Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-11-14
PARKS TRIAL
DRAWS CROWD
Trial OF Parks For Killing Brit
fingham Will Be Concluded
Before Another Day.


shooting of Charles Birmingham. near
Pocomoke City. in May last. was com
menced here Wednesday morning. and
has attracted hundreds of people to
Snow Hill. 1t took several hours after
the case was called, before jury could
be empanelled. and it was rather inter
esting to watch the citizens of Snow
Hill lodging the sheriff to keep from
being summoned.
The jury selected is as follows:
William A. Dsharoon, of Berlin !:
Thos. J. Veasey, Of Pocomoke City /;
Thomas j. Cropper, of Ocean City I;
James II. Hall. Of Showells James p.
Johnson. William Layfeld. John +.
Holstein, John S. Hickman. Charles II.
Parsons, Lorah H. Hickman, jerome
7. Herman and Alfred Pilchard. of
Snow Hill.
The prosecution is in the hands Of
States Attorney Johnson and Mr.. Will
liam Turner Logan, of Charleston, S. c.
The defendant is represented by
Messrs. Miles and Stanford, of Princess
Anne Melvin and Handy, of Pocomoke
City and Snow Hill Roy White and
Judge Blackstone. of Virginia.
DR.. F. w. Wilson, of Pocomoke City.
was the first witness. He testified that
the bullet entered the left shoulder of
Birmingham and glanced in diagonal
direction, entering the left lung and
that death resulted from the wound.
Miss Edna Birmingham, sister of
Charles Birmingham, testified as to the
circumstances surrounding the shooting
| The substance of her testimony was
that on the day of the tragedy, her
brother and Leonard Parks, the prisoner.
became engaged in controversy in
reference to the running of fence ;
that one hot word led to another, until
both parties became so enraged that a
fist fight followed. Birmingham threw
Parks to the ground and after striking
him in the face once or twice, Parks
said he had enough and Birmingham re-
leased him that Birmingham then walk
ed away few steps and raised his left
hand toward William Martin. who was
standing near and had addressed him.
His side was then toward Parks. Parks
was rising from the ground and picked
up a pistol which in the scufile had
slipped from his pocket. and aimed at
Birmingham, firing the fatal shot. Sew
eral other witnesses corroborated the
testimony of Miss Birmingham.
Then the state offered to close its
case without calling Mr.. Edwin Martin
as witness for the state, MIR. Martin s
testimony being more in line with the
testimony for the defense than with
that of the prosecution. Martin having
been an eye witness and having appear
ed before the grand jury, the court laid
the rule that he must be called on in be-
half of the state. He was therefore
called and after his testimony. the
counsel for the defense made the state
ment that the defense would proceed
along the lines of Martins testimony.
The chief difference between his testi-
mony and that of the states witnesses
who had preceded him was that the
other states witnesses testified that
after Birmingham had beaten Leonard
Parks and had gotten up from him,
Birmingham was standing talking to
Martin when Parks shot him. Martin 5
testimony was to the effect, however,
that Birmingham was in the act of
threatening Parks again with his fists.
while Parks was still on his knees,
when Parks shot.
Parks was put on the stand by the
defense and testified in his own behalf.
During the examination of Mr.. John
Howard Mr.. Logan questioned Mr.
Towards veracity. Messrs. Miles and
Stanford were instantly on their feet.
and in Indignant protest and in impas-
stoned tones Mr.. Stanford exclaimed.
1--WE protest against any such insinua-
tons! Mr. Howard stands as high in
his community as the gentleman from
South Carolina does in his" When Mr.
Stanford made this declaration the
court house rang with cheers and Judge
Holland was compelled to threaten ar
rests if such conduct was repeated.
AS we go to press. the case is being
argued This morning Mr.. Logan open
ed for the prosecution. He was follow
ed by John II. Handy. Judge Blackstone
and Joshua W. Miles for the defense.
States Attorney Johnson will close for
the state. The verdict will probably
not be rendered before Saturday morn
ing. The plea is self-defense. and coun-
sci for Parks is arguing for an absolute
acquittal.
As we went to press last week, the
court was occupied with the Peters
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