The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-29
WITNESSES GIVE DETAILS OF THE
 EVANS KILLING Walter Jones Seen With Rifle Near Scene of
 Tragedy NOTHING BUT SMOKE SEEN BY A. J. PAYNE Was Riding With Evans When He Was Killed, and Saw
 Smoke Rise from Be-
 hind Weeds

The entire morning sesion of the first division of the criminal court was consumed yesterday in the selection of jury to try Walter Jones, on trial for the murder of Lawrence B, Evans, who was assassinated near the Mary Lee mines. where he was employed as mine foreman. on october 3, 1911.
 Few of those drawn on the jury made excuses and few were disquah- fled. The time was consumed by the attorneys striking the jury.
 By the noon hour they had concluded and after swearing the witnesses the court adjourned until 3 o'clock.
 Judge Samuel F. Greene is presid-
 ing. Solicitor H. P. Hefiin, Special Counsel Borden Burr and Attorney win Tom White Are representing the State. Attorneys R. L. Daniels and A l.. Arnold of Ensley are the defend- ants counsel.
 The assassination of Lawrence 5. Evans was one of the Lewisburg mur- ders that 1t seemed was destined to go unpunished. The murder aroused the entire country. Evans was shot in his buggy as he was leaving the mines. Governor O'Neal offered a reward for | the arrest and conviction of the assas- sin, and Sheriff McAdory did likewise, but the mystery remained unsolved.
 First Clues Found The recent investigations by the sew eral coroners juries and the work of the officials of the county gave the clue, which was consistently followed up until the entire state was startled | by the confessions of Arthur and Wal ter Jones. The killing of Evans was among the confessions.
 At o'clock yesterday the court re- convened but it was nearly o'clock before the trial of Jones began, owing to the organization by Judge Cahalan of a Jury to try the case of John Ford, negro charged with murder.
 Solicitor Henn read the indictment to the Jury charging Walter Jones with the murder of Laurence B. Evans by shoot ing him with a gun.
 Attorney Daniels entered a plea of not guilty, and withdrew the additional plea of not guilty by reason of insanity MT. Henin conducted the examination Mir. Arnold cross examined for the de.
 fense.
 A. J. Payne Testifies
 A. J. Payne testified: T live at North Birmingham. knew Lawrence B. Evans l in his life. On the sd day of October 1911, | Evans and I were riding along the public road at Lewisburg in a buggy coming to I town when a shot rang out. MT. Evans leaned over and dropped from the buggy. saw smoke. apparently from a rifle or shotgun. arising from the top of an em- bankment about 30 steps to our rear, but saw no person. The weeds were neck high drove to Dement'S drug store for assistance. I returned with Mir Dement,, but Evans was dead before we got back. | c. II. Hilton was the first man who got to Evans after he was shott | Cross examined by MT. Arnold: 'The Killing occurred about 100 yards from the Mary Lee mHles. Evans and l got in the buggy near the wash house. To the best of my knowledge the sun was shining but was nearly down. l don't remember the day of the week but if was on the 3d of October, 1911. When the shot was fired ducked and looked around, when l saw the smoke.
 'I was sitting on the right side, the shot was fired from the same side. The | bullet struck Mir Evans about the center of the right shoulder. The buggy had skeleton back l don't believe 1t was pos sible to have seen a man from where was at the point where the smoke arose, l owing to the high weeds. When the shot was fired l said: Good gracious, Law i renee, what has happened He made no reply then went for assistance. Mr. Laurence did not have gun so far as knew
 Did Not See Gun l Examine tion in rebuttal by MT. Hehin: | 'l did not see any gun while in the