The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-12
Denies Charge.

When arrested last night Coleman said
that he had been away from the section
where the body was found and had moth
ing to do with it. He said that the blood
on his shirt was not blood and that he
had bought the watch from another
negro several days ago. He contends
That he had no knowledge OF the crime
and says he can prove that he was not
about the place. However, there is no
explanation that seems reasonable so far
Tor the blood stains and Chief TAYLOR
says that he has ascertaned from what
seems good evidence that Finley had his
watch on when last seen Saturday night.
1t is small lady's size double case
watch and has chain.
There seems to be only good evidence
against Coleman. There are ten others
held, some of whom may be connected
directly with the murder but so far
they have not been so implicated. These
are Susie Crawford Venus Glover Willie
Conley, Frank Reed, Willie Terrell, Sweet
White Fred Armstrong, Eva Ewing
Sara stephens and jerry Ross. Chief
Taylor says he will have several others
later, but thinks that most of them will
be held for witnesses. Every detective
on the force and most of the patrolmen
are on the lookout and 1t is pretty GER
tain now that with the chain being
worked out the chief will have one or
more others in the tolls by night.
Finding of the Body.
The body of Finley WAS found early
yesterday morning by a negro woman
and some men and the police notified His
head was lying In his hat and there were
forty-fve cuts about his head and face.
In fact. there are few spots on his face
and head that were not gashed with the
knife that the assailants had He had
evidently been dead for some time as his
body was stiff and cold. There were
number of papers scattered on the
ground, and his pockets had been turned
inside out, the purpose of the crime being
robbery no doubt. He is supposed to
have had his watch in the right-hand
trousers pocket.
The police went out and Coroner Tice
was notified The body was brought to
the undertaking parlors of Coroner Tiee,
at Court and Washington streets. where
a jury was summoned and the inquest
held. After hearing several witnesses the
case was continued to Tuesday morning
at 10 O'Clock, when other testimony win
be taken. Both the coroner and the chief
of police have been very busy and it is
thought that they will be ready to report
a definite line of effort by this evening
or tomorrow. The chief has developed u
line of evidence that seems a we'll worked
out chain. The arrest of the several ne
groes leading up to that of Coleman is
thought to be the working out of evil
denee that he has in hand.
Hearing of Evidence.
1t was brought out that Finley was in
the employ of II. M. Austin and that he
was paid $12 for weeks work. Satur-
day night. Since that time Mr.. Austin
never saw him alive. After leaving the
store he went to the drug store of VIII
liam Kelley and paid a bill, receiving
1885, in change. He then went to tie
store of the Atlantic and Pacific Tea
company, where he talked with j. b. and
o. C. McLendon, who were there. After
that he was seen in Peacock tract and
North Montgomery.
DR. NJ. b. Kirkpatrick testified that the
wounds on the neck and throat were ia
tai in effect. He believed that the blows
with the sharp instrument were made
while the dead man was facing his
saliant. The windpipe was cut in two
and the jugular vein severed. AS the
cuts were mostly the face the muir
derer must have been 1eft-handed.
The witnesses examined included tho
doctor, w. j. Barker and j. NJ Iearn,
roommates OF the dead man: Mr.. McLen-
don, mentioned above; VIII Davis and
Tom Porter, negroes. who found the
body; Susie Haney and the negro girl
who cleans up his room at the boarding
house of Mrs. Gilmer on Bibb street.