The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-10-08
WITNESSES ATTEMPT
To ESTABLISH ALIBI
One of the Accused Planters Friends
Becomes Confused on the Witness
stand-Many Witnesses Were Ex-
amined Yesterday.

Louisville, Miss, Oct. 8.-The chill
ing atmosphere did not deter crowds
from the court room yesterday when
the fourth day of the trial of Swim
ton Permenter, the alleged murderer
of jamie Sharpe, opened.
The prisoner was brought in early,
surrounded by deputies. 1t was nearly
10 o'clock when the trial was re-
sumed. The defense put Mill Schu-
maker on as it's first witness. He
is a merchant and postmaster at
Hinze, Miss, four miles from Rural
Hill.
He remembered the day Miss jamie
was killed. On that evening Swinton
Permenter and Alonzo Birchfield
came to the store. Schumacher remem-
bered that Permenter was there on
that day, between 12 and 2 D, m.
Permenter left the store about p.
M, saying he was going to the wash
hole about quarter of a mile on.
Alonzo Birchfield was the next wit
ness. At the time of the tragedy,
Birchfield was arrested in connection
with the crime, but was released later
on. He remembered seeing Permenter
on July 21. He came down to Birch
fields house little after 12 p. m.
and together they went to the shop
and talked. From there both went
to the store at Hinze. They remained
at the store about an hour and from
there went to the wash hole in
creek about a quarter of mile off.
They were in bathing an hour, and
left at 2:25 p. M, coming by the
pike, and then went to Birchfield's
house, reaching there about 3:20
p. m.
Permenter was still with him, He
walked a quarter of mile with
Birchfield to where the latter was to
plow that evening. When they got
to the road near the field they parted,
Permenter going towards home.
He said Permenter had on that day
broad brim straw hat, and copper
colored shirt. Witness identified the
shirt upon its being exhibited.
On cross-examination he became
utterly confused about the kind of
shirt Permenter had on at the wash
hole, and also got tangled up in re-
gard to the time of leaving the store
and the wash hole.
He made other conflicting state
ments.
Birchfield swore Permenter had on
pair of Sunday" shoes while in the
camp at the wash hole. He heard of
Miss Janie's disappearance about
dusk. He went at once to Mr.. Per
menters, and went from there to Mr..
Sharpes. He was also at Sharpes
the next morning. Birchfield denied
saying anything about the missing
| girl. He did not recollect saying he
could clear Swinton Permenter of the
charge for he was with him until 2
p. m. on Thursday. He was under
the impression that Miss jamie left
Rural Hill between 1 and p. M, and
was murdered about o'clock the
same day.
| When asked by the district attor-
ney about calling off Swinton on the
morning that the latter was arrested
and having conversation with him,
he denied it, saying: TT was like a
dream"
Hugh Mobby. boy of 12, made a
good witness for the defense. The
prosecution endeavored to tangle him
as to the time of leaving the wash
hole with Birchfield, but 1t proved
fruitless. The defense will examine
about 40 witnesses and intends to
| fight the case to a finish.
Leevi Birchfield was put in the wit
ness chair for the defense after din