The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-14


 or sitting on packed benches. window sills and platforms.
 | The female attendants. and there weie many present. curious as to the trial of one of ther own sex for mur- der, were given the right of way. and seats for them were prepared within the bar.
 The women about Clanton. and in most parts of the county, are allied on the side of Mrs. Pope. Tn fact. the only section. at present, in which a general belief in her guilt exists Is that of the community in which she lived. about seven miles from Mon- tevallo. These people, fin whose midst the now mysterious murder was com mitted, are fixed in the opinion ttci Mrs. Pope wielded the knife which killed her own mother.
 Mrs. Pope is stolid.
 Mrs. Pope, stolid for the most part, sat at first by the side of Warren Woods. her alleged partner in crime. but later moved her seat near the chair of her attorney.
 A few times during the long day did her set face lose It's stolid expression.
 One of the few occasions came when her little son, Claude Pope, aged 8. was placed on the stand, witness foy the prosecution. The woman leaned fer ward. her face anxious. and for tho first and only time, with evidences of emotion near the surface. For the first time she seemed interested. But the testimony of little Claude Pope was of little significance. and he was withdrawn after a few questions by the solicitor.
 once or twice theafter her express sion changed but slightly. When heavy, knicked butcher knife was ex- h., and identified as the one found IL her trunk. her lbs. stained with chewing tobacco. trembled just a little.
 Throughout the morning session of the court the hearing dragged. though the bulk of the testimony for the State was introduced during that period.
 D. R. Moore. a neighbor of the Popes. and a member of the coroner's jury, was the first witness. It was he that told of the discovery of the shal- low g-as4. dug in the field near the Pope house. He told that footprints. made by shoes heavily studded with nails, and marked by a patch on the and leading from 1t; and that the shoe of Mrs. Pope, which was later exam ined, was found to fit the print.
 He said that the footprints were dis covered during the night. when the coroners jury held its inquest. The murder occurred during the early af- ternoon. and the fact that the foot nrints were discovered only long after the killing is held by the sympathiz- CTS of Mrs. Pope as to be not conclus- i've of her guilt.
 Schoolgirl Testihes.
 The evidence of Jessie Eddins, school girl, attending the school near the Pope residence. was weighty. She proved familiarity with the occurrence directly following the killing. II was she who noticed the behavior of Mrs. Pope when the woman was told or the death of her mother
 Miss Eddins declares that Mrs. rope when told that Mrs. King was dead' said that she knew in which room she lav hut that she did not want 10 go inside to see her.
 Dr. Sam Wooley. who examined tne body in the presence of the coroner tnry testiaed as to the location of the wounds, telling of several marks apout the head, made apparently by heaVy' blunt instrument. and of the 1atai cut A eash across the throat, from ear 'o ear. .s
 An odd feature of the evidence was that the bloody clothes or ,.oi,,s Mrs' nonu, held by many to be evidence cohciusWe of her guilt, were not found until the Saturday following the Thursday or the murder. and that despite a Rigorous search through the house or tne ropes
 The bloody clothes, founo ih mrs. Pope's trunk, were offered Tn the trial for evidence by the prosecution. Tha femaIe witnesses proved admirable uItnesses in this instance. Esch or them declared they had only seen Mrs Pone for a glimpse on the day. put each went on to describe with mihute- ness the clothes she wore. the oiack waist, with white stripes running diagonally, blue calico skirt with wnite and black binding" and so on. Inc @ @ Iass yersed in the art of observa- ton. could only tell in general way of the garments.
 Woman Changed Clothes.
 Moe q R Moore testified that she had seen Mrs Pope on the evening or the day on which the murder occurred. She declared that Mrs. Pope was dressed differently from her hapit or the morning, and of the afternoon pe- fore.
 Mrs Moore declared that she re- marked on the change to Mrs rope, and the latter replied that the otheF clothes had been soiled.
 Mrs Moore declared that Mrs. Pope's baby which she carried. was cleaniy dressed Later. another witness Johh TTnshaw. testified that the blood stain ed clothes of the baby had been founo in a tub outside of tho house.
 Mrs Moore told that the Pope wo- man was at her house. when she was first told of the death of her mother Mrs Moore said the woman exclaimed; "Whv. Miss Mamie. mama dead?, anu then started off in g. brisk walk to her house. -, ..o
 The testimony introduced during the day was mostly in the nature or repet ttion. the several witnesses reiterat- ing the declarations of those oefore them.
 There was drawn. during the later mart of the afternoon. furthr circum- stantial evidence pointing against the Pope. Thus. Mrs. Moore declared that Mrs, Pope bore on her cheek blood stains. and other similar marks on her wristband: John Upshaw told Of Dloou stains showing on Mrs. Pope's under skirt. ss she sat on her doorstep. after the murder.
 In these. and other instances of testimony during the day. the circum- stantial evidence Is binding. but these who hold Mrs Pope innocent declare II strange that the evidence Of the olooo stained clothes was not discovered or brought to light until on Saturday' after the murder.
 The state undoubtedly established nrima facie case. so much so that IL Is doubtful whether the defense Will Introduce any of It's testimony when the case Is resumed on "Wednesday hut rather waive It's rights, ana &C., cept the inevitable jail sentence, mat it's entire battery can be brought 10 bear at the time of Anal trial
 Mrs. Pope( outside of the court room' .f stead