The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-11
]. A. FINLEY FOUND DEAD; ss,
 BODY CRUELLY BUTCHERZD

hour later ne talked Nth kEB.. Hig- don and o. c. McLendonA 4ployes Of the Atlantic and Pacific TX Company. in the store on Dexter Az 4dN At both places. those with whom talAad said nc seemed under the mi nee of NQuor. When he left the latt Gplace he vas Joined by a man whoy <,hus far no oNe has been able to ioca The police arS looking for thls mar. s
 Last Seen in Pencock Tract.
 Later 1t is reported. he was seen in North Montgomery. and still later in the evening. he is said to nave been IF a saloon in the Peacock Tractf From the time he left the place. he disaps peared, and the next information re- ceived of his whereabouts. was when officers from the police department. having been called to the spot by tele- phone information that body had been discovered. found his name on the pa- per lying beside him on the ground.
 These facts were brought out in the coroner's hearing yesterday. From II o'clock in the morning until after 6 o'clock in the evening the jurymen examined witnesses. First in the un- dertaking parlors of the coroner. and then on the spot where the body had been found. the jurymen heard the statements of more than a dozen per- sons who. 1t was thought. might throw some light on the tragedy. Then. af- ter dark. the jury adjourned from the bloodstained pit at the side of the road where the corpse had lain. to the police station. Four negroes. two men and two women. had been arrested on suspicion by the orders of Chief of Po- lice Taylor during the day. They were Sarah Stephens of North Montgomery and Eva Ewing, Fred Armistead and Sweet White of Peacock's Tract. It A AL~ t.-k ~ i.1- n.Sr the testimony of these negroes before reaching a verdict. but after a con. sultafion with Chief Taylor behind closed doors. the jury decided to ad- journ the meeting until 10 o'clock to- morrow morning. when the delibera- tions of the body will be continued. and the prisoners heard As a con- sequence the coroner's verdict will not be announced until that time at the earliest.
 The reason for the delay in the pro- ceedings was not given out. Just what additional evidence Chief Taylor expects to be able to procure before that time Is known only to the police official and his assistants. It is under stood there are several facts which were not brought out at the hearing yesterday. There Is a rumor that ad- ditfonal evidence may be secured. if
 
 withheld. the publication of which might destroy the chance for the police chief to secure evidence of a more positive nature than is at present known.
 Theories of the Police.
 There are several possible theories upon which the police are now work ing in their effort to arrive at infor- nation which will solve the mystery of John Finley's death. The neighbor- T. L.. L Hx n a an unsavory reputation. It is sparsely settled, and the nearest houses are oc. cuFied by negroes. It is thought pos sible he might have been returning to the city after visiting place of dis repute,S and was set upon by his nur. derer or murderers and thrown Into a little cut at one side Of the road and there, killed. This theory, however. is secuted by some on the gound that influence of liquor he would have made a determined effort to defend himself. and his hands bear evidence that no ef- fort was made to fend of the blows which brought about his death.
 Another theory upon which the po- lice are believed to be working, is that he was taken to the place where he was found after his death. The traces of blood found about the body, they say. are not as plentiful as they would have been. had he bled to death on the ground. The fact that Susie Haney. the negress who first telephoned the infor nation to the police that the body had been found, and who lives near the place, was arrested. and then released Is thought to indicate that the officers do not attach much importance to the theory that the deed was committed in the vicinity
 O0a nfhar fhanrxH v1htoh hauava. t.o. not yet been developed is that the man may have been drugged. and carried TO the deserted road before the killing The apparent lack of resistance It is thought. may have been due to the fact that Finley may have been incana- citated at the time his assailants came upon him It Is possible a post mortem examination may be held on the body to search for traces of drugs.
 Into all the possible explanations thus far advanced by the police there runs the theory. substantiated by the empty pocket and the bIoodstained trousers. that robbery furnished the motive or at least a partial motive for the deed, the idea being secuted that rhe pockets were turned inside out in order to have the suspicion of the po- lice turned aside from the truth
 Hearing By Coroner.
 At the hearing before the coroner, the testimony of Dr. Kirkpatrick was regarded as of vital importance. The ono cut. 1t was stated, that which severed the 1ugular vein. the windpipe and the pneumogastrie nerve was sufficient to have caused death. According to the opinion of the physician. the blows must have been struck when the vic- tim was facing his assailant They nay have been struck when the dead man was in either an erect or a prone position but they must have been struck with the assailant looking hIm in the face
 / The fact that with the exception of 3 half dozen minor injuries, all the ooshes were on the left side of the face ana neck was thorght to have indicat. ad that the man who struck them was -ioht handed. The clean and clear ln- cis,ons of the minor wounds was taKep as evidence that the weapon used had T sharp point, Dr. Kirkpatrick stated the wounds right have been made with on ordinary pocket knife. The rough a~Iees of the gaming cut in his neck, however vas thouFht to be an indi- 70 tion thet the blade of the instru .oa-t weed was dull
 Inquiry of q half dozen witnesses yesterday. peon1e who had known him In his social life. and at the residence of Mrs. GilrY,er. 311 Bibb street. where he had boarded. failed to reveal that the young man had ever carried a re- voiver- or weapon of defense or offense of any kind. T. is felt by the police to he almost a certainty that at the time he met his end he was unarmed.
 There were many rumors flying about in regard to the affair yester