The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-06-30
NO SPE CIAL
GRAND JURY
TO Be CALLED
Committed to Jail Until No
vernber When He VIII
Answer Charge
JAIL is ONE
OF THE SAFEST
Eight Year-Old Son Tells
Story That May Con-
vict.
JAIL is ONE
OF THE SAFEST

Elijah John Fudge, father of little
Bascom Fudge, and Tennie and. Ethel
Fudge, went to his cell yesterday to
wait for trial in November for one
of the blacklist crimes ever committed
in this state.
To the jury, he refused to make a
statement, but he declared to the
jailer, Captain L. R. O'Neal, 'I'm in
nocent of that charge; Pm innocent
as a child"
Cell Mystery.
Fudge is locked in a cell known
only to the Jail officials. The Jail is
one of the strongest and most mod
ern buildings in the south, and he
will remain there to await the con-
vening Of the trial court.
Trial in November.
Judge A. G. Campbell yesterday
deliberated the question as to wheth-
er or not a special term of court, with
an added grand jury, should be con-
vened to try Fudge. In the forenoon
it was decided to await the outcome
of the coroner's jury's deliberative in
quiry. In the afternoon, when Fudge
was ordered held to an inquiry by the
first grand jury, the question: was
again deliberated, but the conclusion
was that a special term, for the pres
ent at least, viii not be held. The
circuit court, which is yet in session,
| did not require the service of a grand
| jury, and the tribunal was convened
in order to clear up the congested
docket. There had been no capital
crimes necessitating grand jury in
quiry, committed since the last Of
such bodies were in session here.
In the usual order of things, Fudge,
| therefore, is in the county jail for
three or four months. 1t will be Oc-
| tober or November before such a reg
ular term is convened, although the
present adjourned term viii be re-
convened July 10 under orders re-
ceived yesterday from Judge Camp
bell. The case of Fudge, however
must be inquired into by grand jury
and an indictment returned before his
case can be tried, hence his four
months of confinement.
Murder in the first degree was the
charge on which the coroner's jury
found the chain of evidence strong
enough to hold E. J. Fudge, charged
with killing his two daughters, aged
seven and eleven, in o-der to get
their life insurance.
The case took up the entire fore
noon. Witnesses were examined until
one o'clock, and the jury was out over
an hour.
The examination was not public.
and over hundred people were turn
ed away, anxious to learn from first
hand the details of one of the mosi
ghastly tragedies that has ever
shocked civilized community.
No new details was added to the
facts as already reported by The
Journal.
The Sons Accusation.
In the next room little Bascon
Fudge, seated on Judge Johnsoni
table, laughed and talked about wa
termelons while the jury was discuss
: ing his testimony that is the stronges
accusation against his father. Look
, ing out of the window, he was mucl
interested in the two big cannon Il
front Of the city building.
what are they for?" he asked.
'Those are cannon" was the bail
IFS reply.
do they shoot them ?"
: mo, they are too old fashioned. 2
/, "Then why don't they send them t
? New Orleans
The jury then entered with thei
findings.
4 4 I'll