The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1902-1905, 1905-07-19
SALES PRELIMINARY TRIAL COMMENCED.
Will Probably be Concluded Today--Conct of Testi-
mony as to Which Man Fired the First Shot.


Justice Matthews yesterday The court room was
people, much speculation the
the testimony which would be introduced by both the
and the defense Those who Witnessed the sad affair
positively had stated
whether Bell fred the first shot Aside from the
air of mystery surrounding the affair the OF the two
families lent the trial. which promises to be
once 0 important held in Columbus.
Mr. Sale has retained p. defend him. while
Gen E. Sykes represents the interests of the State Both
gentlemen hand yesterday when the trial of the
begun.
Mayor Gunter read the affidavit charging
murder to which plea guilty The witnesses
~ +l oalod fer the witnesses had been sworn Mr. Ian
drum counsel a minutes time
Witnesses which granted by the
the witnesses of the court and
several minutes were consumed in consultation
Mr. Landrum about three o'clock
and Immediately controversy between opposing
whether the witnesses be put under rule Mr. Ian
conended that the rue should not be invoked but Gen.
exception
this settled further
delay encountered IN securing several VINO hao oen
who had failed in All of the
arrived and the taking of testimony begun, Mr.
> B. Street Jr beng the nrst witness placed upon the stand
Upon examination by Gen Sykes Mr. Street stated that he
pharmacist his fathers when Mr.
Bell was killed Mr. Bell came IN the drug store about $50 p M
chair minutes later defendent
up and called Mr Attention by
sidewalk where the two had He Mr. Bell
attempt pistol could defendent; Mr.
Bell fall to the ground when be
noticed thai the dead held his right hand
positively whom shot fired Going
hours previous difficulty witness
thirty and showed him
had himself Mr..
there be delivered dendent which delivered
him about half hour later
Upon cross examination by Mr.. Street said
standing behind the
Mr. Sale called Mr. Bell
the of his vision when firing
neither who fred the first shot how many
shots fired; positive that MIR. Bell fired
Mr.. Sale least Saw pistol lying on floor
fall Mr.. Bells hand Witness was
being copies
by preceding the kill
Upon redirect by Sykes
Bell deendent had of only
before the firing
frequently visited the exchange.
The witness Chas Mccain, a barber
working E. drug store
After giving his and witness stated that he
in the barber shop the Mr. Bell killed
the chair when the difficulty
the beginning said the
examination by Mr. Landrum get
ting ready shave when the difficulty
could Mr. Sale from the position which
facing north when the difficulty his
attracted by the shutting of feet two
firing each other From the
could Mr. Sale Bell Witness
could he testify positively was
certain there less than three then ex
eused
Mr. Joe Heard the witness Mr. Heard who is
empoye of the Columbus Street Railway he
Boards was killed
the difficulty said that shot He
Upon cross
Mr.. Heard said there only three shots
The witness Mr. Albert Gunter was on
duty at streets drug store when the shooting
Bell sitting chair when Mr.. him
The two went to the sidewalk firing
commenced Witness first shot Upon
examination witness said that
the store the difficulty could not saw
positively how shots
Mr. Reuben Banks said Streets drug store
when the tragedy Mr. sitting chair Wit
ness did not notice Mr. Sale when he attention was