The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-31
HOLLAND TRIAL Is BEGUN AT CULLMAN Annie Ligon Tells of Putnam
 Killing FIRST WITNESS CALLED MeddIesome Neighbors Seem To Have Caused Trouble In Reporting AL legged ouarreIs Between Mur-
 dered Man and Wife.
FIRST WITNESS CALLED

CulIman, July Especial )-In the circuit court yesterday the entire day was consumed In getting a jury in the case of John Holland, on trial for Kill ing H. D. Putnam. The first witness examined for the state today was Miss Annie Ligon, the 14-year-old sister-in- law of Putnam. She was present nt the time of the killing, which occurred on the back porch of Putnam's house in Hanceville on the second day of the present month. She testified that Hol- land, who was acting as marshal at the time, came to the house five times be- tween 1:30 and 2 o'clock, the killing occurring on the fifth trip. The first time he came, he said that some child ren of a neighbor had hunted him up down town and told him Putnam was whipping his wife that morning, and he came to see about it. Both Putnam and his wife indignantly denied that any such thing had occurred, and Hol- land went away.
 | In five or ten minutes he returned again saying that Dr. John Yielding had told him that he saw Putnam whipping his wife. Putnam again told him that there was no truth in it, but Holland returned again in a few min utes, saying some women had seen it and made complaint about 1t, and the fourth time he came back with war rant and said he had himself seen Put nam whipping his wife.
 Witness met Holland at the door, and went to the back door where Putnam was fixing a churn and told him Hol- land was there. Putnam told her to tell Holland he did not want to see him. but Holland said he would see him anyway and pushed witness aside and went through the house to where Put nam was sitting and began to beat him with his fist. Witness ran out and found Holland holding a gun in one hand, Putnam having hold of it also, while Holland was beating him. Mrs. Putnam was ip the yard scream- ing.
 Witness ran between the men and Putnam who had been sitting down, rose as she did so. Both relinquished the gun and witness set it in the kitchen. Holland went away, but in few minutes came the fifth time with a pistol In his hand. Witness ran through the house, bolting the door that opened on the back porch and told Putnam that Holland was coming with a pistol and would kill him. She begged him to run, and started to run herself, but Putnam caught her and said, Stay with me-" Holland broke in at the door and came on the back porch.
 Witness begged Holland not to k. Putnam and Holland laughed and said he wasn't going to hurt him. Putnam said, "Go away, Holland, I'm not going to fight you; I'm not that kind of man."
 Holland said that neither did he want to fight Witness begged Holland Cor the pistol, and Holland finally handed it to Alonzo Webb, who had come up. Witness then went to tell Mrs. Put man, who was screaming in front of the house, that Webb had the pistol and Holland was protesting that he Was not going to do anything. At the door, Alonzo Webb joined them and Holland asked him to go with him. Holland stopped and was turning the cylinder of the pistol, in which there were but two cartridges. Webb asked him what hs was going to do and Holland said, "l am going to kill a man." and started off in run, Webb following hini witness followed far enaugh to see Hol- land go in at Putnam's gate