The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-17
Dave Young Tells Of Robbery al
Dunn and Shooting al Wilson
JURY WAS EASILY CHOSEN
Great Crowds Attending the Trial
Only SO Of Special yenire Of $50
Was CaIIed-Afternoon Session De.
iayed by Illness Of an Attorney
Trial May End Today.

Wilson, March 1.-THE trial OF
Lewis West and Ed Purcell, alias
Stetson, who alone will be tried for
the murder of Deputy Sheriff George
Mumford. started in earnest yesterday
and a good deal OF Roadway was made
when, al $50 o'clock, Judge Adams
adjourned court on the requess OF +.
j. Barnes. of counsel for the defend
ants, who became Ill during the after
noon session.
The crowds here attending the court
Increase in size daily and only small
portion OF them can gain admittance
10 The courtroom. The rear part OF
the courthouse square, lying between
that bnilding and the jail. Is packed
with people, eager to get look at the
notorious prisoners, who gathered
hours before time to carry them to
and from the courthouse. Officers
have TO clear an aisle through this
mass OF humanity when the prisoners
are brought to and from court
SO eager are the people TO hear the
trial that When court adjourned for
dinner today many kept their seats
for the afternoon session. and hun
dreds OF others crowded in. filling the
auditorium an hour and half before
court would meet. The officers de-
cided best 10 clear the courtroom until
the afternoon session, and the doors
we're locked and guarded until the
hour for the afternoon session, when,
after admitting those entitled TO en-
rance as members OF the bar and
witnesses. tina; part OF the courtroom
anoccupied was thrown open 10 the
few hundred that could pack inside.
No seats outside OF the bar We're left,
all being folded back, and every one
Who could pack inside stood up
through the session. and the jam from
those IN the corridor crowding for adj
mission was SO grea. that during the
entire day 1t was impossible 10 close
the doors.
Although the public want speedy
justice done there is no dem0nslra-
lion. still no chances are being taken
In protecting the prisoners. who are
always surrounded by large number
OF officers That the attorneys. W. A.
Lucas. Esq. and T. J. Barnes. ap-
pointed by Judge Adams 20 defend the
prisoners. viii represent them In fact
as well as in name, was demonstrated
yesterday in be beginning Of the selec-
ton OF the jury. Both Of these law
yers are able. and the prisoners. their
race and the public can be assured
that those charged with this murder
will be given fair trial and able de-
tense.
| Challenges were numerous during
the selection OF the Jury. and several
exceptions we're made TO the judges
rulings as to the rendering OF tesii-
mony. and many interruptions we're
caused by arguments OF counsel as TO
competency OF testimony.
Two OF the regular jurors were ae-
cepied aud the eighty bird special
yenlreman OF the $50 called completed
the box. The jurors are 4. y. YelT-
erion. y. L. Barnes, Ed Nichols, W. II.
Harrison. W. n. shackeiford. II. r.
Thomas. r. +. Byuum. W. R. Davis.
r. l.. Eliridge. L. 4. Barnes. J. II
Howell aud G. 7. Lamm. !.
The testimony began with Dr. L. 7.
Dickinson being called. He described
Mumford's wounds. stating that either
of the four III the head and abdomen
was sufficient 10 cause death. He
stated that the bullet wounds caused
The death. Or. A. r. Williams. who
also attended Mumford about 20 min
u.es after the shooting aud a half
hour before his death testified TO the
same effect Mumford was not mn
conscious II any time after The shoot
Ing.
Dave Young. whose mother. Mary
Young. lived IN the house where the
murder occurred. testified that be
lived with his mo her. lie knew
Lewis West. who was In Wilson sey-
eral days before the tragedy. lie and
Lewis West. Elrodic and Win Lane
left Wilson on i passenger train the
Wednesday before Friday. February
| 3. the day Mumfori was killed They
got on the train az Selma and took a
freight for Dunn. where a hardware
sore was broken into and he and
Brodle stole guns aud pistols. while
Wal Lane aud Lewis West watched.
At this point Of the trial after argu-
ments. the jury retired. the counsel
for defense admitted that West was
present when that felony was com.
United. They returned TO Wilson
Thursday night and went TO Mary
Young's house. Next morning he wen,
with West. Stetson. Brodie. Mat Will
lIams aud others to find some gainb-
Hers near town. He, West and Br0die
had automatic pistols. lie left the
parties alter visiting near-becr
stsnd on the edge Of town. and did
not see any nf them again until the
night following the afternoon Of the
shooting Tie saw Sictson then. stei-
son told him that IVES; had done the
shooting aud that he. Sictson. ran up
stairs and hid until that night He
Dave Young. went 10 Rocky Mount
that night. fearing arrest where he
was later unprecedented. Witness said
no promise Of leuicncy had been Of.
Ifered him TO testify,