The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-11-23
STATE RESTS IN
CHRISTMAS TRIAL
Defense Begins BY Impeach-
ing State Witnesses.
Records introduced.
COURT HOLDING THREE SEES
SIONS DAILY-MUCH PROGRESS
MADE AND INTEREST IN
cREASES.
Special to The Journal.

Mdrldnnd, NOV. ZZ.-lntereSt con-
tinues at fever heat here in tht
Christmas murder trial The sessions
to-day have been largely attended.
The new court house not being com
pleted court is being held in a hall
over a store, and is Lighted only by
small lamps on tables, where counsel
are engaged with the mass of evidence
in the shape OF maps, diagrams, cloth
ing, etc. 1t certainly presents
weird scene. In circle outside the
bar appear the faces of scores of la
dies intent on hearing every word
that falls from the lips of the wit
nesses. The rainbow hues of The fall
millinery-delicate colors OF feather
boas, chiffons, and flowers-lending
an unwonted air to the usual sedate
and sober atmosphere of the court
room.
At the session of court last night
Allen Burns, w. +. B. Smith, and
Sheriff H. H. Lewis were put on the
stand and testified to conversations
they had with Christmas in the jail
immediately after the finding Of the
bloOd-stained shirt
Burns testified that he asked Christ
mas what he had done with the over
alls, ETC., when he put the blood
stained shirt between the ceiling and
floor, and that Christmas answered IL
didn't put anything else there" W.
E. B. Smith corroborated this state
ment, but Sheriff Lewis was not posi-
tive about hearing him say anything
else"
| All three of these witnesses testi.
fed that when Christmas was first
asked about the shirt that he denied
that he owned it, but that he imme-
diately afterwards admitted that 1t was
his. Defendant told witness that he
got blood stains on the shirt while he
was cutting a hog. Witness asked
defendant who brought HIM the hog
and he replied "a man."
Judge McKinnon testified that he
asked Christmas if the hog was
brought to him by one of the negroes
in Jail (meaning John and Jasper JUS
|, tice, at that time held for the muir
der) and defendant <eplied NO
When asked who it was, Christmas
said he preferred not to tell Just then
but would tell later.
Shortly before nine O'Clock the
state rested its case and counsel for
defense asked for an adjournment in
order to enable them TO arrange the
order in which they would need their
witnesses. Court adjourned for The
night.
Morning Session.
On the converting of court this
morning W. Fl. Watson, of counsel for
defense, made a statement to the jury
outlining the theory of the defense
Mr. Watson briefly rehearseG the con
tentions of the state and what il
sought to prove and asked the jury
to recall the statements of the va
rious witnesses wherein they conflict
ed as to time and place OF seeing the
horse alleged to belong to Christmas
That this horse was alleged to bave
beer seen in one place hitched 20 q
buggy, and at another place by diff
ferent witness further down the same
road in the direction he was proceed
ing not ten or fifteen minutes earlier
without a vehicle, but with a rider or
his back.
Maps and diagrams were again pro
duced and witnesses for defense were
Intercepted chiefly with view of I'M
peaching the states witnesses.
lmpeaching Witnesses.
DR.. Booth was called to the stanC
and questioned as to the testimon,
taken by him as a member OF the cor
Ioner's jury wherein it was stated thai
Jack Boone had testified that he cam,
morning; tracked buggy there, ant
down to the public well DR.. Boot
testified that before the coroner's jur,
Boone had said that he had tracked ;
buggy to Campbellton. about Gallo
ways stables and that it had Their,
turned of on grassy slope befor,
getting to the well
On cross examination DR.. Boot
Continued on Page Four.)