El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-10-27
BANKER DENIES
KILLING BLACK
Further Testimony in Trial
on Murder Charge Is Pre-
scented in Court.

Galveston. Texas. Oct. e-.-Rebuttal
testimony was introduced today in the
trial Of John Copeland. banker. charged
with the killing Of William Black. anti
Catholic lecturer The adopted dauEh-
ter or the lecturer, who was expected
here to testify. inad not arrived today.
She was a witness or the shooting
Copeland Denies killing Black.
John Copeland took the witness
stand Thursday and denied he shot
Black He declared the only shot ne
fired was directed at Clarence F Hall.
the lecturers business agent and said
he did not know who killed Black.
Copeland did not once contradict
himself He said the lecturer was the
first n draw his gun.
shows Where He Was wounded.
The most dramatic moment of the
trial came when he barred his body TO
show the jury the wound in his alb
domen he received when fired on by
falL so far the chief witness of the
state He testified that as a result
Of this and two other wounds. he was
mcapacitated for nearly four months
Tn response TO questioning. Copeland
said he went to confer with Black and
TO protest against his delivering a sec
ond lecture in Marshall attending the
sessions of the Roman Catholic church.
RE said he would not have made the
trip If he thought trouble would re-
suit
He armed himself. however. he tes-
titled. because he had been warned that
Black was "A bad man"
Copeland said he had been cashier
of the Marshall state bank for the last
II years and that he had been married
70 years. had a u year old daughter
and was a member of the Roman Cath
clio church and the Knights of Column
#rr ola
vent in Marshall and that his daughter
attended school there His three sis
tiers also attended school at the con-
vent
Considers it Attack on Home.
On the morning Of February .. he
said. me went TO the bank and there
heard about a lecture delivered by
William Black. the night before John
B Teese, who worked in the bank.
told him. he said. and showed him
Blacks circular
-Teese told me that Black in his
speech. denounced priests and nuns
and declared the confessional infam-
Gus and iuiquitouS. said Copeland
-Teese said that Black stated in the
lecture that he had several encounters
with Catholics. carried seven bullets
and one stab wound he had received
from Catholics. was always on the
outlook for trouble and went always
prepared"
Copeland said he discussed the lee T
Ure with several persons that day
ne considered n n direct attack on
uv home" That evening. he said. he b
went by appointment TO meet George (
Ryan and John Rogers and the three /
vent 10 the hotel TO see Black.
Admits Being Armed /
Were you armed
Yes" replied the witness Il had /
he 81 caliber Colt which was offered +
% evidence / did not deem 10 safe ?
t 20 without it, T had been warned /
hat these were bad men And 7 re- +
remhered that IN his lecture the night
'efore. Black had said ne was pre-
'srrd.~
Was Rogers armed
No"
WAS RYAN armed
90 couldn't saw about that
Doesn't know Who Killed BLACK
Mr. Copeland" said AR EoyStont
uddeuly. who killed Black
g don't know answered the Wit
ess
-uid you shoot Black
40. sir
-Did YOU shoot at Black
No. sir"
What had all you men agreed o.
a fore YOU went to see Black the
ifu-ss was asked on cross eNamina-
Jon
To use any reasonable argument
u3. II necessary. tell him he could
OF Islander and outrage Us any more