The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-04-04
Bill Christmas, Walter Holland
and Jno. Justice Must Answer
the Grave Charge.
STORY or THE cRIMEAAs TOLD By
WITNESSES ON THE STAND At
MaARIAdNA COURT - BLOODY
CLOTHING WAS EXHIBITED AND
IDENTIFIED As PROPERTY or
BILL CHRISTMAS.
special to The JournaI.

Mariana, April 3.-At the close OF
the preliminary hearing Of Bill Christ
mas, his brother-in-law, Walter Hol-
land, and the two negroes, Jasper JUS
tiee and his son John Justice, charg-
ed with the murder Of Judge J. NJ.
Christmas and family in a most afro
cioUs manner near CampbelltOn, this
county, several weeks ago, Bill Christ
mas, Walter Holland and John JUS
tice were remanded to Jail to await
trial upon the charge in the circuit
court
The preliminary hearing Of the men
began yesterday morning and the first
witness called was
Jack Boone
who testified that he resided on the
Christmas place at the time the TRACE
dy was committed and that he was in
the yard adjoining the residence Of
Judge Christmas on the morning that
the murders were discovered; he had
not seen any of the family about tho
place and had left and gone to the
home Of Waiter Holland, who return
ed TO the Christmas home with him,
as did also Mrs. Alice Holland and the
children of Walter Holland. When he
returned to the Christmas home he
entered the house and there saw
Judge Christmas, Mrs. Christmas and
their little son, all dead; he knew
nothing of his own knowledge as to
who killed them.
w. L. Mckinley.
W. i. Mckinley. who resides in
CampbeHtOn, is a Justice Of the peace
and in his official capacity held an
inquest upon the bodies of Judge Christ
mas and family He testified that he
had known deceased during their lives
and that he was acquainted with VIII
Christmas, who was manager Of the
business of Christmas & Son. He
said there was a large crowd at the
Christmas home when he arrived
there; the bodies were lying on a bed
and all bore evidence of having been
struck about the head with an axe or
some such instrument, the skulls be-
ing crushed. Witness testified that
there was blood in several PAGES in
the rooms and that the bed bore some
evidences Of a struggle, being torn
up considerably. Witness also gave
testimony relative to the business Of
Christmas and son and several other
matters relating indirectly to the
tragedy at the Christmas home.
Said he, in company with
Detective l. A. Schmid. W. z
Smith and Will Pitcher, found
a shirt which was stained with
blood. This shirt, he said, he found
showed in between the floor jOice
W. L. Pitcher.
W. L. Pitcher. brother-in-law Of VIII
Christmas testified that he lived half
a mile from CampbelltOn on the road
10 the Christmas place and that he
first heard Of the murders about sun
rise. He stated that he was at home
the night before and that at an early
hour on the morning OF the killings a
vehicle Of some kind passed his house
going towards CampbelltOn at a high
rate Of speed; he was familiar with
the horse driven by Judge Christmas
and judged from its gait that it was
the judges horse; examination Of the
tracks next morning confirmed his
opinion He saw the shirt which Il
was claimed had been found
in the store and was in the
store Of VIII Christmas az
The time IL was found At the time
he shirt was discovered witness was
IN the upper hall and saw Mckinley
come from behind a partition holding
the shirt.
w. &. Bryan Smith.
W. E. Bryan Smith stated that he
was present When the bloody shirt was
found In the store of Will Christmas
and had seen Mckinley come from be
hind the partition with It. He was
also present az the Jail on Wednesday
morning when the bloody shirt vas
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