The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-15
WRAY SWEARS He DID
NOT KILL FREEMAN
WAS in Room When the Shot
Was Fired
GOES TO THE JURY TODAY
Arguments Were Begun Yesterday
Afternoon and VIII Be Concluded
at the Opening of Court
This Morning,
GOES TO THE JURY TODAY

The trial of Richard Wray, charged
with murder. attracted large number
OF spectators to the first division of the
criminal court yesterday Tho defendant
is charged with killing George freeman,
about year ago, In the house Of Marie
Martin, by shooting him with a pistol.
Although there were several people In
the room at the time the tragedy oc-
Cured. none of them could shed any
light on the occurrence. When court ad-
iourned on Wednesday the solicitor stat
ed that the prosecution had one mora
witness, who was sick, but who would be
present next morning.
Charles NJ Lansdowne was carried Into
court on a stretcher and sat on a table
facing the jury The doctor stated that
the witness was seriously i'll, and any ex,
element might tend to make him worse.
Solicitor Hefiin said he would confine his
examination of the witness to one ques'
ton. The witness was then sworn.
Solicitor Heflin MIR. Lansdowne, did
you shoot Freeman"
Witness: mo"
The witness was then removed from
court and placed In an ambulance which
was in waiting
Take the stand" said Attorney B. NJ.
Allen, addressing the defendant.
Wray stated in answer to questions
from his lawyer that he knew Freeman
about eight months and that they were
always good friends. That he was in tho
room at the time Freeman was shot and
saw him fall; that he had just washed
his hands and was waiting for towel
for which Marie Martin had gone to the
wardrobe, that Freeman was standing
near the woman at the time he heard q
dull shot and saw smoke rise between
Freeman and her. Witness said that
Freeman bent over, staggered step or
two and sank to the floor in a sitting
posture; that he then fell back and died.
Witness said he told Matthews and Lans-
downe to go for a doctor and to tele-
phone the chief of police; that when they
left he and Marie Martin remained In
the room and that he went over and
picked up the pistol, which lay on the
floor close to Freeman; that Marie told
him not to touch 1t until the police came,
as it might appear he had done the
pistol. That he did not know where
Freeman was shot. but saw blood coming
from his month; stlaet he ar.vr-,o rasz s'lia
he had never known of Jew committing
suicide and was surprised at Freeman's
doing SO.
On cross-examination witness said he
did not shoot Freeman; that he was
standing fifteen feet away from Freeman
when the shot was fired; that he could
not tell how Freeman was shot, but saw
the pistol In Freeman's hand about a
half hour before the shooting. The wit
ness was examined closely upon the po-
stions of others In the room =" .''~ time
and corroborated statements made BY
other witnesses.
Wray's examination closed the testl'
mony on both sides and Judge Greene
said he would allow each side three hours
to argue the case to the Jury.
Assistant Solicitor ]. B. Arid and Attor-
ney C. p Beddow made arguments for
the state and Attorneys Erie Pettus and
B. M. Allen addressed the jury on be-
half of the defendant.
Court adjourned at $3.50, to meet this
morning at $3.50, when Attorney r. N.
Bell will speak fsr the defendant and
Solicitor II. p. Helm will close for the
state
1t is probable the Judge will deliver his
charge about 1:3o and give the case to
the jury at the MONDAY adjournment
time.