Is alleged, at his home on Ninth avenue and Twen- ty-fifth street the last part of last June. Shortly after the killing the defendants were arrested on the charge of murder and since that time they have been in the county jail.
 Several times the case has been called but a continuance was made in each in- stance. When the case was called Attor- ney Charles Denegre answered as the attorney for the state and Assistant So- licitor John Mcqueen of the circuit court. said that he would assist MT. Denegre.
 First Witness.
 After the organization of the jury yes- terday morning Ella Alexander, a negro
 
 the stand by the state. She testified that she saw the two defendants come into the house of the deceased. At the request of the attorneys the witness identified the two defendants as the men who came into the house.
 "The first time l saw MT. Wright and MT. Adams they were in Mir. Taylor's room," testified the witness. "I heard three or four pistol shots fred in fact, cannot tell exactly how many reports l heard"
 Where do you live?" asked Attorney Shugart.
 Mister, I cannot tell you. I am in too much trouble now to tell you where l live.
 Taylor was shot while he was lying on the bed" testified the witness.
 Beula Greer, a negro woman, was the next witness called by the state. She testified that she saw scuffie, and that one of the white men who were participant ing in the scufhe wore a jumper" or overall jacket. They were evidently just off an engine, testified the witness. She testified that she heard one of the two white men say that he intended to work his way and kill a white man shortly"
 Attorney Denegre.
 Attorney Charles Denegre was the next witness placed upon the stand. He testi- fled that he was employed as the prose- cutting attorney at the preliminary hear ing of Wright and Adams and thus rep resented the state. He testified that shortly after the shooting that the blanks supposed to have been in the door of Fay lors house at the time of the shooting were brought to his office. These blanks were then offered in evidence.
 After hearing the evidence presented by the state, Attorney Denegre an- nounced to the court that the prosecu- ton would rest.
 Witness for Defense.
 Tom Pretty, white man, was the first witness introduced by the defense. He testified that he saw part of the diff culty which resulted in the death of the negro Taylor.
 At the beginning of the trouble I saw negro grab a white man." testified the witness. This evidently was the first part of 1t. I saw the negro man who was in the party grab something that looked like United States currency. The money was taken from MT. Wright. in my opinion. l was probably thirty feet from the scene. In all there were three men in the party, two of these being white men and one a negro. l think that I heard door broken in, and I think there were three shots fired. Just as soon as I heard the first shot fired I got behind an engine which was standing near the house occupied by Taylor
 On the cross-examination the witness testified that he lived on the corner of Eighteenth street and Tenth avenue and that he had been in the vicinity of the shooting that night because he had an engagement on business with a railroad man. Shortly after o'clock court adjourned until this morning at 930 o'clock.
 One-Third of All the Champaunes