The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-11-11


there. no one being near the station
or on the streets. Word had been
received that when Sheriff Davis and
his prisoner left Dongola they took
the bottom road" which leads
nearer to Mill Creek than Jonesboro,
and the impression was that the
party would board the train at the
former place.
1t would have been easy to inter-
cept the fugitives on this road If
pursuers had been informed in time.
No New Ciews.
A large part of yesterday after
noon was devoted by Chief Egan,
States Attorney Wilson and other
officers in efforts to secure some
tangible fact that would positively
fix guilt upon the prisoner. All the
witnesses thus far secured, nine in
number, were cited to appear and
were examined closely. The states
attorney took down the statement of
each in writing and care was taken
to secure from each definite state
ments as to the times wnen the pris-
Oner was seen by them and when he
left them.
The statement of the Cooper wom-
an, with whom the negro roomed
was that he come home about o
o'clock, changed his clothing, left
Immediately after and did not re-
a al. a. M Wi =
nesses testified to this also, seeing
him unhitch his team about that
time.
The negro himself declared that it
was later when he arrived at the
Cooper woman's house and earlier
when he returned than she stated.
He does not give any satisfactory
statement as to his whereabouts dur
ing this two hours, or hour and a
half, when the crime was COM
mitted.
1t is known that he knew Miss
Pelly. having delivered ice at the
house daily during the summer; and
he knew that she was in the habit
He could have easily reached the
vicinity of the girls home on or be-
fore her arrival there.
Neither Chief Egan nor States At
torney Wilson is prepared to say
positively that James is the guilty
man; but both agree that the cir
cumstantial evidence against him is
very strong. The strongest piece
of material evidence in the eyes OF
these officials is the piece of cloth
used as a gag for tne unfortunate
girl. There is no question at all
that it is identically the same quality
of cloth as was the piece of cloth
found in the possession of the negro
woman with whom he was stopping.
One of the witnesses testified that
he had seen the prisoner use such
piece of cloth as a handkerchief.
The cloth used by the murderer, was
very dirty-not muddy, but dirty
from use. The chief purposes to
have this rag examined microscopy
ically to determine whether or not
there are particles of coal dust in
the fibres. AS the suspected negro
is a coal driver, the finding of coal
dust would be a further strong point
against him.
The chief also purposes TO mako n
further search of the premises at
2515 Poplar street to where the
blood hounds tracked the murderer,
in the hope of finding some trace
of the victims handbag and bundle
of dress goods. The vaults may be
inspected and the ashes from the
stoves in which metal parts of the
bag may be found il it was burned.
The chief says the report that the
negro's underwear was bloody can
the woman washed for him were not
those he wore during the time the
crime was committed.
Not Ready for Inquest.
In order that the jury chosen by
the coroner may have all the evil
dence possible to obtain, the coroner
has decided to postpone the formal
inquest a few days longer. lie has
not decided when to call the Jury
together, feeling that he ought to
wait till every possible clew may
have been followed up by the Off
GERS. The jury empannelled to pass
judgment on the case is composed of
VIM. Wagner (foremanD, w. III.
Simpson, A. S. Magner, Alberr
Hurst. George j. Fisher and Ernest
IGwiliams. They viewed the remains
of the dead girl at Mrs. Feith's Mon
day and went over the scene of the
tragedy, but will hear evidence when
next they are called together.
Funeral This Morning.