The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-11
WOULD PROVE THAT
 MAJORS HAD MOTIVE
Also Had Opportunity to Cause
 Wreck
MANY ARE PUT ON STAND
several Identify Letters Produced as Having Been Written By Defend- ant-state Will Consume
 Remainder of Week

An effort to show a motive of the ac- cused fireman, William Majors, for wreck ing the train at Cunningham, and also to show that he had had an opportunity previous to the wreck to throw the switch at Cunningham, was made by the prose- outlon yesterday In the trial now in progress In the first division of the crim- inal court
 T. V. Harrison, the engineer on freight No. 1 on which Majors was employed, was the principal witness of the after noon. He testified that he ran his train into the siding at Cunningham at a very was not running faster than three miles an hour. When the train came to a stop, he stated, he got down from his side of the cab and went around to the other side of the engine to attend to the sand pipe. When he re-entered the engine on the firemans side, he stated. he did not see Nabors and 1t was several minutes later that Majors made his appearance. Before finishing his supper Majors left his engine again, according to the testimony He was within talking distance, Harrison stated, and made remark that he heard No. whistling for Cunningham. It was immediately after that the wreck oc- cured.
 Majors assisted in the rescue work after the wreck, Harrison stated on cross-examnation. Asked if Majors had always been his friend. the engineer toto hot bo bod oIc eta ( Majors was friend of Dave Watts, the engineer on the wrecked passenger. It was the purpose of the defense to show by these questions that Majors would not wish to cause the death of two of his best friends by wrecking the passen- ger. Asked if he had stated in the pres- ence of several men soon after Majors arrest that Majors is no more guilty of causing that wreck than I am.' liar rison stated that he had.
 The engineer also testified that he was familiar with Nabors' handwriting. and identified letters shown him as being written in the same hand.
 Finding of Switch Lock
 J. T. Alfred, night watchman in the employ of the Louisville and Nashville, testified to finding near the switch at Cunningham a rusty switch lock and chain. The find was made on August 26, Alfred stated, when he was staying at Cunningham with his brother-in-law, who was employed on the railroad there as section hand. Tt was not claimed by the state that the lock was that be- longing to the switch at Cunningham, but one exactly similar.
 Majors Had Grievance
 The morning yesterday was siven over to the introduction of testimony tend ing to show that Majors had a grievance against the railroad company because a negro fireman was given his position on the run with Engineer Harrison. James Ashworth, master mechanic of the north and south division of the Louis vile and Nashville, gave the main testi- mony along this line. He testified to having placed a negro fireman on Ma bors' run because the negro had been working for the railroad two years long CT than had Majors. It was the policy of the company, he explained, to consider priority in such cases. Majors soon after came to his office and remonstrst- ed, MT. Ashworth stated, and rendered his resignation. He made the threat that he would "get even with MT. Ash worth, according to the testimony. say ing that his home had been ruined.
 At the request of Engineer Harrison, MT. Ashworth stated Majors was rein stated in his position soon after, having written a. letter of apology to Mir. Ash worth and asked that his resignation be withdrawn.
 Other Witnesses
 All the other witnesses placed on the stand yesterday testified that they were familiar with Nabors' handwriting and identified letters shown them as being seemingly written by Majors. They were Thomas E. Kerns, E. c. Evans, assistant trainmaster; G. l.. Bowles. bank cashier of Decatur. and Charles T. Hardiman. a Louisville and Nashville engineer.
 The examination of witnesses for the state will probably consume the remain der of the week
 NAMES MEN TO