The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-30
HIGH SCHOOL PLAY
 WAS B|G SUCCESS
Much Ado About Nothing Presented by Pupils
 Last Night

the high school auditorium last night It was the best performance, perhaps, ever gwen by this club, and in the opin- ion of some critics it was the best anna teur performance ever seen in Birming- ham.
 The audience was not only large, but it was thoroughly appreciative. Every seat was occupied Between the acts he high school orchestra gave beautiful se- lections. The cast of characters was as follows:
 Don Pedro. Prince of Aragon.......... .......................... Leo Karpeies Don John. his brother. .Americus Norment Claudio. young lord of Florence.... ........................... Harry Wnte Benedick, young lord of Padua.... ........................... George COX Leonato, governor of Messina....,.......
 ........................... Lewis Smith Antonio. his brother ... Everett Strange Balthazar. attendant to Don Pedro,.
 .......................... Cozine Borachio. Conrade, followers of John. ..... Erie Stapeton, Gustav Mass Dogberry, Verges, two officers. ............. Solomon Garden, Vance Wier Fr'ar Francis. Lewis Woodsoa Sexton. n......................Dou Douglas Wingo Messenger. er....................Wi William Ratliff atch l...................-.,... Jack Sm.th Watch 2..,..................Jos Carson Hero. daughter of Leonato..............
 ........................... Frances Williams Beatrice. niece of Leonato. Louise Mccoy Margaret, Ursula. gentlewomen attend
 ing on Hero. ............................
 ............ .Orline Barnett Susie Perry Extras. .... Bessie Tayman, Bessie Foster
 Miss Marguerite V. Weaver was the stage director. Not only was the principal
 <.l.< l. A..4 ,fx.fas+ parts were well filled Miss Frances William as Hero George Cox as Ben click" Lewis Smith as "Leonato" and Mss Louis Mccoy as Beatrice" dls- played exceptionally fine talent. They gave no evidence of stage fright. Indeed their acting would have done high credit to professionals of long experience. The clear enunciation of all those taking part was remarked.
 At no time did the performance drag, On the contrary 1t was full of snap from Beginning to end.
 ~-~~~~~~~~~-~~~~~~ ~~~-~~~>~~-~~~~~~~~~~~>~ testified that Jones stated that he got about S25 for killing Evans.
 c. A. Strickler, official court stenog- rapher, testified to the correctness of the rcrort of the confession The confession was read by MT. Burr in which Walter Jones said he killed Evans with a 3S-40 rifle and that he shot him while riding in buggy along the road near Mary Lee mines.
 The state rested.
 Mrs. Ellard Called
 The first witness for the defense was Mrs. Felix J. Elard. Her testimony was principally about the whereabouts of El- lard on the day the killing occurred. Ma bel Farless gave about the same testi- mony.
 Victor Robbins, an alibi for the defense, testified that he saw Walter Jones sev- eral times on the day that Evans was killed. That Jones hired buggy from him on that morning and that he went to Birmingham. He testified that about 5.3o or o'clock, he went to Walter Jones house, about five miles from the scene of the killing. (Evans was killed between , and 5:30 o'cloclO and found Jones at home and conversed with him about some yearlings.
 Mrs Will Mann testified to seeing Wal ter Jones on the afternoon of the kill- ing employed carrying wood to ''still' said to have been operated by Arthur Jones. She also testified that he was home at o'clock.
 With Jones All Afternoon
 will Mann stated on the stand that he was with Walter Jones all the afternoon on the day Evans was killed and that he nnew him to be at home when the fatal shot was fired,
 w. J. Herring testified that he saw the defendant at his home between and O clock. Tom Sanders made the same statement.
 Mrs Bessie Brown swore the defend ant was home practically all of the even ing of the killing.
 J. w. Walker stated he saw Jones be- tween 1 and o'clock on the afternoon of the killing.
 The defendant, Walter Jones. was the last witness for the derense He testified in part as follows:
 'I heard of Lawrence B. Evans being killed the day after. On the day he was killed 1 hired a wagon from Victor Rob bins and went to Birmingham. re- turned from Birmingham with load of nIedl. I took the wagon and mule to MT. Robbins and then went home. This was about 1:sO or o'clock. After eating din- ner I took a sack of meal to my brothers house, where he and tried to make some whisky.
 Did Not Kill Evans Cross-examined by MT. Burr: II did not kill Lawrence Evans. What told you in my confession was not true. l made some statements, told me by Fred Hud- son who offered to help me out, but the rest of il 1 made up.
 q told you Viii Ellard planned the killing, but so far as I know It was not true. Ellard did not tell me to go near Graves mines. When said I shot Evans with a 3S:40 rifle 1t was not true. l just made it up. I made up the entire state ment. I admit making statements to Mir. McDuff and others that had killed Law renee Evans. but what I said was not true. I told some things to keep from being locked up In cell. Arthur Jones was recalled. He repeated his former statement that the confession was not the truth and was made in the hope oi receiving favors from the state.
 Ed Kittrell was placed on the stand for the defense but was not used. The case will be argued this morning.