The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-20
VERDICT GIVEN BY
 BlBB COUNTY MEN
Mason Tells Tow He Cut Up De-
 fenseless Man.
Enormous Crowd Crammed Into Court House at CentrevflIe to Hear TriaI of Crime Commit ted by Negro March
 Sth.

Centreville. March 1s.-(SpeciaL)- Folly Mason. the negro slayer of DICK Meigs a white man. was found guilty of murder in the first degree tonight and sentenced to be hanged.
 During the trial. he confessed that he had killed Meigs on March 8.
 The physician who attended Meigs testified that at least i've of the twen- ty-six knife wounds inflicted on the body of the deceased were sufficient to have caused the death of Meigs. The dying declarations of the deceased were introduced in evidence and showed that the killing was without provoca- ton. The widow of the deceased was introduced and identified the clothing of the dead man. They were covered pieces.
 By noon the State had completed It's testimony and rested the case. Recess was taken until one fifteen o'clock when the defendant offered his testi- mony.
 Two or three negroes testified that the mother of the defendant who died some thirty years ago was insane. but did not state that the defendant him. self had ever shown any signs of in- sanity. The defendant was placei on the stand witness in his own be- half and told about the difficulty. He stated that he dismounted from his horse and advanced on the deceased with his knife and cut him a number Of times, He said that the deceased had no knife, pistol, or gun. but that he had a pine stick which fell to the ground when he grabbed the deceased.
 He said on cross examination that he knew perfectly we'll what he was do- ing when he cut the deceased and that his mind was all right. when he dii the cutting and before.
 By three o'clock the evidence was closed and the arguments began. County Solicitor W. W. Lavender spoke an hour for the State and was follow ed by D. w. Crawford for the defen- dant who spoke two hours Circuit Solicitor J. T. Thompson closed the argument for the State. Judge Miller charged the jury in writing and cov- cred every phase of the case. At a late hour this afternoon the jury re- tired. and a virdict was rendered at ten o'clock tonight.
 The crowd was perfectly orderly and the trial was free from bitterness.
 The case was called for trial at S:30 this morning In the Circuit Court of Bibb Couty
 Never before In the history of the county has as large crowd assembled
 
 Ter as he took his seat on the bench this morning and ordered Sheriff Oak ley to opan court Every seat any where about the court house was occu- pied and many crowded the aisles and filled the windows of the court room. Both the State and the defendant an- nounced ready for trial and afte number of motions filled by attorn for the defendant had been overrt by the court the selection of the to try the case was commenced.
 The special and regular veni were exhausted with eleven men the jury box. Sheriff Oakley ', ordered to summon two qualified c. zens to complete the jury. This VI quickly done and one of the two summoned was accepted hy both sio>
 The indictment was then read to tn. jury and the defendants attorneys pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. The State then in- troduced its evidence.