The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-11
.O'FL|NN MURDER
 TRIAL IS BEGUN Plea of Insanity Is Made By Walton, the Defendant MRS. WALTON ON STAND Judge Buckley Lays Down Law to Jurors and Tells Them They Must
 Act DecisiveIy in the Pro-
 hibition Cases.
MRS. WALTON ON STAND

Meridian. Miss, August 1O.-(special.)- Today the trial of J. A. Walton for the murder of Will T. O'F1inn was taken up with the testimony of many wintsses for the defense who swore that Waltons cental condition was unsound. Each tes- tified to peculiarities Of the defendant on different occasions in the past several years, and each to the fact that Wal ton was an inveterate drinker of intoxi- cants. Witnesses also testified that in- sanity ran in the Walton family, and that two of his first cousins died in an insane asylum.
 Mrs. Walton, who Is a delicate, sad faced little woman, took the stand and testified in behalf of her husband. She told of a number of peculiar things that he had done. She admitted that he was drinking man, and had been a heavy drinker during the past few years The states attorney handled her skillfully, but she made a very good witness for the defense. She said he was crazy at times when he was not drunk and affirmed that people could be crazy at times and not crazy all the time.
 J. R. Crenshaw was perhaps one of the best witnesses of the day for the de- fense. though he wouldn't attempt to de- fine "delusion." He said he had seen Walton when he was not drunk and he acted so insane that he told some one he would be in the insane asylum before long. He was asked by counsel for the defense if he had ever been in any court trouble. He said he had not. He was asked by counsel if he had not on one occasion had some trouble about some chickens, and he emphatically said 1t was unqualifiedly false. He admitted to hay ing been with the Walton boys since he had been in Meridian but denied that he had promised to help them.
 Court adjourned until tomorrow. The case of A. L. Clay, charged with the mur- der of Eugene Chestnut, is set for today but Judge Buckley said that he was unable to state whether or not the case would go to trial at this term.
 Judge Buckley has laid the law down to the petit jurymen who have been serv- ing during the present term of the circuit court to the courts policy as to the en- . forcement of the law against sell ing liquor. When impaneling the juries that are serving this week Judge Buckley said that 1t had been rumored that some of the jurors on former panels were opposed to the enforcement of the prohibition laws and If they were any such before him he wanted to know it and for them to say so. Each juryman said that he was in favor of enforcing the law. Last night John Dove, negro, pleaded guilty of criminally assaulting a negro girl and threw himself on the mercy of the court. This Is a capitol offense and what disposition of the case will be made when the negro Is arraigned for sentence is attracting considerable atten- tion.
 Two marriages were celebrated In Me- ridian yesterday. Miss Suel Belle Sweat man and Fred Fraser were married at the parsonage of the Southside Methodist methodist church. Miss Mabel C. Rae and William B. Carr were married at the parsonage of the Fifth Street Meth