The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-02-08
Coroner to Continue InveStiga-
ton Next tuesday
Mr.. HEFLIN'S ARRANGEMENT
Solicitor Says That He Does Not Be-
lieve That the People Present In
the Room Did Not Know
Who Did the Shooting.


Matthews were ordered placed in the
county jail pending a further nvestiga-
ton. Bail was denied them at the re-
quest of Solicitor H. P Hefin, who rep
resented the state at the inquest
Shortly after midnight, however, Harry
Mathews was released by Night Jailer
Sandifer on a $500 bond approved by Coro-
ner Paris.
The hearing before the coroner and the
jury was filled with sensational features.
Solicitor Heflin was severe in his arraign-
ment of those who were in the room at
the time Freeman met his death. He was
especially severe on Harry Matthews,
though he condemned the evidence of the
others in severe terms. He denounced
crime in general and 1t is said that his
plea to Coroner Paris to hold the accused
without BAIL pending a further investiga-
tion, had much to do with the course
pursued by the coroner Mr.. Hefiin said
he did not believe the evidence of those
who witnessed FTeeman's death.
While the evidence in many instances
did not differ materially from that Sc
cured by the coroner the previous day,
1t was shown that several persons, most
ly women had been shooting craps"
The witnesses who saw the gaming swore
that the men "staked" the women.
Marie Martin told of playful tussle
between Freeman and Wray. One of the
men had in his possession a saber made
of Chinese coins and the other a weapon.
ut was nothing more than play" was
the statement of the witness.
The coroner and his jury met at the
parlors of Lige 10y and for nearly three
hours witnesses were examined. The
room in which the investigation was con-
Quoted was filled with people who were
eager to catch every word of testimony
uttered
Coroner Paris presided at the hearing
and the following composed the jury maxi
ing the Investigations E. F. Riley, fore
man; w. w. Odom, G. d. Gerrired, l.. A.
Wakefield, w. L. Jones and w. r. Nc
Good
The prisoners were represented by Judge
b. M Allen, Shugart & Bell and Curtis
Shugart. Solicitor II. r. He1in repre-
scented the state.
The first witness placed on the stand
home Freeman met his death. The wom-
an swore that she heard the shot fired
that killed Freeman. She stated that she
knew Wray, Lansdowne. Freeman, Mat
thews and other persons in the room. She
told of the game of dice which was
played. The witness swore that when the
shot was fired she had her back to the
dead man and was combing her hair and
did not know who fired the shot. She
stated that she did not see the pistol until
DIR Fox picked the weapon up off the
floor. She acknowledged that she had
seen the weapon when 1t was thrown on
a bed. She here referred to playful
tussle between Wray and Freeman with
a Chinese sabre and pistol"
DIR. Fox told of being called to admin
lister to Freeman He described how the
man was wounded and in the last throes
of death when he arrived on the scene.
He stated that he had kicked the pistol
on the floor, picked the weapon up and
nut it on the dresser In the room. He
insisted upon Chief of Police Wier being
notified of the death of Freeman.
Landsdowne's Testimony.
c. NJ Iansdowne, one of those present
IN the room when Freeman met his
death was next called. He stated that
he was a brother-in-law of A. l.. Glenn,
a railroad man here He said he was
In the room when the shooting occurred
and that he understood that the other
persons had been up all night He saw
the Chinese saber in the room. but did
not see Wray and Freeman in playful
seuffle. He testified that he had witnessed
the crap" game and saw men stalking
women and swore that Marie Martin,
Wray, Freeman and women were in the
room at the time He did not stay in
the room all night Wray and Freeman,
he said came to the house together about
4 o'clock Tuesday morning. He saw Free
man throw a pistol on the bed and re-
marked to him as he picked up the pistol
and played with it, that lit was dan
gerous thing to play WITH He testified
further that Freeman replied that folks
eat such little things" Lansdowne swore
that he heard the shot that killed Free
man. and said:
Il did not see Freeman have the gun
in his hand when he fell The wit
ness described how the deceased fell after
being shot. He acknowledged that he
understood that the pistol that killed
Freeman was the property of Wray.
Lansdowne said that he was not in
legitimate business, but was at one time
an officer He gave his home as Nash
Vile, He stated that Immediately after the
shooting he asked that officers be notified
SO that they could conduct an investi-
CATION. He stated that his present pro
fession' Is an illegal one and that he
was gambler He said that in company
with Harry Matthews, he sought a doc
tor and officers after the shooting.
Solicitor Fl. p. Hefn arrived while
Lansdowne was on the stand and pro-
pounded pointed questions to the witness,
but gained no information other than
that stated.
Harry j. Mathews was next called. At
ter being sworn Mathews was notified
by the coroner that he wanted the truth.
Coroner Paris referred to a conversation
he had with Mathews Tuesday afternoon.
Immediately after Freeman's death.
~ can tell nothing that | do not know,
replied the witness.
I'VE will see what you know them
said the coroner. This witness l VIII
turn over to you, Solicitor Hefin."
Heflin's Denunclation.
Mathews testified that the shooting oc-
Cured shortly after he reached the
house.
Il was hardly in the room three min
utes before heard a pistol shot. l was
washing my hands and had my back TO
Freeman and the other persons In the
ROOM He said that he may have told
the coroner that the man had been acci-
IDENTIFY shot and that he never saw the
pistol until 1t was picked up by DIR. A OK.
lie stated that he was excited and that
he heard the Martin woman call for
physician. and that he ran for and Sc