The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-11
WATSON DENIES | KNOWLEDGE OF NEGROES MURDER On Witness Stand, Makes First Statement Since
 His Arrest ATTEMPTING TO
 PROVE AN ALIBI Case Given to Jury Late Last Night, But Days Work Had Worn Out the Jurymen and They Re-
 tired for Night

|
 is to decide the fate of Will Watson.
 charged with the murder of the negro, | John Holland. received the case and re- | tired to render their verdict, but owing
 to the fact that they had been in the 1 jury box from 9:30 yesterday morning un-
 til Il o'clock last night they did not enter
 into a discussion of the case. They re- tired for the night and it is expected they will reach verdict today.
 l The case against Watson has been on
 trial two days and every point in the 1 case has been stubbornly fought by op- posing counsel. Special Counsel Borden | Burr, Assistant Solicitor Hugh Locke and Attorney Will Tom White appeared for
 the state, the defendant was represented
 by Attorney Julius Davidson.
 l The interest in this case, as in the ones previously tried, has been marked and an eager and interested crowd has filled
 the court room at all times during the | trial.
 | Brilliant Address l Probably the most brilliant address of | the week was the closing argument of
 MT. Burr. Julius Davidson made most l one that made quite favorable impress
 sion. He. was particularly severe in his
 remarks about John Wade, the principal witness for the state, and forcefully dwelt on the features of the case that | pointed to the innocence of Watson. | MT. Burr in his opening remarks an-
 swered MT. Davldson's criticism of the states case and stated that he had shown great ingenuity in avoiding the evidence l that had been offered, and that he had 1 tried to draw the attention of the jury away from the real merits of the case. For full hour MT. Burr stood before the jury and attacked the arguments of MT. Davidson and evidence brought out In the attempt to prove an alibi for Watson.
 Calmly and convincingly he waded Into the line of defense, and shot to pieces
 some of the testimony offered in behalf of the defendant
 Opens for State I Assistant Solicitor Hugh Locke opened the arguments for the state. MT. Locke | called the jury's attention to the unusual and important duty that confronted them | He said 1t was perhaps the most momen-
 tous question jury had ever been called I on to pass upon and urged them to do l their duty, both to the state and to the | defendant MT. Locke reviewed the testi- mony for the defense and stated that the
 only hope of the defense had signally failed, that of attempting to establish an | alibi
 l Judge Frank Cahalan gave an able
 charge to the jury. He instructed them as to the legal definition of murder and | the form of their verdict. The jury re- | tired to their rooms for the night with | out entering into any discussion of the | case. They will probably reach decision | today.
 Watson Makes Denial For the first time since his arrest and confinement in the county jail, Will Wat son, on trial in the first division of the criminal court for the killing of John Hol- land. for whose murder Arthur and Wal ter Jones have been convicted, made statement yesterday in reference to the case when placed on the witness stand by his attorney, Julius Davidson. Watson denied absolutely that he was present at or knew anything about the Holland mur- der.
 time that the Jones brothers, Teck Dun can and John Wade were locked up in the county jail, all charged with being implicated in the killing of Holland.
 All the prisoners have made statements from time to time. The Jones boys made a complete confession, John Wade turned states evidence as did Teck Duncan in this particular case, but beyond protest ing his innocence Will Watson has main- tanied a silence and neither county off cials. states attorneys, newspaper men or others have been able to unlock his lips.
 Attempting Alibi As was intmated by the first witness for the defense that was placed on the stand yesterday morning, Watson hopes to gain his liberty by the alibi route, and by establishing good character
 There were over 160 witnesses summoned
 in his behalf. While great many of these were character witnesses, some of whom testified as to his character when liv- ing in Blount county many years ago, and there were a great many absentees, yet the witnesses put on the stand yes terday, with a few exceptions, testified either to his character or gave evidense in support of an alibi The examination of the witnesses for the defense consumed almost the entire day. Witness alter wit ness went on the stand to testify as to his character, and with few excep- tions they were not cross examined by the state.
 Defendant on Stand At o'clock the defendant took the stand in his own behalf. He denied the allegations of every one of the states witnesses as to his presence at the time Holland was killed. He denied all knowl- edge of the killing. He denied that he and the Jones boys run together" and said that he had never seen John Wade, the principal witness for the state, until
 he saw him in the county jail. He was subjected to a rapid fire cross examination by special counsel for the
 state, Borden Burr. and while some of the minor details of his testimony were broken down he maintained his defense and denied all knowledge of the crime. | He was on the stand exactly one hour, | and with his testimony the defense | closed. Indicted With Jones Boys | Watson was Jointly indicted with Arthur and Walter Jones and John Wade for
 the murder of the negro, John Holland, | on Cat mountain on June 16, 19l1 l The cases were taken up Monday in | the first division of the criminal court. A severance was asked by the attorneys | for the defense and Tuesday morning l Arthur Jones was placed on trial. He was convicted and given the death penalty. Walter went to trial Tuesday
 morning. The jury in his case found him guilty and fixed his punishment at life 1 imprisonment. On Thursday morning the l trial of Watson was started The state | introduced practically the same witnesses, 1 who gave practically the same testimony l that had resulted in the conviction of the | two Jones bows. Every witness, includirsr