The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-11-18
THE STBLEY TRIAL
1t Is Progressing S1owly-The Plea of
Self Defense and the Unwritten Law.
Strong Case by the State.

The Sibley case has reached the
| fourth day and may not be concluded
until tomorrow. The interest being man
| ifested in this trial in indicated by the
court room being crowded with people.
The defense has made plain the course
| it is pursuing Reliance for acquittal,
| If not a failure of the jury to agree, is
based on the plea of self defense and
| the tinwritten law. How the jury may
be influenced by such pretense will be
developed when their verdict is reported
to the court finally.
Of recent years the plea of self de-
fense and what is styled the unwritten
law is invoked in efforts to secure the
acquttal of men who have committed
deliberately the crime of murder, with
little if any extenuating cause in their
favor
The State is represented by District
Attorney ]. NJ Foster, who is assisted
by Hon. Frank J. Looney and Hon. w.
H. Scheen, while Hon J. r. Land and
Mr.. Barnett are defending the prisoner.
The evidence abbreviated may be
summarized as follows:
Tom Hughes testified he heard the
shots fired; saw Sibley shooting; saw
DIR. White when he fell into the gutter
in front of Abel & Asher's store on
Texas street
J. c. Abel testified that DR.. White
had been in his store and made pur-
chases. Saw him as he was about to
step into his buggy; saw Sibley shoot
the doctor in the back; saw Sibley
whirling the pistol on his finger.
]. D. Irvine saw Dr. White as she was
about to get into his buggy Saw Sibley
shooting DR.. White had bundles in his
hands.
Phil Draiss testified that after the
shooting he met Sibley, who when ques-
toned as to the shooting, replied: i
just killed GUY"
DR.. O. B. Hicks, acting coroner, tes-
tilted as to the wounds, three of which
were in the back.
Henry Blue, negro, employed at the
Charity Hospital, saw Sibley draw a
pistol and FIRE FIVE shots into DR..
Whites back; was within few feet of
Dr. White and Sibley; DR.. White was
at his buggy with packages in his hands
when he was shot. No words were ex-
changed between DIR. White and Sibley.
O. B. Tyler, telegraph messenger
boy, saw the shooting from the opposite
side of the street; saw Sibley swing
the pistol around on his finger after he
had shot DR. White.
Having presented the facts through
these witnesses the State rested.
The defense placed Henry Sibley on
the stand, after Chief of Police Allen
as their first witness had testified. His
statement was immaterial and referred
to the pistol taken from the body of
DIR. White, which indicates that he ex-
pected to be attacked and was armed
for his defense. if he had been given
an opportunity for his life.
Henry Sibley gave somewhat SEN
sational recital of the reason which inn
Ipelled him to the murder of DR.. White.
HE stated that he had been informed
by telephone that his wife and DR..
/ White had met in house of assigna-
Ition. He could not tell who had SO adj
lvised him by telephone. When queried
Iby District Attorney Foster as to the
probability of some other man than DR.
White having met his wife in assigna-
ltion Sibley related the possibilities, il
mot the certainty, of DR. White being
the man.
| He hesitated in his reply when the
district attorney asked how he coult
with reason suspect his wife, whom he
said he loved, of such infidelity Agar
The related how he had discovered tht
intimacy existing between DIR. Whit
and his wife. He was advised by tele
phone Of the assignation on the morn
ing of the killing. The substance o
Sibley's statement is that he had beef
greatly wronged by DR.. White. who hat
ruined his home He justified his dee,
Iby the injury he had sustained througl
Dr. White who had bedauced his wifi
from home.
On DR.. Whites person after he ha
; been murdered was found gold ring
which was identified as the weddin
ring OF Mrs. Sibley. Over this ring, a
lover other points, there followed
: lively contention by the attorneys.
II may be conceded that DR.. White
intimacy with Mrs Sibley was proyoca
i tive Of Sibley's resentment, but it woul
Iseem singular that he was ignorant Q
! their relations until his suspicious an
: his anger had been aroused by the tele
phone warning from a person he di
not know and whose voice he did nc
d recognize.