The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-09
REYNOLDS ON TRIAL FOR MILAN DEATH I've Witnesses Heard During
 the Afternoon. BIG CR0WB IN ATTENDANCE Sister of Deceased Proves To Be Chief Witness and She Describes the
 Killing of Southside Fur
 niture Dealer.
BIG CROWD IN ATTENDANCE

The trial of ". P. Reynolds, charged with the murder of John Mclean Jr.. was continued yesterday in the second d- vision of the criminal court, Judge W'eay- CT presiding. It will be remembered that Reynolds, former member of the Bir- mingham police force shot and killed John Mclean, Jr., in the latters furni- ture store on South Twentieth street, be- tween Avenues and E. The motive as- signed for the killing was the alleged spreading of certain calumnous reports by Mclean to effect that Reynolds was an "ex-convict and scab.'
 The courtroom was thronged with spec tators throughout the day Reynolds was pale but appeared perfectly calm.
 The attorneys for the defense, Messrs. Allen, Bell and James Long, began the day with offering of motion to quash the indictment, 1t being stated that the jurors were not chosen in the presence of the jury commission, as required by law. This and other motions consumed the morning session. The motions were overruled by the court however, and the examination of two of the witnesses for the state took place during the afternoon session.
 The first witness to be called was John McLane, Sr-, father of the deceased. In his testimony 1t developed that the de- ceased and the defendant had worked together in a foundry at Avondale, where Reynolds was moulder Witness iden- | titled the blood-stained clothing exhibited i by the state as being the property of his ! son, and testified to the finding of a bullet in the furniture store of his son on i the afternoon of the day of the shooting, 1 the bullet being of the same calibre of the revolver used by the de- fendant and having penetrated an article of furniture after passing through the body of the deceased. It was also stated that the deceased died shortly after an operation at the hospital.
 Mrs. Braun Testifes.
 The next to be called was Mrs. Braun. the star witness for the state. In the course of her testimony, witness stated that she was employed at the time of the killing as bookkeeper in the furniture es- tablishment of John Mclean, her broth CT; that on the day of the tragedy she was seated al her desk near the en- trance of the store and defendant en- ter; that Reynolds, having asked to see her brother, she had called him. At the meeting of Reynolds and the deceased, she stated, a. conversation ensued in which defendant asserted that Officer Per kinson of the Birmingham police force had told him that Mclean was the source of reports to the effect that he (Officer Reynolds) was 'an eX-convict and a scab." Witness further averred that her brother replied, There must be some mistake" and denied all knowledge of the reports. Reynolds then requested Mc- Lean to accompany him to police head quarters, where Parkinson might be seen gI9 fn% 41xt t. was stated, deceased replied that he could not leave the store. Reynolds then asked permission to use the telephone, which was granted He proceeded to call up Parkinson, and on not being able to connect with him. turned to Mclean, say ing. '"Then you won't go with me?" To this deceased replied, "I won't say I won't, but that l can't go,' and adding that he would be at leisure during the afternoon. It was then, Mrs. Braun as- serted, that Reynolds produced revolver and fired point blank at her brother, whom she was just able to catch in her arms as he fell. The author of the deed then walked out of the store, and, return ing, pointed his weapon again at the fallen man as Mrs. Braun held him. At this, witness stated that she cried, Don't shoot! You have killed my only brother.' She also said that her brother raised his hand groaning, Don't shoot, Will, I'm already done for.''
 It further developed that a negro porter named Jim Evans was the only other oc- oupant of the store at the time of the shooting, being employed in attending the fire in the stove Witness also identified the blood-stained clothing being those worn at the time by the deceased, and bore out the statement of her father that the bullet shown was found in the store during the afternoon of the day of the shooting
 The deed was committed, she said, in the morning between the hours of and 10. Reynolds did not wear at the time his poceman's uniform, but was clad in a long, dark coat which was buttoned close. The weapon used was a gun metal revolver of 3S calibre.
 After cross-examination by Judge B. MT. Allen, counsel for defense, the wit ness was excused and court adjourned until today at 9:S0 a m.
 Solicitor H. P. Hefin is being assisted in the prosecution by Attorney Ed WIn- ston.