The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-06-21
FIR. BLACK TRIALS
First in Series of Texas Hear.
ings Opens at Marshall. >
Frank O'Leary Charged With
Completely in Killing.
RELIGIOUS WAR SHAKES CITY
State Seeks i'm Vain to Have
Fireman's Case Dropped.
Five Under Indictment i'm Stay
ing of Catholics AsSailant.

Marshall, Tex. June 21.-The first
of the so-called Father Black trials
was called n district court here today.
1t was the case of Frank O'Leary
charged with completely in the killing
of William Black, a lecturer against
the Roman Catholic church. who was
shot here shortly before he was to de-
liver one of his lectures on the even
ing of February 3. 1915.
s.O'Leary was not present at the
shooting, according TO testimony at the
exa mining trials last winter. The
calling of his. case first appeared to be
due to a desire to approach cautious
~ the legal aspects of the shooting,
which attracted wide attention.
Court Refuses to Dismiss Case.
At the opening of court the state
moved to dismiss the charge of MUIR
der against O'Leary. The motion was
made on the ground that there was
not enough evidence to convict
OLeary.
O'Leary's attorneys opposed the
motion on the ground that O'Leary'S
name ought to be cleared of the muir
der charge by a jury verdict and dis
missal of the case would always stand
a Slur against his reputation.
District Judge H. T. Lyttleton re-
fused to the motion to dismiss and
ordered the trial to proceed.
Lecturer Assails Church.
The night before he was killed,
William Black had delivered lecture
in Marshall entitled "Romanism, a
Menace to Civilization He was to
lecture again that night. Marshall
had been stirred by hand-bill adver-
tising of William Blacks work.
Black. As years old. born ir Vir-
ginia, and said to bear kinship to
General Robert f. Lees family, was
advertised as lone who knows The
hand-bilIs contained charges. car
toons and alleged oaths of the Knights
About supper time Black went to his
hotel room, where he was joined by
the other members of his party, Clar-
ence F. Hall of St Paul, Mimi, and
Miss Sadie Black, a young woman
whom Black had adopted at her home
in Arkansas aa<few days previously.
Three Marshall men-John Rogers.
John Copeland and George Ryan
called onr the Black party. According
to testimony at the examining trials
knights of Columbus. They asked
Black not to deliver his second lee
ture. Black replied he would deliv
it.
ssEather Black Slain.
Black was shot near the heart by
one of Rogers's companions, accord
ing to the testimony. Hall, of the
Black party, opened fire with a pistol,
killing Rogers and shooting Copeland
three times.
Several persons rushed through the
hotel towards Blacks room. Frank
OLeary, a city fireman. claimed that
he started from the fire engine house,
nearby, at the sound of the shooting,
ana ran to the hotel not knowing
what was happening. Indictments
were returned by the grand jury,
charging murder against the following
Marshall men: John Copeland. Geo.
Ryan, George Tier, Harry Winn and
Frank O'Leary.
Public testimony did not develop
the circumstances of the alleged con-
nection of Winn and O'Leary with the
killing.
Clarence F. Hall of the Black party
appeared before two grand jurieS, but
was not indicted.