The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-08-31
'GHEE TR|FN r'"
 KILLING RUSSELL
Hayneyille Men Had Des- perate Fight In Smok-
 ing Car

Hayneville, August 30.-( ecial0- Never in the history of Lowndes coun- ty has there been as much interest man. ifested in court proceedings as that of the trial of G. E. McGhee for the killing of pr. w P. Russell, begun in the circuit court of this county today. The courthouse was packed and damned and the country around was virtually depopulated.
 It will be recalled that on April 4 in the smoking compartment of a train on the Hayneville and Montgomery railroad. G. E. McGhee is alleged to have shot to death pr. w. P. Russell, one of the most prominent citizens of the county.
 MT. McGehee is a prominent merchant of the Hayneville and Montgomery rail road. Since the killing of Russell the atmosphere has been heavy with reports that in all possibility will never come out in the trial
 The first witness up today was Mrs, ". P. Russell widow of the deceased, who testified that at the preliminary trial she was under the influence O. an opiate. Her testimony at today s trial of the case differed materially from that given at the preliminary trial. The substance of her testimony today was that on the day of the homi- eide she went down to take the train from Hayneville to Montgomery accom- panied by her little son. She said that she went into the ladies compartment of the car and took a seat and that Tn d few minutesh MT. McGhee came In and passed through the coach into the
 tat.xt, arlc he stated, pr. Russell came in and took a seat across the aisle from her and then got up and went into the smoking car. She told how she theN heard a. sound of scuffling in the smoker, followed by three shots and after an interval by two shots. She stated she got up and went to the door between the ladies coach and the smoker, but did not open the door. as Fred McGhee, son of the defendant, pushed her aside and went in. The witness said she did not go into the car, but stated that she saw blood all over the inside of the car.
 J. M Watson, deputy sheriff of Lowndes county, was the seventh wit ness, and testified that he saw pr. Rus sell shortly after the difficulty. The deceased stated to him that after MT. McGhee shot him down he beat him over the head with his pistol.
 Leatherwood, the eighth witness, tes- tiled that Dr. Russell told him short ly after the difficulty that MT. Me Ghee shot him and then beat him over the head with his pistol.
 H. S. Powell, ninth witness, testified that he was on the train with Dr. Rus sell after he was shot, and talked to him. He testified that Dr. Russell had said to him. Howard, two of them were on me"
 J. M Sally. postmaster at Hayneville, was the next witness. and testified that pr. Russell remarked 10 him when he entered the coach where the wounded man was. John, I am a dead man, 7" and that he further stated that the wounds O. his head were inflicted by McGhee. who had beaten him over the head.
 w H. Tice, gcroner of Montgomery county. was the eleventh witness, and testified to the location of the wounds on Dr, RusselIs body. He tesified that he prepared inc body for buriel and identified the clothing worn by pr. Rus sell at the time he was killed. Charlie Beatty. negro fireman. was the next witness called and identified hat and umbrella shown him as being the ones he had picked up in the smoker after the difficulty.