The Sentinel=record., 1916-11-25
.OVERTON AND LAWLER
 WERE POLITICAL RIVALS
An Attorney and Sheriff Had Killed Themselves Because They Were Suspected of Having Been lmplicat ed in the Death of Judge Lawler.

] Huntsville, Ala, Nov. 24.-Probate I Judge William T. Lawler, whose body was found in a slough of the Ten nessee river near here June 17, after I he had been missing from his home | three days. and whose death was fol 1 lowed by the suicide soon afterward of Huntsville attorney and sheriff of Madison county, who believed they were suspected in cOnection with the tragedy, was killed the night of June | II, by David D. Overton. his political l rival, OvertOn testified here today in ! his trial on a charge of having mur- dered the jurist. The killing, Oyertou | declared, which occurred on the Whitsburg bridge, was the result of fight precipitated by Lawler, who he ' said attacked him with knife when he refused to join Lawler in plan to delay a report of the Madison county grand jury, which then was in | session.
 Oyerton declared he drove LawleF , to the Whitesburg bridge in his buggy at the latter's suggestion, to discuss political differences which they hoped 10 settle, He denied he had any thing to do with the disposition Of Lawler's body or with the alleged painting out of blood s. ots on the Whitesburg bridge
 He informed Sheriff Robert Phillips of the tragedy the night it occurred, he said, and when he saw Phillips the next day the sheriff told him the body "had not been brought to town and that no one would find it." Sher- if Phillips killed himself the week following the discovery of Lawler's body, leaving word he could not bear the suspicion he believed was directed against him in connection with the iurist's death Three days before Shelby Peasants Huntsville attor- ney, committed suicide
 Dr. c. V, Williams of Chattanooga. whC treated Overtons wounds in that city last June, was the last witness for the defense, which rested it's case late today He described what he said was a serious cut on the former clerks neck near the jugular vein.
 1t is expected the state will con duet an examination in rebuttal early tomorrow and Overton's fate will be in the hands of the jury by noon. Overton's testimony touched upon what he said were the friendly rela- tions between Lawler and himself when they were officials together il the Madison county courthouse, and of factional feeling which he said later developed during the campaign in the spring for the probate judg- ship
 Following the election in which Lawer was the successful candidate, he declared that he (Oyerton) admit ted publicly his defeat. Attempts be- fore the election, however, he said, were made to settle certain political differences between them and to this end on several occasions he sent word to Lawler through State Senatcr Rob- ert E. Spraggins. of Huntsville.
 'I told Spraggins that if he would bring about a meeting 1 would assure him that our differences would be set. tied; that I would make such conces. sions as to bring about a safe and con servatiye campaign Spraggias never arranged the meeting, Judge Lawler holding back.
 After the election, on the afternoon of June 14 I saw Iawer at the cour,. house. He said he wanted 10 see me. We went to the basement and talked Lawer said Sprageins has delivered my message and that he didn't see any reason for hurryng a conference. He told me the grand jury, which was ia session, was trying hard to de- stroy both Of US and wanted him 10 give information to destroy me. He said he declined and thought it was time we were getting together. told him l would be glad to meet him any time with Senator Spraggins present. lie replied that he would meet me in lSpaggins' office at o'clock