The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-02-08

miss one warrant or state what he is
holding the prisoners on.
u am simply holding them because |
do not believe that they are telling the
truth | intend to hold them until they
make up their minds to do so. may
make their bonds at $1,000 EACH
Solicitor Heflin, who had been sitting
quietly listening to the arguments of
counsel for the defense on the question
of bond and other incidents of the case,
arose. r
There has been a murder committed"
said the prosecutor, and these people
here know who committed It, Crime has
been rampant in this county and the
time for it to stop is now at hand. Crime
is what persons make 1t. You. Coroner
Paris, are sitting here with six men repre-
senting the law of this county. 1t is the
duty of every lawabiding citizen to assist
in the putting down of crime. Five or six
persons come here and state that they
do not know how Freeman was killed. A
majority of the witnesses were in the
room in which Freeman met his death. |
tell you they do know and should be held
until they ascertain thar the truth in
this case must come out 1t looks to me
that every effort Is being made to shield
some one in this case. They talk about
bond for appearance in such a case, a
case where murder is clear and to my
opinion unprovolSed. l ask that Marie
Martin, Richard Wray, Lansdowne,
Mathews and the Henderson woman be
committed to Jail without the benefit of
BAIL"
Judge Allen argued that the law in GER
tain cases allowed bond
Yes, it is pity that it Is so" replied
Solicitor Helm. "In this instance such
a law should be disregarded or repealed.
The attorney for the defense argued that
bond should be given his clients though
he made. no such direct assertion. Coro-
ner Paris stated that he intended to hold
the three men and two women until Tues
day morning, February 10. Judge Allen
asked that the hearing be taken up again
either Friday or Saturday For time
it appeared as if the coroner was inclined
to agree with the defendants attorney.
but this inclination was of short dura-
ton as Solicitor Heflln again appeared
in opposition.
Keep them In jail as long as possible"
he said. Tuesday is not too long. Send
them back there again If they cannot
tell the truth concerning this case.
insist upon the continuation of this in
vestigation. We want all the evidence we
can get In this matter and I believe that
the longer the prisoners stay in jail the
better. I desire to emphasize my re-
quest that they stay there until Tues
day
Coroner Paris acceded to the request of
the solicitor and continued the hearing
until Tuesday morning at O'Clock at
the same place. He appointed e. F. Riley
foreman of the coroner's jury and named
L. A. Wakefield secretary.
Prisoners Not Discouraged.
The accused are not discouraged over
the result of the inquest. They state that
they will be able to prove their inno-
cence of the charge against them They
we're conveyed back to the county jail
where they will remain until the hear
ing next week. unless otherwise released
Mr. Heflin Talks.
After the hearing Solicitor Heflin dis
cussed the death of Freeman and in
strong terms denounced the prevailing
increase in crime" He said:
Jefferson county has had too much
crime. The only way to stop it is for
the good people to lend their aid and
influence in such a direction Let them
assist the officers in securing evidence in
all cases and instead of trying to get
criminals out of Jail. assist in their con-
yiction To my mind, IN fact, there is
no doubt in my opinion, but what Free
man was killed. The idea of these people
In the room with him not knowing some
thing of the killing Is absurd and I'M
true.
Il am going to give my personal at
tention to this case and believe with
the assistance of the officers and those
who can throw any light on the matter
that the mystery will be cleared up and
that somebody will spend time other than
in coy home in Birmingham. Crime
must stop
Irma Henderson, one of the women held
nv Coroner Paris, when called to testify
was i'll. She was carried to the county
Jail and placed in the hospital row. where