The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-13
PIPPIN'S COUNCIL
 PLEADS INSANITY
WITNESS INTRODUCED AT TRIAL IN ANNISTON TO PROVE DE- PENDANT WAS OF UNSouND MIND-INTERESTI IN CASE.

Anniston, December 12-(Special)-No case that has been tried in the courts of Anniston in many years has attracted the attention that is being given the case of the state vs. Lon E. Pippin.
 Pippin is charged with the murder of J. W. Trigg, a well known and popular furniture dealer here. a few weeks ago on the steps of the city hall.
 Pippin at that time was street overseer and carried two pistols used in guarding prisoners. At the time of the killing Chief of Police Dill and MT Trigg were talking when Pippin came around a cor ner of the building and opened fire on the two men without saying a word.
 The plea not guilty by reason of in- sanity was entered by Pippin's attorneys Knox, Acker & Blackmon, in answer to the indictment of murier.
 The state finished taking testimony this morning in the city court and the defense began.
 The state introduced Homer Lloyd who testified to his association with the de- fendant in the employ of the city of An nfston, the witness being guard over the city chaingang, while the defendant dis charged the duties of boss This witness had also been subpenaed by the defend ant. R. W. Porterfield, the first witness for the defense, testified to having seen witness suffer an attack in saloon that amounted to dementia, and that he was subject to such attacks. w. A Waugh, for the defendant, said that he tthe de- fendanD had always acted as if insane. Other witnesses made statements to the same effect. MT. Claude T. Robinson was introduced and said that in the afternoon preceding the shooting of MT. Trigg al night the defendant approached him where he (Robinson) was doing some work for the city. and made such re- marks about the work and of him per sonally, at the same time exhibiting his pistol in such a manner as suggested to the witness that the defendant must be insane. The defendant seemed mad, and possessed strange, wild look about the eyes. Had never noticed anything pe- culiar about him before. though he had known him for ten years.
 Edna Willoman testified to having seen defendant attempt to shoot himself with a pistol in the home of his brother on account of an imaginary wrong done him by his brother. Mrs. Snider, the next wit ness, testified to having seen defendant enter a congregation of worshppers, who were assembled in a tent, and act in such a manner as to attract her attention and
 
 sane.
 augh had known the de-
 my years, and knew that
 in which he seemed to
 That he often acted as if
 some one was trying to jim from behind. That he rgs to have happened and ,,... sons present which were unreason- able and untrue, and that the condition of the defendant had steadily grown worse during the thirteen years of her intimate acquaintance with him.
 The next witness was Lee Coker who said the defendant had on different occa- sons drawn his pistol and threatened and attempted to shoot him while in what appeared to the witness to be a wild and insane condition. Violence was prevented by disarming the defendant. R. Lee Pippin, brother of the defendant, next took the stand and testified that the defendant suffered an attack in Tala- poosa county several years ago, in which he was utterly unconscious for five days. after which he never seemed as himself as before. He had Spells in which he acted strangely. Had seen him with pis- tol pointed at his head if trying to shoot himself. Had disarmed him. Had seen him act wildly and talk strangely on various occasions. Had seen him a day or so before the killing of Trigg, when he seemed to be wild; had indulged in incoherent talk Had observed signs of insanity since 1887, when these spells" would attack him. The taking of testi- mony will probably be completed tomor- row and the arguments begun.