The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-30
was presenting testimony, Chairman Nal

lory sent for them.
 w. B. Merrill then proceeded with the presentation of documentary evidence.
 He read a circular letter sent out from Edwardsville after the meeting of the executive committee ordering a conven- ton. This letter was signed by no fndi- vidual by name. but by Many Dem- ocrats.' It also appeared in the Edwards vile Enterprise, paper published by A. J. Hurst. a son of Judge Hurst. At this time adjournment was taken till 2:30 p. m.
 Afternoon Session. At the afternoon session Judge Hurst put witnesses on the stand with the view of impressing the committee with the regularity of his following and the irreg- ularity of that of MT. Merrill The first called was E. R. Carleson, mayor of Fruithurst. He was made to say that if the state committee recog- nized Merrill he did not know whether he would support the nominees of the party or not.
 It was also shown by the testimony of Carleson that the Hurst crowd left the county convention before any action of any kind was taken. MT. Carleson also attended the meeting of the executive committee of the county, which called the convention, so much objected to by the Hurst men. In effect Carleson made a good witness for the Merrill faction.
 Butler a Star.
 1T. W Butler. who went from Beat [, to Edwsrdsville, to become city marshal, appeared for Hurst. He wore a natty blue uniform with brass buttons and sported policeman's star on the front of his coat. He became interesting at once. He was chairman of the crowd which bolted at Hehin the day of the county convention and had been a leader for the Hurst cohorts He told of the way the Merrill made chairman of the county convention sighted and insulted Judge Hurst. a result of which he and his friends left the crowd and moved to an- other part of the room.
 Marshal Butler also related the story of their beat meeting at Bell Mills. He told of man named York being put in as one of the clerks there. and said York was republican. W. B. Merrill who sat near, insisted that York had voted the demo- cratic ticket for years. Butler sharply de- nied it.
 MerriIl's Break.
 The witness grew very angry and re- piled sharply to everything Merrill said. Finally the latter turned to him and with flashing eyes, said: 'Is it not fact that we have had to buy you at every election for ten years?
 The question astonded every man in the ball. and the witness half rose in his chair as if to strike him, crying out, 'No'
 The chair reprimanded Mir. Merrill with much earnestness. and told him plainly there must be no more such persona- ties.
 MT. Merrill apologized to the committee but did not withdraw his question
 It was at once recognized that Mir. Mer- Till had gone far beyond his rights but the incident was allowed to drop. Asked if he would abide the action of the com mittee and support the action of the county convention if the committee de- cided against Hurst. Mir. Butler said he would.
 J. w. Pounds was an entertaining wit ness with wonderful memory He had seen and remembered many things wrong on the part of the Merrill crowd. and did not seem in love with any of them.
 This being the last of the Hurst wit nesses. Judge Hurst made short argu- ment. On being pinned down he would not say that he would support the convention nominees of his county if he lost his case, hut did not say he would not support them.
 Porter Testified.
 The Merrill forces put ". G. Porter, who was chairman of the county conven- ton of April 16. on the stand to relate the history of the action taken. He was the man who the Hurst men say forced them out of the convention by arbitrary rulings With his evidence Mir. Merrill said his side would close. The commit tee then went into executive session. and in a short time opened the doors and announced that it had decided that the organization headed by Merrill was the regular one. and would he recognized as such by the state committee.