The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-11-17
Case Presenting Many Most
Unusual Features Is
Brought to a Close.
DEFENDANT SENT
TO FEDERAL PEN
Question of Identity of Wo-
man Really Point of
Particular Issue.

After trial consuming the entire
morning session of the federal court
yesterday the jury in the case agai\it
j. w. Merchant, charged with violat-
ing the Mann white slave act brought
in verdict of guilty, and a sentence
OF SIX months IN the prison at Atlanta
was imposed by Judge William B.
Sheppard.
The case while not sensational in
nature, presented some of the most
unusual features ever aired in SIM
liar prosecutions. Since the time when
the United States claimed he trans
ported woman from Florida into
Mississippi and back again, the de-
fendant had married the woman, and
denied that she had every gone with
him on such trip, claiming that it
was his daughter who was with him.
The question of identity of the wo-
man IN the case was: really the point
at issue, and the government intro
duced much testimony to prove that
the woman with whom he took the
trip was in reality the woman who he
afterward married.
In supporting it's allegations the
governments placed the chauffeur.
henry Hartsffeld, who dove the auto
mobile from Biloxi to Florida. on the
stand, and had hims identify the wo-
man who was on the trip.
George kupfrian, manager of the
Hughey Hotel, then took the stand
and testified that Merchant. accom-
panied with a woman and basv
had come to the hotel on two occa-
sions, April 30th, and Mrq 10Th. the
nan registering as j. n Sullivan and
wlie, and that one room had been as
signed them. The register of the
hotel was introduced as evidence, and
the signature verified.
Mrs. Merchants, formerly Mrs.
Luella Morris, but who has been
divorced from her husband since last
spring, was placed on the stand and
denied that she had ever taken a
trip with Merchant, despite the fact
that IN "a written statement. legally
executed before Clerk Thompson. of
the Circuit court at Milton. she had
stated that she had taken the trip
and had stayed with Merchant in
several hotels, the names of which
she did not remember.
Deputy United States Marshal c. p
Mcmillan verified his signature as a
witness to the statement signed by
1'iA .. AsioiiiS, DSIOTe Sne was divorced.
Mr.. Johnson, clerk of a hotel at
Milton took the stand and related the
details of visit of Merchant and
Mrs. Morris at the hotel last spring.
stating that Mrs. Morris registered
at the hotel, and Merchant did not
but that several days later he wrote
Merchant name on the register to
make his record complete.
A porter from the Hughey Hotel
corroborated the testimony given bv
Mr.. Kupfrain, and, identified Mrs
Merchant as the woman who had ac-
companied Merchant on the trip. and
Hartsfield as the negro chauffeur.
In concluding the prosecution for
the government, Assistant District
Attorney Hoffman introduced the
signed statement of Mrs. Morris. as
final proof of the allegations made
by the United States.
In rebuttal, the defense placed Mrs.
Morris, Mrs. Yates, daughter of Mer-
chant and the defendant on the stand
Mrs. Morris testified that she had
taken the trip with her father to
Biloxi. Pascagoula, Pensacola, Milton
and other points, and that she had her
child with her during the entire time.
Merchant corroborated tbs testimony.
{ContinrIed IN Pace FiubfN