The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-02-24
MRS. HAYNES
ON THE STAND
Widow of Sheriff Self
Possessed.
ANSWERS ONE QUESTION
Jury May Decide Fate Of Broadnax
Today.
pa
Many wensn In Cout ut Hayneville to
Hear Testimoay-slayer of
oAoer Was wild With
Drink.
By TARLETON COLLIER.

Haynevtlle, Feb. 23.-(Special. -
With the last word Of testimony today
In the trial of Bob" Broadnax. for the
murder OF Sheriff w. E. Haynes. came
one of the most significant speeches OF
the entire hearing. 1t was that of Mrs.
W. E. Haynes. who told that the feel
was far from good.
With the statement of Mrs. Haynes
the trial ended, arguments were be-
gun Immediately, and were concluded
late In the evening.
Judge Richardson charged the jury
and then excused the body for tonight.
requesting the twelve men to retire Tor
elaboration tomorrow morning. out or
consideration of the arduous work OF
the past two days.
In his charge to the jury. Judge
Richardson stressed the contention OF
Insanity as adopted by the defense. He
ordered that. In case the jury was sat
lsded from the testimony of the men
who had known Broadnax for years,
that he was insane at the time OF the
shooting. they must acquit him. In
event they considered complete abso-
luton should not follow. he charged,
and still believed that he was irrespon-
sible because of an extreme drunken
condition. there should be convic-
ton for granddaughter.
In the face of the charge, and in con-
sideration OF the indictment charging
murder In the first degree, the defense
congratulates itself. even before the
verdict, on q virtual victory. The gem
eral public sentiment exists that Broad
max was rendered unbalanced by drink
at the time he shot Sheriff Haynes.
Mrs. W. E. Haynes. widow of the
Sheriff. was placed on the stand by
effort TO prove by her a former breach
between Haynes and Broadnax.
The feeling between my husband
and Broadnax was not very good, and
far from friendly" she declared In an
lswer to Solicitor Bricken's question.
The one sentence constituted her tes-
timony. none other being asked. eth
er by the State or by the defense IN
rebuttal.
The taking of evidence in the trial
was concluded at o'clock this after
noon, Mrs. Haynes being the final wit
mess introduced by the state In It's re-
sbuttal.
Residents of Lowndes County believe
that there will not be a conviction. or
at least a sentence of any length Some
few expect a mistrial.
For more than ten years no white
man has been convicted of the crime
of murder in the county. ALI Mead
ows, for killing Sam Warner. getting
ten years more than a decade ago.
Last Day of Trial
The last day of the trial produced
nothing of the sensational. and at times
despite the large crowd Of attendants,
each member of which hung brfath-
lessly on every word. Jagged in . ter
est Between the lawyers. however.
the introduction of testimony in the
rebuttal of the State was most holly
contested The defense ob3ected time
cd
Richardson.
Altogether the day was one for the
defense, which, in its efforts to es-
rablish responsibility on the part OF
Broadnax. produced substantial testi-
mony.
buttal seemed brought to bear on
iproviEC tll-wil of Broadnax towards
Haynes, preceding the shooting. and
thus to tear down the defense of spon-
taneous. irresponsible action of Broad
max, while crazed by drink.
E. B. Poole. clerk in the store OF
,Broadnax. was introduced by the
state. Poole declared that he loaded
the gun for Broadnax. at the solicita-
ton Of his employer. who announced
that a negro was troubling him. Poole
declared that Bnoadnax had not ap-
peared unduly drunk at the time. The
defense endeavored to impeach Poole's
he was the brother-in-law of one OF
the prosecuting attorneys. and declar-
ing that his testimony on the stand
was not In accord with his private mar
ration OF the shooting.
A kinsman of Broadnax. Mr.. Hol-
combe, was afterwards placed on the
stand by the defense. upon permits
sion of Judge Richardson. and through
him the defense endeavored to rebut
,Poole's testimony. II was Holcombe
to whom Poole had talked of the
shooting and the preceding Incidents
privately.
Throughout nearly four monotonous
hours the trial dragged this morning
the defense bringing in all of its tes-
timony, which was of little note. and
which was brought to bear in an eff
fort to substantiate the contention OF
insanity.
Adopting a different method, the
questions as to the sanity Of Broad
max were not propounded as to men,
tai condition, which Judge Richardson
yesterday ruled could not be adver-
GENTLY put to non-expert witness, bu;
as to his behavior during the imme-
date period preceding the murder
the queries were limited to Broadnax's
behavior as a business man. and the
defense endeavored to show that his
business had gradually deteriora ted
and that he had lost much OF his for
mer acumen.
Defense Scores Points
All of the testimony of the defense
was when the noon recess was taken
and the attorneys of BroadnaX had
scored more than once.
Two OF the officers OF Sheriff w f
Haynes were introduced by the de-
tense, and their testimony. who made
able. Deputy Underwood. who made
the arrest of Broadnax Immediately af-
ter Haynes was shot. and Jailer Ryals
told that Broadnax was apparently
unbalanced and wild. sobbing and
screaming and raving. At the solicit
tation OF Mr. Smith. for the defense
Ryals gave as his opinion that Broad
max, in his drunken condition, would
have killed anyone. and that Haynes
was not especially marked pr shoot
ing.
vior In Jail on the morni u Ner the