The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-12
CASE OF TWO
BLACKWELL'S TO
JURY TODAY
Continued on Page Tenn

been blasted by A. J. Melvin, who
swore that he perjured himself when
he said he saw the prisoner in a
chair car on the night IN question.
Documentary Evidence.
The state then offered in evidence
the motion for continuance filed ~
viii Blackwell when he was first ar
raigned on the first of May, stating
that he was not prepared for trial
because he had not been able to COM
municate with Henry Weaver or jeff
Russell, two material witnesses, as
he claimed; bringing out the point
that the said witnesses had still not
been summoned, and that the aft
davit was further false.
Shortly after his arrest, Will
Blackwell declared that Jeff Russell
could establish his alibi, that he was
the only man n Crestview who had
seen him on the night of March 81;
and the state now called J. d. Rus
sell to the stand who swore that his
son Jeff had been in Oklahoma since
last September, was there still and
had not been back in the meantime.
The defense insinuated that there
might be some some other jeff Rus
sells in this part of the country, but
Sheriff Sutton settled this point
effectively.
Picture on the Wall.
Eliza Atwell going upon the stand
for the fourth time and tying Sher-
IF Sutton's record, described Wills
peculiar conduct with the picture on
the wall. She held the atrOcity in
the white enamel frame in her lap,
where all could see 1.-THE red coated
woman with a petrified smile and a
gray gloved hand, enormously out of
proportion, resting On the horses
head. The picture had been hanging
for months in Will Blackwelps room;
shortly after the crime it appeared
in her room. She returned it. He
took it back into her room and told
her not to move it again. When she
informed Mr. McGeachy about this,
as already brought out, he had De
tective Moore examine the offending
work of art. When the pasteboard
backing was removed, Bob Black.
wells Woodman of the World care
was found cunningly hidden between
it and the picture; the card that
Bob and VIII acknowledged was II
the suitcase and which Will was un
able to remember whether he hac
hidden in such a remarkable place!
Further Confirmation.
Mrs. Atwell further testified thai
Will Blackwell was in the habit Of
doing her marketing, but did not OK
it on the night of the murder; she
was corroborated by w. J. Haynes
and L. R. DuBose, her boarders, whC
further said that at about mldnlgh
on the night of the murder Mrs At
we'll was in Blackwell's room alon'
and that at daybreak Will was there
. Mrs. Atwell was called for tn
second time that day and the NIT
tine since the case started, and ado
ed further confirmation. Sheriff SUIT
toms record was broken!
Smashing Wills Alibi.
Discredited already, the state no'
proceeded utterly to confound WI
BlackwelPs alibi.
Charles Cox went on the stand an
swore that Tuesday of last week h
had seen Duncan Blackwell, father c
the accused, and Mrs. Robert Black
we'll, wife of Bob, coming from til
house of Mrs. Erin Settles, tn
woman who swore that Will was
her house drinking whiskey at tn
time of the murder. Mrs. Settle
though arrested for perjury last Sa
urday, has not yet seen fit to chang
her testimony; so the state Gale
representative men and men
standing in the community, begin
ming with Mayor White, who swol
that the Settles woman had a ba
reputation and that they would M
believe her on oath. NJ. Z. Savag
A. P. Jones, L. f. Bowers, w.
White, and C. H. Griffith so testltlet
and so that alibi went to JOIN II
SHOWS of yesteryear.
Merely to round out the case, tn
state put Mrs. A. j. Melvin on ii
stand who swore that her husbar
was home on the night of March
and not at Holt talking to Bob Blacl
well as he claimed before he r.
nounced his perjury.
The state and the defense reste
at 1890 a. m.
Judge Campbell announced tn;
each side would be limited to eigl
hours.
At 10:40 R. A. McGeachy, the ia
ented state attorney, whose first ca'
this is in his official capacity, begs
his speech.
Remarking that there was nothir
that he could say would strengthC
such a strong case, he referred
the probity of Judge Campbell, al
to the care with which the jury HI
been selected to prevent any ma
with any bias being allowed to sery
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