The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-31
HUNN|CUTT PLEADS
 WHEN < HIS TRIAL BEGINS.
Charged With Killing Sam and Houston Landrum.
 Evidence of Eyewit-
 nesses Is Conflicting

The trial of Emmett Hunnicutt, a young white man charged with the mur- der of Houston and Samuel Landrum, was commented yesterday afternoon in the first division of the criminal court Judge W. F, Fort presiding. Two in- hictments were returned by the grand jury. The case charging the killing of Houston I.andrum is on trial. The only eyewitness to the killing were E. k. Reese. brother-in-law of the deceased, who testified for the state, and John Fuqua. the employer of Hunnicutt at the time of the killing. who gave tes, timony for the defense. The evidence of these witnesses is conflicting
 Both sides announced ready yester- day morning when the roll of the wit 'nesses was called and by noon a jury had been selected to try tho case Judge Robert N. Bell is conducting the { prosecution. assisted by John P. Mccoy, assistant solicitor. Gibson & Davis are representing the defense. About 75 witnesses are in attendance. The killing occurred at oak Grove. on Red mountain, on December 31. 1913. and was the result of a quarrel about dlidlIS. I Hc ucltHQdut Picaoco hot guilty and not guilty by reason of self-defense. The primary cause of the killing was alleged to be derogatory remarks said to have been made by the defendant in regard to the sister {. of the two men who were killed v E. P. Reese. first witness for the fendant had a quarrel on the night 'ssf December 31 at a point near Clark's store on Red mountain and fist fight resulted. He stated that Houston and Samuel Landrum came up and they were separated. He alleged that the quarrel was renewed and that Hun nicutt shot and killed the two brothers. He admitted that Samuel Landrum had a pistol and that he advanced on Hunnicutt. He was closely cross-ex- Amined by MT. Gibson. but was not materially shaken in his direct testi- mony
 Ike Carter testified that he saw the !, Landrum brothers after they were shot, but knew nothing about the shooting. His testimony was largely as to the location of the bodies when found.
 w. E. Hicks who embalmed the body of Houston Landrum, testified as to the nature of the wound that caused his death.
 Earl Spangler undertaken, testified as to the position of the bodies after the shooting He stated a pistol was near where Sam Landrum was lying and that it had not been discharged and was 1Lcked He also testified as to the nature of the wound that caused death. With the conclusion of his testi- mony the state rested
 Miss Cora Oglesby was tho first wit ness called for the defense, but her evidende was held to be not admis- sible at this time. Counsel announced that she would be called to the stand later.
 John Fuqua testified that he was present when the killing occurred and that Houston Landrum had pistol in his hand and was advancing on fIunnicutt when the latter fired. He Stated that the defendant, Reese and the Landrum boys were all fighting when he. got to the scene and that Houston Landsum told him to keep out of the fight or he would get killed. He stated that Hunnicutt was retreat -1ng when he fired the fatal shots. He was on the stand when court ad- 1ourned. Judge Fort announced that the. case would be resumed at o'clock this morning.