The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-06-04
THE DRAFT MURDER TRIAL

The case against Albert Smith and
Isabella Draft for the murder of Isaac
Draft, a negro preacher and the hus-
band of Isabella Draft, reached the
argument of the attorneys Thursday
afternoon.
There were a number CT witnesses
on both sides and the case was pros
ecuted and defended with a great deal
of vigor.
During the morning session a skirt
was exhibited which it was claimed
belonged to the defendant, Isabella
Draft 1t had been soaked and satu-
rated with blood. Isabella Draft,
while in the witness chair, claimed
that the garment had been placed IN
der her husbands head, and had be-
come soaked with blood by blood
flowing from his wounds.
The states witnesses, three in num-
Der, contradicted the statement of Isa-
bella, and said that the mans own
nightshirt was placed under his head,
and all three of them swore that the
shirt had been carefully rolled up and
placed in the coffin, and was buried
with the dead man. They named sew
eral other articles that were also plac-
ed in the coffin and buried with him.
This evidence was thought TO be so
material that upon the request Of
counsel the sheriff and a number of
his deputies were commissioned by
the court to go by automobile to the
place of interment, exhume the body
and report their findings to the court.
The sheriff went Immediately TO the
place of interment and carried out the
instructions of the court, and found
that nothing had been placed in the
coffin with the dead man but the
clothes he had on his body.
Mr.. Carlos Sistrunk and Mr. R. B.
Bullock represented the defendants
and Mr.. E. w. Davis looked after the
interests of the state.
Mr.. Sistrunk made a very eloquent
Grafton and spoke for an hour and a
half and Mr.. Bullock made one of his
very best efforts. He spoke for two
hours. The weather was very warm
and when these distinguished advo-
Gates finished their addresses their
clothing was saturated through and
through with perspiratiOn.
Mr.. Bullock did not finish his speech
until nearly six o'clock and upon its
conclusion the court took a recess un-
til eight o'clock.
The case has ELECTED a great deal
of interest among the cOlOred race of
both sexes. and all day long the court
room was crowded, even the seats in
the balcony being all occupied. There
are no windows in the balcony, and no
ventilation of any sort, and the occu-
pants famed and perspired for dear
life. but stuck it out through the live
long day, and at night every seat con
tinued ODE occupied.
Promptly at s O'Clock the court re-
convened. and Mir. Davis began his ad-
dress to the jury. He spoke for an
hour with great earnestness, and when
necessary TO do so called a spade a
spade. He drew a very vivid picture
of the husband returning to his home
and suddenly being assaulted on the
highway far from any human habita-
ton. and being killed with his own
gun. furnished to the woman's para
mour by the woman herself.
Mr.. Davis made a strong. forceful
and impressive speech.
After the conclusion of Mr.. Davis
speech. Judge Bullock gave his charge
TO the Jury, which was clear and eX-
plicit and entirely impartial, leaning
neither to the one side nor to the 9TH
or. and giving the states attorney the
benefit of any disputed point when he
thought the law and evidence war
ranted him in doing so, and likewise
giving the benefit to the defendants
when the facts and the law favored
them in any disputed proposition.
As soon as the court had delivered
its charge the jury retired to their
room. in charge of the bailiff, and up
10 the hour of this paper going to
press were still out.
The names of those composing the
iurv are as follows: J. y. Blackburn,
J. w. Perkins. G. w. Cleveland, J. \.
Marshall. E. Mizell. R. D. Mcdonald.
Al. McRae. E. \. Polly, w. B. Rob
erts. W. A. Tongue.
VIII h1Rn