The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-15
PISTOL GRASPED
BY THE TWO MEN
Twas Then the Fatal
Shot Was Fired.
en- TESTIFY SEVERAL
so TESTIFY SEVERAL
There Never Was Perhaps a Greater
Conflict OF Testimony Of Respon.
sibie Men in Any Trial Than in
This of w. R. MUIR
raw
(special to News and Observer.


Durham, n c., an 14.-When court
adjourac dthis afternoon at 4 O'Clock.
early adjournment being in order to
allow Judge PEBBLES opportunity Of go :
ing up to Hillsboro on the afternoon
train to spend Sunday with his daugh-
ter, the defense in the w r. Murray
murder case was nowhere near the
end of its evidence.
During the day twenty-one witnesses
were examined, nine being sworn and
examined this afternoon. DR.. n. NJ
johnson, who appeared on the scene
Just at the close of the fatal fight and
who held the autopsy, was the last wit
ness called. His examination was not
completed, and he will be the first one
To be called Monday morning.
1t is now evident that the case will
not end before Wednesday or Thurs
day of next week. The defense Will
not rest before som time Monday al
ternoon, and then there VIII be rebuttal
testimony.
The statute has much evidence to
introduce and this will take until Tues
day. The argument of counsel and
charge of Judge PEBBLES will take all
Of two days. That will make it late
Thursday afternoon before the case
can fe;icn the july.
Interest Still on Edge.
Interest in the trial of this case con-
tinues at the same high pitch as has
been manifest since il was called. This
afternoon the court room was packed
TO the doors, and every attention was
given to what the witnesses had to say
During the afternoon session nine W.T.
nesses testified. There was no new
feature in the testimony; it was along
the same line as that introduced this
morning. It is understood that the
defense has some twenty or thirty Wit
nesses to introduce before the end of
the trial The State will rely on what
these witnesses say as to the number
to be introduced.
It is said tonight that the State is
saving some of its best witnesses unit /
the last Just what there is in this
cannot he learned.
Judge PEBBLES issued instructions
this afternoon that the jury be looked
after and that papers be kept from
them and that they cannot be taken
II church. If they go to church. said
the court the preacher may take oc-
on to preach on homicide or some
thing of that sort, and 1t would not be
right kf they read papers they could
get expressions of some person ana
that would have Il tendency to preju-
IL.
said, and allow them all the Bibles
they want but keep everything else
from them. and do not allow them to-
talk to any person.
Murray Shows tile Sira u.
The defendant is showing the strain
to which he has been subjected since
the trial began. In the court room
nc pays close attention to everything
that is said and frequently consults
with his LAWYERS, but he looks ha3g3rd
and careWorn.
The fears OF the Widow.
This afternoon while DR.. Johnson
vas tell ng OF the autopsy and de-
scribing to the jury the range of the
fatal bullet the widow of the deceased
who has been present at every session
Of the court since the case was called,
leaned over on til table in front of her
and sobbed. Each day she has been
in attendance. accompanied by her sis
ter Mrs Duke. the two sitting close
b ythe lawyers for the State.
This has been w. r. MurrayS day
in court Yesterday morning the evi-
dence given in the murder trial that
is now all interest here, was more or
less against the prisoner. Today the
reverse is true. The defendants wit |
nesses are now telling what they
know about the tragedy. and TO sum
UP the progress made since the State |
rested its case the defendant has
shown by large number of witnesses /
that the deceased pulled his pistol |
and shot at the defendant, missing |
his marx The fearful struggle en- |
sued during which there Were two !
other shots. Then the final strug- /
gle and the last shot, this being fired /
while both men had hold of the pis- |
tol. From this evidence the fatal |
shot was more of an accident than |
otherwise
Never has there been a case tried /
here in which there was more conflict I
III testimony than there is in tn case
now on trial. Yesterday many whose /
testimony stands coming from men
of character and responsibility swore |
that Bob Murray, the prisoner Sc /
cured the pistol from Joe Murray after /
the third shot and then deliberately |
killed his uncle. Today many men /
of good charaster and high standing
in the community have sworn that |
this was not true; that the shot was
fred While both men had their hands |
on the pistol and that after the fatal I
shot Bob Murray had the pistol in
his hand, holding it by the stop part /
with hammer CONCEALED in his hand, /
Just as he secured it from the de- /
ceased after his grasp relaxed, and |
that the prisoner had to turn ii around |
in order To get in position to shoot I
If the deceased advanced on hom This
10 tha prpr0rition thai will faro the