The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-06-16
JuStlfidbI6 Homicide.
Alfred N. Goodwin Acquitted Of the
KILLING of E. L. StuCkeu.
Hitter Three Days Trial and Eleven Of the
Jurors Locked Up Two Nights Their
Verdict Is Not GuiItu."


When the case of Alfred NJ. Good
wyn was called on Wednesday morn.
Ing. several of the defendants wit.
nesses failed tn answer to their name
District Attorney Hunter announced
TINT he WINS ready to go to trial, al.
though two of the State witnesses
had failed to answer. After a short
consultation the attorneys for the
defense asked for an attachment to
issue for one of the absent witnesses.
considered OF material interest to the
defendant. This was done. and court
adjourned until Thursday morning.
The great interest In this case was
manifested by the large number of
citizens present, among them being
many ladies'. In addition to the reg
ular panel OF thirty jurors for the
week. Judge Blackman had ordered
Sheriff Swafford to summon fifty ex-
ira talesmen for the case, who were
all present. The day was taken up
by the selection OF Il Jury The regu-
lar panel of thirty was exhausted In
the selection of but two jurors, and
the fifty talesmen were exhausted in
the selection Of seven additional ju-
rynien. The Judge ordered the imme-
diatesummoning Of additional tales
men. Sheriff Swaiford brought In
three men. and frsm these two more
were selected. making eleven jurors
chosen up to date.
The Judge then ordered the sheriff
to go into the country and summon
ten extra talesmen, and that court
he adjourned to Friday morning.
Court met at O'Clock Friday morn
Ing. and the first talesman called " an
chosen to complete the jury, which
was as follows:
j. K. Drewett, w. j. Swor,
Jesse Thompson. w. j. Wyatt,
Mayo LaCroix, w. |. Ratcliff,
Theo. Smith, w. A. Gatlin,
Nj. T.. Buckner, A. VI. Dean,
j. Nj. Wardlow, Joel NJ. Durham
The attorneys for GOODWIN were
Judge +. G. Hunter, W. G. and j. B.
Roberts, j. A. Williams. W. b. Clarke
and joel l.. Fletcher. all of whom
took nm active and earnest interest
in what they regarded as a righteous
and Iustifiable defense.
Trial Of the case occupied all day |
until shutdown. and court was adj |
journed for an hour to give the Jurors,
Judge and attorneys time for supper.
At O'Clock the court house was
packed with great crowd. and the
district attorney opened the argu-
ment for the State. He was followed \
by w. b. Clarke. who read the jury
the law applicable to the case. by
Jno. A. Williams. who discussed the
facts. and by Judge +. q. Hunter,
who discussed the law and the facts
at length. the attorneys for the de-
Tense spenking In the order named.
The district attorney then closed
In an able and extraordinarily strong
Rpeech for the prosecution. The To-
renslc eloquence Of the attorneys In
the discussion of this case was far be-
yond the usual display In the court
room, and the utmost solemnity and
grave interest was observed during
the speeches.
The jurors retired to their room at
II O'Clock. and the Judge announced
hat court would hold until mid
light to await their verdict. At IL
o'clock the sheriff reported that the
ury had not yet reached a verdict,
md court was adjourned until
o'clock Saturday morning.
At 5:l5 a. m. on Saturday, the court
louse bell was rung. and messengers
we're sent I'm all directions for the
Judge. district attorney, clerk, and
'thers, to come to the court room.
Is a verdict had been reached.
The family. relatives, and about
lfty friends of the accused were on ,
land In few moments. After a
hort wait his honor appeared, and Z
few minutes to pass SEN
ence on three prisoners that had {
zen convicted during the term. The {
nry was brought in, and through |
heir foreman. j. NJ. Wardlow. hand
d their verdict to the clerk, who
cad mot guilty."
Court was then adjourned. and the :
sual congratulations extended the |.
ccused.
Unknown Friends. e