The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-10
JAMES ". VAUGHN
MAKES STATEMENT
Tells About Killing Young Bar
ker At EdWardSviIIe
He CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE
Case of City of Admission Against
Board of Commissioners of Cal
houn Is Called in court-New
Corporation.

Admission, November s. - Especially -
James w. Vaughn, the young white man
of Rabbit Town, this county, who is
in the county Jail here, charged with
killing Jackson Barker and wounding
James Albert and Bart Mccormick in a
difficulty last Saturday evening at Ed
wardsville, and was brought to Admission
shortly after the shooting for his pro-
lection and for safekeepng until a trial
can be had, was seen in the Jail this
morning, and with some reservation made
a statement of the trouble and the causes
leading up to it. He says he acted in
self-defense, that he regretted very much
the necessity that forced him into the
only trouble he has ever had He said:
1.-The trouble started a month or more
since, because / had been deputized by
the police officer to assist in the ar
rest of Ezra Warren on a charge of
drunk and dsorderly conduct. 1 was
sent by the officer into an clubhouse to
arrest Warren, where these friends of
his were trying to conceal him from the
officer. This act of mine infamed Bar
ker and his friends against me- and they
have been INDUCING in various threats
against me ever since This fact had put
me on the lookout for them, as I natural
ly expected them to attack me if occasion
offered
Saturday evening l was returning to
my rooming place, upstairs in the Ben
nett-Barber building, from supper at Mrs.
Benefits, where 1 had been getting my
meals, when crowd of six or seven
men approached me any my roommates,
against one of whom, Fred J. Watson,
they had a grievance of like character
to that which they held against me- and
it WIS to Watson that the crowd at first
addressed itself, with threat to do him
stairway that led up to our rooms, and
the crowd then turned on me, and one of
them-Barker l believe--laid hands on me,
at the same time threatening me with
violence 1 told them to keep back and
away from me or 1 would hurt some of
them, but they continued to press on me
and L began to shoot to defend myself
My friends, in the meantime, had fled
up the stairs and 1 was alone with the
crowd.
I'm moment after l began shooting
the crowd ran away. some of the men
only a short distance; but Butler, who.
I am told, was killed, ran a full 100
yards before he fell.
After the shooting l stood there alone
for a moment. and then started to my
llncle's. At his house L was Joined by
Jesse Morgan and VIII Burgess. to whom
L stated my purpose to go to Hehin
and surrender to the sheriff. They agreed
to go with me, and together we hastened
to the railroad, a mile or SO away, and
tagging the accommodation, go on the
train and came to Hefin where | gave
myself up to the officer. That official.
after few moments thought, decided
it would be best for me to be brought
here to jail, as he feared a mob might
undertake to lynch me if | was left
in I1efiin. AS l understand it that is WHY
l an. here.
This is the first trouble L have ever
had in my life. | never saw inside a
prison before, nor was / ever a witness
in court. l was in Edwardsville trying
to secure an education as best I could
with my own earnings l worked at
the Kilhy Locomotive works in this city
this year up to July %, when | went
away to school at Edwardsvlle. I was in
school there nine months last year.
Il have employed Fred L. Blackmon
to defend me In the trial at Hefiin, and
hope to show the facts in the case in
my own behalf I am sorry the thing
happened 1t was not of my seeking at
ALL"
A special from Edwardsville says the
wounded men resting very we'll The
funeral of Barker was held Sunday.
Suit Comes to Trial.