The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-11-22
DAMAGING EVIDENCE
AGAINST CHRISTMAS
County Judge Found Blood
Stains on Will Present
ed By Him.
WITNESSES DESCRIBE AWFUL
SCENE AT CHRISTMAS HOME
ON MORNING OF CRIME
CHRISTMAS RLooD-sTAlNED
SHIRT FOUND.

Mariana, Nov. 21.-The principal
witness examined at last nights ses-
sion was Joe White with whom
William Christmas and his wife
boarded, at Campbellton, at the time
of and prior to the homicide.
1t was developed by this witness
that Christmas was out late Monday
night, and also Tuesday night. the
night the homicide occurred, and that
on Tuesday night his horse was recog-
niZed by many people. Witness re-
membered that the defendant wore a
white shirt with red stripes the day
before the crime was committed.
| On cross examination he admitted
| that he had testified at former trial
that he might have been mistaken as
to the shirt worn by The defendant.
Court adjourned shortly after nine
o'clock.
Morning Session.
On the converting of court this
morning Joe White resumed the stand
and identified the shirt, suit of clothes
and the hat worn by the defendant on
the Tuesday stated
Justice of the Peace w. S. McKfn-
ley, who held the inquest was exam
ined to ascertain how the bodies Of
the murdered family were found. He
testified that blood stains were on the
floor, and on the dresser; that
the furniture and beds in the other
rooms were disarranged.
This witness testified that in search
| H. 30 iofy o. of
Campbellton he found the white shirt
with the red stripes in the attic of
the store, between the ceiling of the
lower and flooring of the upper room.
This was about a month after the &C.
currence, and while William Christ
mas was in Jail awaiting a prelimi-
nary hearing.
w. E. B. Smith was also present
when the shirt was found, and ne, as
well as the Justice of the peace and
H. H. Lewis all testified to seeing
blood stains on the Wristbands and
front of the shirt.
c. r. Jones testified that the de-
PENDANT had boarded with him up to
August, 1903. That he left his trunk
and various articles of wearing ap-
Iparel in a room occupied by him
there: that pair of cuffs, evidently be-
longing to his red-striped shirt, were
found in his room, about the time, and
Just prior to the finding of the shirt
in the store. Witness had loaned
Christmas & Son $500. Before that
was paid defendant had borrowed 5000
more: defendant gave witness a check
lon the Graceville bank in payment of
this last sum, but subsequently, when
witness was going to Graceville, asked
him not to present it as he had with
drawn his account from the bank.
Mrs. White Testifies.
Mrs. Joe White next testified in
substance as her husband had That
w. d. Christmas was out later than
Ito or 1920 O'Clock Monday and Tues
day nights; that she did not htar
him come in. He asked for an early
breakfast the first thing Wednesday
and left the house and did not return.
Witness did not remember the
clothes worn by the defendant the pre-
ceeding day but rememberede that he
had a gray suit of cloths he had been
wearing. At the conclusion OF hel
IL6SIlmOny court duJUul uCu All NlAhNh
Afternoon Session.
|. When court convened this at
Q ternoon Mr.. w. d. Pybus, con
: santable and deputy sheriff
!. was called to the witness stand
' and testified as to the scene presented
o on the morning of the crime at the
o Christmas residence, He had
\ conversation with the defendant a
q his store; that he asked leave tC
= search his store. teling him that nu
6 merous individuals had asked him i
!, he had made a search of the store;
: that defendant declined to allow hin
: to make the desired search, saying
It was late, getting cold, ne was sicl
and had his wife waiting in a buggy
e for him. but he or his brother, Joe
would come in on Saturday with thu
key.
On cross-examination witness ad
> mitted that defendant came in OIL
Monday and permitted a search to b.
:. made and that nothing was found. 4
6 written statement was given to TIT
= defendant to that effect.
Store Guarded.
y Tom Taryer was then called ant
testified as follows: That the stor'