The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-18
THREE MORE
 IN THE TOLLS Negroes Are Arrested on
 Suspicion. ARE IMPLICATED BY COLEMAN
Police Act Promptly on Accused
 Murderers Confession.
spvestisstiea of statement Made by Prisoner as to siayers of Fin- Icy Believed se bs
 . .steil."

John Reese. Will Reese and Jerry Ross, three negroes named by Corbin Coleman in his partial confession, as being implicated in the murder of J. A. Finley, are under arrest at police Headquarters. The police. after another investigation, state they have been un- able to secure one iota of evidence to connect the three negroes with the brutal murder, but the prisoners will be held until another thorough inves- tigation may be made.
 The police take no stock in the al- leged confession of Coleman. John Reese and Jerry Ross were among the first negroes arrested as suspects. Their possible connection with the crime was gone over exhaustively. The police traced their movements on the night young Finley was butchered In such horrible fashion. but the negroes, so far as could be learned. were never connected in any way with the crime beyond their presence with other ne- nrues at Fishers bar when young Fin lev was last seen by a white man. search as they might, the police were unable to discover any evidence show ing they had any knowledge of the crime.
 They were accordingly released. The father of the confessed murderer re- ported the partial confession that Cal vin Coleman had made to him. in which he said he was present at the ffrne the unfortunate young man was murdered, but that he did not strike the blows which killed him. He nam ed the two Reeses and Ross as the ne- aroes who did the killing. Solely on ehe strength of this statement, Chief Taylor had the negroes, who had not attempted to leave the city, re-arrest- ed He detailed Special oficers Payne and Jackson on the case, and they and yesterday in searching for some corroborative evidence of Coleman's statement
 Negroes TeiI Straight story.
 The negroes accused by Coleman, the police say. told 8 straight and circum- stantfal account of what they did af- ter they were in Fishers bar on the night of the crime. They gave the names of several witnesses to estab- Iihh the truth of their story, and to corroborate what they said as to their movements on the night of the murder. The special officers have already seen some of the witnesses, and all of them will be seen before the investigation Is ended.
 Chief Taylor and his men take no stock in Coleman's alleged confession,
 
 fore releasing the prisoners. The po- lice believe the statment made by Cole man is in common parlance "a stall concocted to give him more time and muddy the waters. They believe the ne- gro delivered himself of that story in order to block immediate legal proceed sngs, and in the hope his life would be prolonged for any advantage he might possess as witness.
 The police have never wayered in their belief that Coleman alone did the crime. The excellent work of the dapart- ment with the results that have follow ed have only confirmed Chief Taylor and his men of the truth of their the cry.
 The alleged confession of the negro is only one of a series of conflicting and sometimes impossible statements made by Coleman. He has denied all know ledge of the crime, he has denied all knowledge of the bloody clothing. But with the damning proor massine against him he has in his statment. as reported by his father, admitted inc bloody clothes. and has admitted he vVas