The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-09
|S. |. BURCH NOT GUILTY Slayer of Marion Phillips is Freed. WAS KILLED IN SALOON Selma Non-Union Lineman Ac-
 quilted by Court. Testimony shows that He shot Strike Leader to Protect His Life--News
 of the Central City.
Advertiser Bureau.


 Selma, Jan. 8.
 S. L. Burch, the Southern Bell Tele. phone Iineman. who last Friday even ing. in a saloon on Alabama Street, shot to death Marion Phillips, former em- ploye of the Bell Telephone Company, walked from the police court this morning free man.
 It was generally thought that as the grand jury was in session that there would be no preliminary hearing but instead that the grand jury would in- vestigate the killing. But yesterday afternoon the attorneys for the defend- ant, after the arrival of one of the ie- gal advisors of the telephone company, decided to have a preliminary hearing of the case in police court this morn Ing.
 Every bit of testimony introduced showed that Burch acted in seif-de- fense Since the morning after the killing public sentiment has been Tn favor of Burch, and when he was re- leased from the custody Of the law this morning after the trial u occa- stoned no surprise.
 The evidence showed that Burch had been bounded and abused by Phillips. Phillips was the foreman of gang or linenen for the Southern Bell Tele- phone Company In this city until the first of last April On that day throughout the South the union lfne- men in the employ of that company went on a strike. Marion Phillips and the other union men under him walked out as did hundreds of other men.
 The telephone company brought men to Selma to take the places of the union men and to break the strike. Among these men was S. L. Burch. Since his arrival in Selma, or very shortly thereafter, he has been sub iected to abuse from Phillips, accord ing to the testimony. Many times ne was insulted, but these insults he new CT resented until last Friday evening, when he shot Phillips to death.
 Each witnesses who testified, did so In behalf of the defendant. The testi- mony showed conclusively that the de- fendant in self-protection was com pelled to kill Phillips. Many witnesses were examined. The story eacn one told was against the dead man.
 Burch. on the stand. said that he had walked in the saloon to get a glass of beer; that he saw Phillips through a mirror take something from a man pocket and try to put in his own with out letting anyone see what IL was He said he then walked to where he was and hit him on the right shoul- der and that when he turned ne was hit in the face. The blow, he said knocked him against a post and kept nim from failing to the floor While he was against the post he saw Phillips take from his pocket pistol. At the sight of the deadly weapon in the hand of his enemy he jerked his pistol from his pocket and before Phil- lips had a chance, began shooting. Both shots struck Phillips and he was sinking to the floor when Burch left the place.
 Burch said that he then went to the telephone exchange and told Manager Doyle what he had done, He was ad- vised to surrender. He took this ad- vice and telephoned for officers, who called at the telephone exchange and placed him under arrest.