The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-11
MONROE COUNTY MEN ARE HEARD Conspiracy Cases on lrial in
 Mobile. BITTER DENIAL OF CHARGES Isonase al Murder Are Alleged
 H Government
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 wss Doe to Negro Laborsrs.

states Court. There was another long preliminary this morning after court convened. before the actual trial was begun.
 Counsel for the defense announced at the opening of court that the de- fendants were ready to go to trial on the two conspiracy charges In the original indictment and the additional conspiracy charge returned yesterday afternoon. the peonage eases to be left for . future hearing. A plea of not guilty was entered by the defena- ants.
 District Attorney Armbrechf request d that the court swear the eleven 5urors again. giving as his reason that the defense had consented to being tried on the indictment of yesterday Afternoon in connection with the two agreed on yesterday. The request an unusual one. was granted, and the ad- ministration of the oath proceeoco.
 Serious Accusations
 Tn his opening statement to the jury MT. Armbrecht said the Government ex- pected to show a conspiracy betWeen the defendants to uphold system of peon- axe in the county of Monroe. and tnat others were includede in the piot. II is a custom. he said, among the farm- CTS of Monroe County to assist eaen otls@s in keeping negro farm hands ln invoI,antary servitude. The District Attorney said It was conspiracy pe- tween Henry c. Walstor. Julius F. rrarrish. Q. B. Deason and pr. B. K. s,radford to hold Mcfzeynoids, the ne- gro. in peonags and the Gcyernmens expected to show that the kiinns VI E. A. English resulted In part rom cnnsniracy sn which the three dsfena- s,ss ware involved It was expected. Sa aaid. to prove that Walston, now dsad ans one of tho defendants, pea- son drove to the farm of Enghsn .. p.a+rica ana wera followed by Braoforu and Parrish All were met Tn the rnaa by an overseer. who told them that unless they hurried they wouia pc so~ gas a aeipected. he said. to be v,rovad that English was on horseoack when met by the party and that dur- ing an argument over possession 2. NcaevnoIds. English and Waiston had rarsh words. In the mix up the de- fendants took . hand and Ensi'sn w1s xsa rseited, the visit of ths Assistant y,,.sytct httoruey. marshal and a phy- ssnsas ito Monroe county where the body of English was exhumed anu thaf the developments aEisiug from this vinit would be told by witnesses It the proper time.
 Charges Denied.
 Counsel for the defense replied to the showing of the district attorney Senving there was a conspiracy on the part of the defendants and de- rlared that the meeting with English was purely accidental. He said that the defendants had been tried for the Killing of English and acquitted.
 At the conclusion Of the showtngs Luther Palmer was the first witness placed on the stand. He testified ne ot "a n4 Fl C. waiston. where McReynolds was residing, along with other negroes. He had been employed with Waiston two years, and was in general charge. The witness recalled the Sunday, when Walston and English were kill- ed. He knew the defendants
 Palmer was asked If he remember cd when negro left the farm and long argument between counsel en. sued as the question. The court took the questions under advisemept It developed that the district attorney was proposing to prove condition Of peonage.
 Palmer recited the details of the double tragedy. He met Walston and peason in a buggy on the road. He told them to hurry or the negroes would be gone from the farm. wal ston told the witness to impart this information to Bradford and Parrish ana tell them to hurry. He delieyer- ed the message and later met Brad ford on horseback without saddle. Bradford told witness English and Walston we're dead and had evidently killed each other. He told witness he had to leave as the negroes were shooting into them. Bradford said Blue McReynolds was the leader.
 Witness said there was excitement among the negroes over the shooting. He told of procuring a wagon to re- move the body of Walston.
 Recess was taken to 1;S0 o'clock. The witness, Palmer. was taken in hand at the afternoon session by the de. fense His statement at the prelimi- nary examination was offered and he identified 1t. He said.' however. that at that hearing he failed to mention some parts of a conversation with de- fendants and Walston. Witness here stated McReynoIds was q renter from Walston. McReynolds. according to statement, made to witness by Wal ston, was indebted to the latter and the negro had been informed he could leave the farm by paying $500. This was January 1. last. and the tragedy occurred twenty-eight days later.
 B. B. Boatright, went on the stand at D. m. The witness said Waiston told him he was going to the farm to prevent the negroes moving and that English was the man who was going to move them. Witness offered to go 10 English and collect money from the negroes.
 The testimony of Boatright was not shaken by the defense in cross-exami- nation.
 The next witness was William Pat-l terson, a negro who. in the course of hls testimony, was asked by counsel for the defense if any one had direct ed what he was to testify in the case. He stated that no one had discussed the matter with him. whereupon. At- torney stevens asked if he had not been told by the government what to say.
 This appeared to anger District At- torney Armbrecht, who asked Patter- son if any one had made any threats to him about testifying in the case. Patterson replied that Ben Walston. brother of the dead man. has told him lS he came to Mobile to testify he would kill him.
 pr. John Daly and George McDon- ald were examined for the govern ment, the former testifying as to wounds in English's body. claiming that the larger wound had caused death. McDonald's testimony was im- material.