The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-06
WILL COLE LODGED
IN COUNTY JAIL
Charged With Murder of AnaS-
taSiuS AIgiro
WITNESS IDENTIFIES NEGRO
Remarkable Resemblance Between
Cole and Another Negro Does Not
Cause Any Uncertainty
In Witness Mind.

The inquest on the death of Anastasius
Algiro, the Greek storekeeper who was
shot and killed December 81 in his store
on the corner of Third avenue and Twen-
ty. fourth street. was resumed yesterday
morning
A negro named VIII Cole had been pre-
viously arrested on suspicion of being the
man who fired the shot and has been held
in Jail awaiting identification. He was
in court this morning and sitting beside
him on a bench was another negro as
like Cole as his reflection in a mirror. Sew
eral persons in court commented upon
the striking resemblance between the ne
groes, not only features, but in size, shape
and even the color of their clothes.
First Witness Examined.
The first witness examined by the cor
oner was a lady named Mrs. Williamson,
who lives on Third avenue She testified
that on the evening the Greek was killed
she went to his store and bought lemons.
That was about o'clock and while there
she saw. the one who was stasding out
ment within a couple of feet of the door
to the store, and that she closely OBJ
served him. The coroner asked her to
look at the negroes present and say il
she sa wthe one who was standing out
side the door that night. There were four
negroes on the bench, including the two
who so much resembled each other, and
without any hesitation she pointed out
Cole as the man YES" said the witness.
that negro with the pink shirt is the
man." She also Identified the Greek boy
who sold her the lemons The witness fur
Their stated that she had no conversation
with anyone about the matter except her
husband that she had never seen the
negro before the night of the shooting of
Algro, mad had not seen him since until
the present moment.
Witness was closely cross-examined by
Attorney P. G. Bowman. but she main
tained her composure and positively stat
ed that the negro with the pink shirt was
the one she saw at the store. Mr.. Bowman
drew her attention to the resemblance be-
tween Cole and the other negro, and asked
her to say how she could distinguish be-
tween them. Witness admitted there were
many points of likeness but that they did
not favor each other. On redirect ex
animation witness said there was good
light on the corner, and she had good
look at the man. she said she did not
know the negro's name.
Boy Too Badly Excited.
An attempt was made to examine the
boy, the son of the murdered Greek,
through the medium of an interpreter, but
he was so confused by the events that
have recently happened to him that he
could remember nothing, not even selling
the lemons to the previous witness,
Ananias King, a negro, was questioned
about the pistol which 1t is alleged Cole
used King testified that he owned a six
chamber Smith & Wesson which Cole bor-
rowed from him occasionally. That on the
night the Greek was shot he received
telephone message at the place where he
was working to go to the house of Elenor
Young and get the pistol; that he went
there after he quit work and got the pis-
tol; that Cole was in the house, but did
not get up. as it was after IL o'clock.
Witness said that when he lent Cole the
pistol he gave him three additional shells,
and that Cole returned only two. Witness
was asked what he wanted with a pistol.
on why he carried one and he said it was
because he lived on the South Highlands
and had to so home there late at night.
Witness said Cole did not tell him he had
got into trouble, and he denied having
ever said that Cole told him so.
Elenor Parkes, a negress, testified that
she knew Will Cole for about three
months; that she remembered the night
the Greek was murdered. She said that
Cole came to her house about o'clock
in the evening, just as her sister Ida went
out and that they sat there talking for
about a half hour when Ida returned
and told them a "Dago' had been shot
and killed on the corner of Third avenue
and Twenty-fourth street. Witness said
she heard the shot fired but took no
notice, as shooting is common about
there. Witness said that after she heard
the shot she saw men running up Third
avenue, toward the new station. Witness
said Cole was wearing black over
coat when he called.
officer STREET testified that he got the
pistol produced from the saloon where
king was employed. 1t was agreed be-
tween the coroner and Attorney Bow
man that the pistol Introduced belonged
to King and that IL was tne one ne
had lent to Cole. The number of the pistol
was taken down as mark of identifica-
ton.
f. II. Cokeroft, who testified as an
expert, said that the pistol introduced
had been used and not cleaned. He iden-
titled the gun as one that King showed
him, saying that Cole had pawned 1t
TO him for $40. This closed the evidence.
Jury Returns Verdict.
After five minutes elaboration the jury
returned the following verdict: I'VE, the
jury, duly empaneled by the coroner OF
Jefferson county on, to-wit, December 20,
tc inquire into the death of Anastasius
Algiro have diligently Investigated said
case, taking all the testimony obtainable.
We agree that deceased came to his death
by gunshot wound in the left breast,
! being unlawfully and with malice afore-
thought fired by Win Cole. against the
peace and dignity of the state of Ala
bama. y. l.. JONES, Foreman.
After the verdict was rendered the coro-
ner swore out warrant for VIII Cole.
charging him with murder in the first
degree He was then lodged in the county
! iail where he is at present