The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-07
Counsel for Prosecution Re
quested That Court
Take Such Action.
This Was Done After Court
Had Declined to Continue
the Cases on Account of
Illness of Judge A. c.
Blount, Jr.

After an argument lasting but eight
cen minutes. the cases against w NJ.
Thompson, Thomas Kelly. and Leo
Davenport, charged with shooting Con
ductor Hopper on d West Hill car.
about three weeks ago. We're ordered
mol pressed on Il motion OF the prose
cUtion. The defendants We're dismissed
and the bondsmen released. amid
Open-vOiced approval and applause
from one hundred union men and sym
pathiZers, who crowded the county
courtroom yesterday morning when
the cases We're called for preliminary
hearing before Judge Henry Beiin-
ger.
The cases We're SET for hearing al
10 O'Clock, but on account OF decay in
the arrival of counsel court did not
convene until HOO. and at ll:07
Judge Reeves. who assisted County
Solicitor Scott I1oftin in the prOsecu-
ton, opened the argument
Judge Reeves asked for a continu-
ance, stating that Judge \. C. Blount.
.Jr-, the chief counsel and who was
the only one of the prosecuting coun-
sci familiar with the case. was con
fined TO his bed at his home. and could
not be present: that he Judge
Reeves) was advised by telephone
early in the morning TO this effeot
and inasmuch as Judge BlOunt was
not present. and neither he nor County
Solicitor I1Oftin were familiar with
the evidence upon which the charges
were based, continuance was asked
until Judge BlOUnt could appear.
He also stated that there were two
Witnesses, Why important 10 the
state. who he was not certain would
be present to testify. as their aft
davits had been accepted and they
had not been subpOenaed- Judge
BlOUnt. he said, was familiar with
what these witnesses might testify
He himself knew nothing about it. as
ne had been notified to appear i'm the
case late Tuesday afternoon and had
no opportunity to confer with either
Judge BlOunt Or the witnesses for the
prosecution.
&. Moreno Jones. Of Jones & Pasco
who appeared for the defendants. oh
jected to a continuance stating that
the men had been arrested for Suffi-
Cient number of DAYS 10 enable the
state to fully prepare its case. That
the defendants We're anxious to have
the matter over so that they might
go TO work. and if they were compelled
70 make another appearance, il would
entail hardships upon them.
The court stated that to again APP
point a day for the preliminary hear
ding would entail considerable expense
to the county. and then denied the
motion for continuance
Judge Reeves immedi atelv moved
that the cases be mol pressed. and
Judge BelIinger sustained the motion,
dismissing the defendants and releas-
ing the bOndsmen-
The action was received with
murmur OF approval that grew in vol
Ume. and finally someone began clap
ping. This was instantly taken up
by others. and although the Judge and
the sheriff called for order. il did not
desisr until the crowd had moved from
the room.
While this leaves the men free 20
30 where they may. ii Is said that in
formation NAV be filed with the coun-
y solicitor at q later date, and if that
Official thinks the information suffi-
Client he may cause the arrest of the
men again and prosecute them in the
criminal court