The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-19
RECORD OF COURTS

Much difficulty was experienced yes
terday in the criminal court, first division
in getting a jury to decide the guilt or
innocence of Jim Walker, ST., a negro,
charged with murder.
The case is surrounded with unusual
features and incidents. The basis of the
charge is the DEATH from gunshot
wounds, of w. D. HILL a storekeeper of
Oxmoor, about year ago. The grand
jury returned true bill against Jim
Walker, Sr, and his son. Jim Walker, Jr.,
charging that they had killed the white
man.
The Walkers were arrested shortly af-
ter the killing was made known to the
authorities, and have been in jail since
that time They are alleged to have made
many statements to the jailers relative to
the killing and most of the testimony
adduced at the trial was given along those
lines, although there was much evidence
of circumstantial nature introduced by
the prosecution.
The Walker boy was tried and found
guilty Wednesday. He had entered plea
of guilty and was the most important
witness in his own case, his testimony
being in effect that he had killed Mr..
Hill by shooting him, but he dwelt en-
phatically upon the point that he was
compelled by his father to do the shoot
ing.
The boys testimony created something
of a stir Wednesday, and when he was
called yesterday as witness for the pros
ecution in the case of his father, there
was a wave of excitement in the court
room The boys testimony yesterday was
entirely and directly opposite the testi-
mony he gave the day before, and because
of that fact the interest of the specta-
tors was aroused.
The boy testified yesterday that he had
killed Mr.. Hill, and that his father knew
nothing about it until after the deed was
committed. He said further that he had
testified falsely the day before in saying
his father had compelled him to do the
killing.
In answer to questions from the attor-
neys the boy stated that during the night
he had decided to tell the truth and moth
ing but the TRUTH no matter what the con-
sequences might be. He was asked If an
angle had appeared to him during the
night and told him to tell the TRUTH" and
he replied that there was no angel to
appear. but he had just decided to tell
the TRUTH
He said he had become angered when
he learned his wages had been garnished,
and feeling sure Mr.. Hill had caused the
garnishment to be issued against him, he
went home. obtained his shotgun, and
killed Mr.. Hill when he met him in the
road.
The case was taken up the first thing
yesterday morning, but 1t was not until
nearly 3 o'clock that a jury was obtained.
Thei twelve men who had found the boy
guilty were not allowed to take part in
the case of the father. and the remaining
twenty-four men in the venire were not
sufficient to furnish the full jury quota.
A number of names of additional tales
men were drawn from the jury box be-
fore the noon recess, and the sheriff was
kept busy serving the summons. When
court reconvened at 2 o'clock, the COM
plotting of the jury was taken up. con-
tinuing about an hour.
The taking of testimony continued until
nearly. $3.50 o'clock, when court adjourn
ed Argument will be had this morning,
after which the case will so to the jury.
The second division of the criminal court
transacted another big batch of business
yesterday. in misdemeanor cases. Sew
eral cases of minor nature was COM
pleted. The cases on the docket for today
are as follows
Frank Mattel, appeal; Lethia Smith,
abusive language; Sam Moore, carrying
q concealed pistol; Gertrude Madison, as
sault and battery; Annie Roy, assault and
battery; Minnie Major, defamation; w. A.
Chappell, petit larceny; G. F. Lytle, petit
larceny.
The case of George Ralmadge, charged
with robbery, Is on the docket for the
first division for today.
The case of L. L. Hayes VS. the Birming