The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-07
JURY SECURED ID
 TRY hbNER CLAY Many Witnesses Will Be Ex-
 amined In the Trial
CLAIM OF SELF DEFENSE
Announcement That State Senator Dunn Has Withdrawn From Sen atorial Race Disappoints
 Meridian People.

Meridian, Miss, January 6-(Specia1.)- The jury to try Abner L. Clay of this for killing Eugene Chestnut of Birrning- nam in Meridian about 15 months ago was secured this afternoon and the talk ing of testimony will begin early in the morning. There are a large number of witnesses to be examined and the case will likely last several days. The law firm of Ethridge & Ethridge represent Clay and the prosecution is being con- dueted by District Attorney Curry.
 The killing of Chestnut by Clay fol- lowed the killing of Lee Henderson by Chestnut in a street duel. The cause of the trouble 1t is alleged, was due to Chestnut attempting to secure telephone communication with Mrs. Henderson. She left Meridian soon after tiie death of her husband and 1t is understood shs will rot be witness in the case. It is also now understood that expected sen- satlonal features of the case will be eliminated and that Clay will fight for his life or liberty purely upon the grounds of self-defense. That he will endeavor to prove that after Chestnut shot down his friend Henderson he, Chestnut. then turned his weapon on him and that he killed Chestnut in de- fense of his own life.
 The announcement from Jackson that Senator C. c. Dunn had withdrawn from the race for the United States senatorship to succeed the late Senator McLaurin was received in Meridian with regret by hundreds of friends who would have liked to see this favorite stay in the fight to the finish.
 It is believed here that Senator Dunn's strength will be about equally divided between Congressman Byrd and former Governor Vardaman.
 Four prisoners escaped from the coun- ty jail last night by digging a hole through tn brick wall of the mess room. The tailor locked them in the room to eat supper. They departed leaving their meal untouched. The hole in the wall had been dug during the day and covered with stove wood. One of the prisoners. Allen Marshall. crawled through ths hole and notified the police of the escape of his companions.
 The board Of supervisors refused to order an election to determine whether the county should construct paved pub lie highways, declaring they first wanted to see what the legislature proposed to do with Governor Noel's recommenda-
 
 ter public highways has been long agi- tated and the postponement of any &C., ton by the supervisors is disappointing
 Meridian is experiencing the second blizzard of the winter. A slow rain today was followed by sleet and slight fall of snow and 20 degrees above Is predicted by the weather bureau by morning.
 It is announced today that the Hoad- ley Ice Cream company of Memphis will establish s4Ooo0 branch factory in Me- ridian to be ready for operation by April 1.
 The one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Albert Pike was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies by the Mississippi Scottish bodies of the southern jurisdic- ton at Masonic temple tonight A nun Der of Scottish rite Masons from over the state were present to witness the fine programme of music and speeches ar ranged for the occasion.