The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-14
STATE WEAvES STRONG
 WEB OF CIRCUMSTANCES
Warren Woods Held as Accompl;ce
 Is Dismissed.
Chiffon County Trial Draws . Larwe Crowd to Coart House and Csse will Not De Con- cluded Until Middle
 of This.
 Week.
BY TARLEToN COLLIER.

Clanton, March 13.-(Special )-Des spite the strong chain of circum-. stantial evidence which has been forged by the prosecution about Mrs. Hattie Pope charged with the murder of her mother. Mrs. Margaret King. there has developed another trend Of public opinion and suspicion, which will. in all probability, lead to the arrest of woodson Pops. the husband of Mrs. Pope, who has been hitherto jealous in the denunciation of hfs wife.
 At the preliminary hearing of Mrs. Pope and Warren Woods. held here to- day. Woods was dimissed for want of evidence. and the first link of the states strong chain succumbed. Woods had been arrested as the accomplice and alleged paramour of Mrs. Pope. It was he. according to the first sus- picions. who furnished the incentive for the crime.
 The hearing of Mrs. Pope was not concluded today. though the entire days session of the County Court was taken with the examination of witt nesses. and 1t was continued untU Wednesday. The continuance was granted when Solicitor Adams, for the state, announced that several witnesses essential to the completion of his case have been located. one in Talladega county. and that he desired them pre- sent.
 | Qtmta Uror~r~~ rnafs 1 The hearing of Saturday was slow. and dragged almost iistlessiy at times. but the state, introducing the most of its evidence. forged undoubtedly a convincing prima facie case, with the bloody clothes Of Mrs. Pope found in her trunk. with her shoes. which. wit nesses declared. fit the tracks found about the house upon the morning after the murder ana with the testf- mong of many witnesses which tended to show suspicious actions on the part of the woman. at the period following the death of her mother.
 The defense. however, introduced none of It's testimony. as the day closed with the states call not having been exhausted.
 There are many who believe that Woodson Pope, the husband of tha prisoner. from whom he has been es- tranged for some time. has been over jealous in spreading allegations of the guilt Of his wife and Warren Woods. From this belief has grown suspicion and now, Pope's arrest seems immi- nent.
 The later suspicious are to the ef- feet that Pope, through his agent. en- compassed the death of Mrs. King. The agent according to the suspicious of the sympathizers of Mrs. Pope. is Birmingham man. named Ryan. who had been friendly with Mrs. King be- fore her death. and who was led 10 believe by her that she was wealthy.
 It was robbery. the real motive of the crime. which was committed by Pope and Ryan. say these who con tend for the innocence of Mrs. Pope.
 Ryan was arrested in Birmingham today, on a petty charge according to a message received by Solicitor Adams, and he will be brought to Clan ton Wednesday.
 Cireumstantial Evidence.
 The preliminary hearing today brought out evidence that was largely circumstantial. It was shown that foot prints had been found about the Pope house, and leading to newly dug grave in the field nearby. which prints. were easily identified by the intention of a patch from the right shoe, and by the obvious presence of many hob nails. With this print 1t is declared that the shoe of Mrs Pope corresponded.
 There was, too. introduced the evil dence that bloody clothes. supposed to have been worn by Mrs Pope on the day of the murder. were found in her trunk. hidden in a flour sack.
 Those who contend the innocence of the woman. hold that these bloodiy evidences of guilt had been distributed by the husband The foot prints Is the contention. were co-incidental. pro Axf Nrrn n crime. as she walked to the grave. or belonging to the shoes of some other person.
 The court room of the Chiffon Couu- ty Court House was crowded to the point of discomfort during the hear ing today, fully 500 people standing about every available inch of space.