The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-02-07
ANDREWS CASE
NEARS THE END
May Go to the Jury
Today.
DEFENDANT ON THE STAND
Wilcox County Man Tells Of the
Tragedy.
His version Is That There was A
General Fight ana That HIS
Father Was Accidentally
Killed.

Selma, Feb. 9. Especial 1.-The testi-
mony In the trial of Bob Andrews for
completely in murder OF his father.
Jim Andrews and his stepmother, Bama
Andrews, at Schuster in 1904 was con-
cluded tonight and the case win 60 to
the jury tomorrow.
Andrews was on the stand two hours
this afternoon and told his version Of
the tragedy.
The counsel for Andrews is trying
to prove that old man Jim Andrews
in the struggle afterwards with his
son John for the pistol that he was ac-
cidentally shot to death.
The defendant's side of the case was
started this morning and during the
morning eight witnesses were examin-
ed and two showings Of absent witt
nesses were introduced before recess
was taken for dinner.
All Of the testimony introduced by
the defense at the morning session Of
the court tended to show that old man
Andrews was desperate character
and that more than once he had
threatened 20 kill his wife, Bama.
Testimony relatives to repeated fights
between the couple was shown BY the
defense but much OF this evidence
was not heard by the jury.
The majority Of the morning session
was consumed in offering the showings
Of Charles w. MeLain and OF Robinson
Andrews. The showing Of McLain was
about to (be offered when objections
were made by the prosecution ana the
Jury was directed 20 retire by Judge
Mabry. The showing was then taken
up and read and argued by the counsel
and finally submitted to the court
which ruled out certain points Of IL
and allowed other parts to go in.
Desperate OLD MAN.
The McLain showing told of the
character OF Jim Andrews; that he was
desperate old man. nearly always un-
der the influence OF drink. II also told
OF number OF fights which Andrews
had with his wife. and OF Tight which
had occurred a few nights before the
tragedy when the wife and her mother
ned to the McLain home for protection
in their night clothes; Of how Jim
Andrews had been locked up at Mo-
Williams and one Of his children had
carried him an axe and he had almost
torn down the jail during the night.
The showing also told OF how the old
man had threatened to kill his wife one
day in Camden.
The showing made by Robinson An
drews was then offered and its intro
duction as evidence was contested by
the prosecution. In the ruling on this
showing the court allowed much of II
to so in as evidence which was later
read to the jury.
This showing was for the purpose OF
contradicting the evidence OF Annie
Andrews. It also showed the desper-
ate character OF the old man and tn e
frequent quarrels he had with hts wife.
The court room was well filled when
the session Of the court opened this
morning ana the crowd sat patiently
throughout
The flrst witness which the defense
called after the opening Of the court
was j. B. Stewa'
Mr.. Stewards evidence was to the
effect that about two hours after the
killing of Jim Andrews and his wife
that Saturday night that John An-
drews came to him and told him that
his father and his wife were dead and
asked him to go at once for a doctor;
that he had saddled a horse ana went
for the physician and had returned
with him.
Till Melton told OF how old Jim An
drews held a mortgage Of his for $4O0,
which he had left with McIain at
McWllliams for collection; that on the
day before the night Of the tragedy
Bob Andrews had come to his home
to collect this mortgage saying that
his father wanted the money: that he
had offered Bob Andrews in part pay
ment S146 but that this had been re-
fused as his father had told him he
wanted all OF 1t.
Mart Maxwell testified that he had
sold Jim Andrews some property re-
ceiving 500 and a draft for $500; that
this piece Of property had been deed
ed to Bama Andrews.
Annie IL COmtradicted.
Lucien Andrews contradicted the