The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-26
The Confessed Murderer
OF Greek Caught

TIC NOI41C0SCu 1t1u OO1 81
Of Greek Caught
CONTINUED from First Page)
be inferred in St. Johns cemetery
Sunday afternoon. He is survived by
two brothers, Crys and John Hence
cal, both of this city, and also by
relatives in Greece.
The shooting of which HemOccal
was the victim occurred at Patterson's
station, in the store and fruit stand
conducted by George and Crys Hem
cocal early Wednesday night. The
case has created considerable inter-
est and the search of the officers for
the negro, covering the intervening
time up until yesterday morning, has
been watched with wide local inter
est
BLACKS CONFESSION.
Immediately after his arrest and
upon first being questioned, Brooks
admitted that he was the negro want
ed and that he fired three shots at
the Greek and believed that two took
effect, as was the case. His excuse
for the deed was self-defense and he
claimed that the Greek attempted to
throw a bottle at him. The trouble
started, the negro said. when. after
he had purchased box of sardines
and crackers, he asked for a dimes
worth of cheese. The Greek, he
claimed, cut him a smaller piece Of
cheese than he thought he should
have received, and when he remon-
strated and started toward the door
the Greek picked up q bottle and at
tempted to throw it at him, ordering
him to return. It was at this point
that Brooks said he wheeled and fired
three shots from A. caljbre re-
volver.
In a bold, clear manner, showing
no signs of fear or remorse, the black
told his story, first to Captain Ander-
son, deputy marshal, and later to the
reporters, and other officers and final
ly to Justice r. l.. Nicholson and the
coroner's jury, before whom he was
taken at the coroners investigation.
He remained consistent to the small
est details in the REPETITION of his
story.
coRoNER's INoUIsITIoN.
At 2:30 o'clock the coroner's in
quest into the death of the Greek
was made. 1t placed the entire re-
sponsibility for the death of the dead
man at the feet of the negro, after a
number of witnesses had been ex-
amined.
Chief of Police Frank Sanders was
the first witness examined He told
the story of the alleged crime and of
the man-hut which had resulted in
the capture of the negro. Other wit
nesses examined were Frank l..
West, of The Journal. who took a
death-bed statement of the Greek,
Captain Anderson, Captain Wilde, or
flcer Roach, 81 Goldsmith, Ella Gold
smith and Missouri Iverson, the lat
ter colored, and c. Frost Drs Dew
berry and Renshaw gave expert
medical testimony. The former
dressed the wounds of the Greek
shortly after the shooting, while DR..
Renshaw was present at the opera
ton Wednesday afternoon. He stat
ed that the ball passed through the
left lung and possibly through the
diaphram and the upper walls Of the
stomach and was the direct cause of
death. The range of the bullet was
downward
Mr.. Frost testified to the purchase
'of a pistol from the negro on the
morning after the crime.
At the conclusion of its delibera-
lions the jury returned a verdict,
charging the negro with murder.
YOUTH OF NEGRO.
Brooks gave his age as fourteen
years and his birthday on the 4th of
July of this year He gave his home
as Birmingham and stated that he
had been here only a short time,
working for fisherman on the
shores of the Big Bayou.
The police officers have conclusive
evidence. it is believed, that the ne
gro burglar who stole two revolvers
from the home of F. E. Bayliss last
Saturday night and the prisoner are
the same. One of the revolvers used
as his weapon is believed to be the
one stolen from Mr.. Bayliss, which
answers the description. The other
revolver the negro sold to Mr.. Frost,
it is believed.
A pair Of shoes which the negro
wore at the time of his arrest were
identified by Mr.. Bayliss as belonging
to him and a part Of the booty of
Saturday nights robbery.
The prisoner denies that he has
committed burglary since coming to
Pensacola. but says he purchased
both revolvers and pair of shoes
from a negro boy.
CONFESSION DAMAGING.
The confession made by Brooks
will prove very damaging to him in
his coming trial, it is believed. The
authorities were without direct evil
dence of his guilt, although a chain
of circumstantial evidence was being