The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-12
Arguments were About
Half Completed When
Court Adjourned
BOB BLACKWELL
ADDRESSES JURY
Makes Comparison of His
Case With That of Christ
State to Close
(By Thomas Ewing Dabney)

NY HOEldS Ewing ljahney
Crestview, July 1I-With all the
testimony in, and argument about
half completed, the Blackwell case
should go to the jury tomorrow after
noon. and a verdict may be expected
by night.
Heretofore court has adjourned at
s o'clock in order that the authori-
ties NAV have daylight to convey the
prisoners TO DeFuniak. where they
are held for safe keeping, but it is
understood they will be held until the
verdict has been given, unless, Of
course, the jury seems to be having
difficulty in reaching an agreement.
Motion for a new trial will no
doubt be made, and after the prelini-
raries have been disposed of, the
Blackwell brothers viii be removed
to Pensacola for confinement in the
Escambia county Jail,
Wills AIibi Blows Up
During today's proceedings. the
alibi established for viii Blackwell
by Mrs. Erin Settles was discredited
by a number of prominent men head
ed by Mayor White, who testified
that her reputation was had and
swore that they yvoald not believe her
on oath. Mrs. Settles still sticks to
her tale though the man Melvin, who
swore to Bob Blackwell's alibi, con-
fessed that he had perjured himself
at the Nuisance of the father of the
accused. He has been released from
custody, but Mrs. Settles is still in
Jail = perjury charge.
The Case of Many AIibis
A ,-ovriayr- of bo
shows an Obscession bordering on the
stupid to get an ahbi AS soon as one
attempt failed, they made another,
not thinking that he previous expo
sure would suggest doubt on the new
fabrication.
Two months ago Will Blackwell,
for instance declared that Jeff Rus
sell was the only man who saw him
in Crestview on the night of the muir
der-and Jeff was in Oklahoma at
the time and has been since Septem-
Der. During the session Of the pres
ent court, he tried TO get G D. Adams
and L. c. Carr to swear to an alibl,
and when they gave him away, Mrs.
Erin Settles was produced. who swore
that he was in her house at the time
of the murder.
Bob Blackwell first swore he was
in Alabama, then he tried to estab-
fish an alibi in Pensacola by George
Blair, the boarding house keeper, and
Jim Sellers. but they swore yester-
day quite the opposite. Then Bob's
father fxtd old man Melvin, and he
confessed % perjury,
The multitudIOUs alibis. B0b's wan
behring's, his arrest under an alias,
Wills character, the steel jacketed
bullet. the telltale heel marks, the
smutted coat. the identification by
Sophronia Holmes and Harrison
, Davis, and the picture on the wall,
even without the testimony of Mrs.
Eliza Atwell and the various wit
nesses who confessed that they per
jured themselves to the coroner's
jury, would constitute a terrible case
against the accused.
Arguments Begin.
Opening for the state. r. A.
McGeachy made a strong and logical
speech of two and a half hours
length. He was followed by viii
Blackwell, and then L. ". Nelson
opened the defense proper with an
earnest speech of two hours and ff-
teen minutes. As both sides are
limited to eight hours, the state has
five and a half hours more and the
defense five hours and fOrty-five min
utes. 1t is not thought however that
the full time will be used Messrs.
Laird and Rice will speak for the de
tense tomorrow, and Mr. Stokes will