The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-11-25
CHRISTMAS
ON the STAND
Describes His Movements in
Detail on Night of
Murder.
STRONG CASE MADE BY DEFEND
ANT-EVIDENcE ALL IN AND
ARGUMENT BEGINS.
Special to The Journal.

SpeCtaI to ne journal.
Mariana, Nov. 24.-MrS. Christ
mas, while on the stand Friday after
noon, was asked by defendants coun-
sci every possible question, as TO her
husbands movements Monday and
Tuesday before the crime was COM
mitted what clothes he wore that
week and the week before. She sta
ted that he came home at 1890
Monday night, and shortly before
eleven Tuesday night. On Tuesday
he wore a white shirt with black
stripes, instead of one with red
stripes, similar to the one found in
the store with blood stains on it, and
which Mir. White testified that he
wore. On Wednesday morning he
changed his clothes, as he was pre-
pairing to go to Dothan, put on an
other shirt with smaller black stripes
and brown suit of clothes, also in
this cOntradicting Mr. White, who
said he wore gray suit. She cor
roborated other defendant witnesses,
in that she aud Miss Pansy Tucker,
daughter of Mrs. White, went to Pea
cocks Tuesday night, remained until
$50 and came home in slight driz-
zling rain. Did not see MI. Christ
mas until he came in.
She was subjected to a rigid cross
examination, but bore the ordeal well,
ansT ering simply and never losing
her self-possession. She explained
that the gray pants that White had
testified the searching party failed
to find in Christmas room, were
hanging on a door in her room, under
a skirt and clothes of hers.
Defendant Testifies.
Late in the afternoon, the defend
ant, Wm. Christmas rs5ok the stand
and narrated in detail Ills actions the
week Of the tragedy and the week
prior He went to his store Monday
night, marked goods and arranged
stock; shut his store and. with his
brother, went down to Jasper JUS
ticeS's, his teamster, to arrange for
him n go to the mill for him next
day, and Jne day after, to go up into
Alabama; went on down to John JUS
tiees's house, to arrange for him to
accompany Jasper, then ne and his
brother, Joe, returned as far as the
residence OF Mr.. White, where he
went in, his brother going to his own
boarding house. That was about ten
o'clock or shortly after ten. The next
night, he went to his store, worked
there for a while, then went to an
oyster wagon, a restaurant and then
to see party about digging well
then to DR.. Booths store, and on tC
the house of Mrs. Peacock, where he
had heard his wife was; arrived there
found his wife was gone; he went in
played few pieces on the organ
joined with the others In singing, lef'
a few moments before eleven o'clocF
and went home: it was driZzing rair
at that time. He had thus accounted
for all of the time that evening. wal
corroborated by other witness, and by
his wife in that he returned at clever
and did not go away again that night
On cross examination he admitted
that he was the only party who haC
key TO the store, that he was IL
there at least four times after hi'
fathers death and before search wa:
made; did not remember seeing blood
stained shirt; but knew he had thrown
it on a box of "egg-fillers" under thu
stairway. He admitted that search
ing party had been in this room; di(
not think they made very thorough
! search. Could not account for TIL
shirt being found in between floor ant
ceiling up stairs. Defendant was OF
the stand FIVE hours or more, the nigh
session continuing until eleven O'Clock
Defense Rests.
AT $40, after short consultation
defense rested; the state then pro
duced several witnesses In rebuttal
the most important being a colore'
woman, who heard words about som'
six hundred dollars that was short
, between defendant and his tathe
two weeks before the crime. Thl
was to rebut Christmas testimony
that there was no difference between
he and his father. Defense immedl
ately tried to impeach witness test
mony.
At eleven O'Clock Mr. Kehoe begal
his argument to the jury.