The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-13

motion for change of venue on
the grounds that there could be no
fair trial in OkaIoosa county, the
"perjured testimony of VILE Black
we'll and the base ins1gnautlon of the
hired lawyers" had dared to cast
doubt. Adding that it was the
boast Of Unity that Sutton was
against Will Blackwell for political
reasons" a man who had no political
standing, who never could have n
tiuenced anyone, Mr.. Stokes declared
If these men are not guilty then
there have never been men tried in
Florida who are guilty. Such over
powering, convincing, conclusive tes-
| timOny as has been submitted in this
case, | have never seen before in any
case"
"a faxed up alibi is always the
plea of a guilty man. An innocent
man never has to resort to manu-
| featured testimony" declared the
| speaker, and referred to how Black
we'll had tried to bride L. c. Carr
and G. D. Adams during the trial
, even to swear to a false alib for him;
I how when they testified to this effect
he tried to get Louis Ates to swear
falsely that Carr had a grudge
against Will; how A. J. Melvin hao
been persuaded to perjure himself
that Bob Blackwell migfiht escape.
how the false testimony of Mrs. Erin
Settles had been likewise fixed.
Tracing the devious workings of
their minds further back, he showed
how Bob had tried to get Geo Blair
and jim Sellers to perjure themselves
for him, and how when put on the
stand they gave him the lie, And
Mr.. Stokes referred to VIII Black
wells affidavit at the May term ask
ing for a continupanCe on the grounds
that Jeff Russell and Henry Weaver
were the only people who saw him in
Crestview the night of the murder.
Why had not Blackwell tried to Sc
cure Viewers testimony? The state
would pay for it if they signed an
insolvent affidavit And Jeff Russell
had been out of the state since last
August.
, Mr.. Stokes then showed how the As
cahbre steel bullet, striking the gun
CHANGING blow and being DETECTED
to the floor where it lost it's energy
on friction, not direct penetration
lost it's force and fell harmlessly into
a chair. A direct hit with such q
she'll would secure great penetrative
power but not a glanCing blow.
Mr.. Stokes then described Eliza
Atwell's arrest because the state had
evidence that she was not telling thu
truth: to Sellers arrest on suspicion
until Sophronia Holmes declared that
he was not the third man; upon Matt
Wilson's arrest when the state haC
positive proof that he was harbor.
ing Will Blackwell after te sensa
tional escape; upon the arrest of A
J. Melvin and Mrs. Brin Settles wher
the state had the proof of their per
jury.
The defense had claimed, seeking t.
discredit Sophronia Holmes test;
mony, that she had said the thirc
man looked like the very shadow o
one Sam Reed; but Mr.. Stokes reaC
an except from the coronor's inques
proceedings where she had simpl,
stated that he was much of the SANE
, build. He referred to the theory o
a coat accommodating SCOT on the col
lar by natural means, and shove
= how Bobcock's testimony that he ha
heard a voice resembling Wills i
the adjoining room the night of tn
crime, was not positive, and that hi
opinion, underlined as it was, had bee
implanted in his mind by suggestion
l Mrs Atwell having told him the mex
7 morning that Will was talking to he
! the night before-seeking to bull
up Wills alibi.
Mr.. Stokes discussed the safeguard
= that an accused has; how before a
/ indictment could be made, a gran
, jury of eighteen men had to hear tn
! testimony; how when the case cam
I to trial, twelve men. selected with un
D common care. must reach a unani
) nous decision; how the judge on tn
5 bench if they committed a palpabI
= error, could set a new trial; how a
appeal could be made to the suprem
, court, the state paying all expense
. in the case of insolvency, whic
= 11-O,1lJ doCiJo tho +1-ial bod boon fair