The Little River news., 1917-01-13
FRED" EDWARDS
 GETS LIFE TERM
(COnttnued from page 1,


 legger, describing w, H. Mottit ana wife. respected citizens. They asked Gammill if he had a phone. He said he had not Mr. DuLaney stated that MT. Gammill would identify the de- fendant as one of the men. That Gam mil later went to the home of Jeff Nesbitt and phoned the officers. MT. Waldrop, Jim Sanderson, J. k. F'urloW and others arrived in the midst of the beating of one of the negroes while the men were still there, and that they foG, were pursued. The state said it would prove that Willie Roberts rap cd Geraldine Ray while Edwards stooo guard over the crowd of negroes, pis- tol in hand that the girl herself would tell of it; that others present would tell it on the stand. They would prove that Roberts threatened to blow her brains out unless she compiled with his request; they would prove that Edwards and James were tracked into town, were seen to enter the "43 show from the rear, to pass out in front; that they went to the Harris store Tor ecld drinks, that James Was nervous and trembling as he raised his glass. Harris asked him what was the mat er and was told that there had been a robbery and t&at they were afra.a they would be accused. The state expected to prove tEat after they were arrested they were carried back over the routes taken to town and that the tracks fit, even the brand o4. the heel of James shoe WAS identical. The states attorney sad that tEe neg roes would tell that Edwards was ore of the men, that the night was mOon- light. He concluded by saying that they would prove that Roberts raped the girl, and that Edwards was pre- sent and abetting.
 Defense Made Statement.
 Mir. Morreil for the defense immed- lately made statement of what he eH- pected to prove by the evidence. An alibi was the corner stone on which he based his case The defendant was not present. He stated that if all the prosecution had stated could be proven that there would be nothing left to do but return verdict of guilty. He did n't know what the state would prove by Gammill but that Gammill had made contradictory statements from these credited to him by the prosecu- tion in his statement The defense believed and expected proof it was a dark nigh; it expected to prove that the boys were around the shows all night from about o'c'o ock until arrest ed; that the defendant was in town all the time until arrested in front of the "49 show He would prove the deed was committed in big wood, heavy timbered from 1 to II miles out of town. Would prove by H. G. Freddy that defendant could not have been there as he saw him at the "49 show about the time the crime was commit- ted. He would prove by others who had nc interest in the crime that Ed wards was seen by them about the same time.
 Examine Witnesses.
 Ga instructions from the court the News will not give any verbatim tes- tlmoHy On account it's effect to dis qualify jurors in the cases to follow.
 Three white boys, Bob Beckwitr, CdItis Wimberley and Harry Collins were first introduced by the state for the purpose of ascertaining movements of defendant about the shows on the night of the crime. Berry Owens was the first of the negroes, one Of the eye witnesses and a victim of the robbery. was placed on the stand by the state for the purpose of testifying to all the circumstances that took place at the scene of the crime on the night of November End. He positively identi- led the defendant as one of the three. He was not shaken by cross eXamina- ton and told a straight story. Owens has lived on his farm near this city for thirty years.
 Napoleon Harris was next placed on the stand as being one of those present on that night, and by whom the state expected to establish the alleged char ges. Harris made a good witness. He proved invincible to the cross fire of defense He positively identified Ed wards as one ofthe robbers who stood guard with his pistol while the rape was taking place. He was the second negro robbed and was there almost from the first.
 George Turner, who was next placed on the stand, was the first negro held up, and the one tied to a tree by the three men, one of whom was identified