The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-23
SORSBY MURDER
 TRIAL BEGINS
Emotional Insanity Will Proba-
 bly, ee the Defense
ARGUMENT OVER THE JURY
Prominence of the sorsby Family Gre ates Great Interest In the Trial, and Leading Legal Counsel
 Is Engaged In the Case.

Jackson, Miss, March 22.-(Special.) Today's hearing in the trial of W. A. Sorsby charged with having murdered Postoffice Inspector Charles Fitzgerald at Clinton, Miss, several months ago. was devoted to a consideration of the manner in which the jury is to be se- lected and an unsuccessful effort upon the part of the defense to secure a continuance. That the probable de- fense will be emotional insanity is in- dicated by the motion asking a continu- ance, 1t being declared that several witnesses who would testify to insan- ity in the family of Sorsby were ab- sent, and their presence at this term of court would be impossible. The mo- ton was overruled. Attorneys for the defense asked that a venire of 200 jurors be selected from the entire county and not from the first district, as proposed, contending that fair trial with a jury composed of residents of this district, the home of MT. Fitz- gerald, would not be possible.
 Arguments in support of this con tention were introduced by the de- fense and in rebuttal by the state. Ar guments will be heard tomorrow.
 Never, perhaps was such general in- terest manifested in any murder case in this court than in this. Sorsby is a scion of a prominent family and his wife Is equally high bred, being a daughter of the late Judge Cabiniss at Clinton. Until her marriage with Sors- by two or three years ago she was one of the belles of that part of the state, and still has friends by the score who will stand by her husband on her ac- count, and render her every possible assistance.
 No announcement has been made to that effect, but it Is the understand ing here that Hon. R. N. Miller, one of the very foremost criminal lawyers in the state, will assist in the prosecu- tion.
 Verdict for Plaintiff.
 After a trial lasting three days the jury In the case of J. M. Shoemaker vs. the Lamar Life Insurance company of Jack son, of which former State Au- ditor W. o. Cole Is president, returned a verdict for $7500 in favor of the plaintiff. MT. Shoemaker sued the La mar company for $50, 1000, passing his ac- tion on 8 circular letter that the sec retary of the company sent to it's agents, and in which MT. Shoemaker agent for a rival insurance company, was handled without gloves. The com pany admitted sending out the circular, but contended thak it was only to agents of that company and was not tn erefore given general circulation. He claimed that the letter had slandered him and crippled his business, but it was shown on the trial that his income had not been interfered with, in fact it is claimed that he made more money since the issuance of the circular than before, wherefore the damages al- lowed by the jury were only puma tive.
 Attorneys for the defense state that they will appeal the case, and that they expect the verdict to be declared for an exh orbitant sum.
 Location of College.
 Rev. George F. Chapline, pastor of the First Christian church of this city, and secretary of the committee ap- pointed at meeting of the trustees of that church organization in this place few days since to locate the cegolle that is to be built, reports that he has received very fattering offer from the city of West Point. That town offers building already erected at cost of $50,OO0, as well as a site that is worth $20,000. Jackson and oth- CT towns are after the college, and while Jackson has some fine sites to offer. 1t is not believed that anything better will be done than West Point has offered. However, all towns are given till April 27 to file their bids. and on that date the bids will be opened and the site located.
 Good Vegetable Prospects.
 c. M. Huber of Crystal Springs, the pest authority on fruits and vegetables in Mississippi. states that though the mercury registered 31 degrees week ago fruits and early vegetables were not materially injured, and the prospect is great. Tomatoes are growing nicely and beans are coming up.
 CHREER 0E GREKT