The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-07-08

Ceedings of the Blackwell trial, and
then after it seemed that the emo
tional gamut had been run. the
greatest sensation of all was sprung
after court adjourned, in the arrest,
on a charge of perjury, of the two
witnesses who had apparently estab-
hshcd perfect alibis for both VIII and
Bob. the two brothers VINO are
charged with the murder of Bud and
Nancy Davis Oh the night of March
p, 1917.
Bad Start for Blackwells.
The day started badly for the
brothers, the suspicious circumstances
attending Bob's coming to Crestview
the night before the murder, his leap
into the dark, trying apparently to
avoid recognition, were described by
D. c. Smith, Of Holt; then came the
terrible testimony of the marshal of
Tallassee, Ala, the man who ar
ted Bob in that place, to which
he acknowledged having fled from
SvlacauRa under an assumed name,
later asking if "they caught the wo-
man" in the Davis murder case.
A Ray of Light.
When the prosecution rested. the
defense by the testimony of W. n.
HartgrOve tried to prove that Wills
motives in visiting the neighborhood
of the Davis murder in February and
March Of this year were not to re
ConnOitre the premises of the doomed
couple, but had a political signif-
canoe. Hartgrove gave straightfor-
ward testimony, declaring that he
and VIII were trying to crystalline
sentiment into Contesting the Novem-
Der elections, in which both he and
the accused were unsuccessful can
didates.
Sensation by the Defense.
Then the defense sprung it's first
big sensation. By T. J. Martin, of
Opp, Ala, but formerly of Holt, and
originally summoned by the prosecu-
ton, it sought to prove that Bob
Blackwell had picked up a handcuft
key under his chair during the last
trial, which was halted by Wills SEN
sational getaway that night, and that
it was Detective Moore who furnished
him the means. Another Moore now
enters into the drama, "A snuff drum
mer of Pensacola, for whom a sub
pOena has been issued and who should
/ furnish one of the thrills Monday.
! The testimony was ordered stricken
but in order to establish motive for
the political frame-up of which the
prisoners claim they are the victims
! the defense will make mighty fight
to re-introduce it just as soon as the
mysterious snuff man can be located
Accused Have Innings.
Followed various witnesses whose
! testimony favored the accused infer
entially-not definite, but of psyche
! logical mportanCe--and then the de-
! Tense introduced Mrs Erin Settles
! and A. J. Melvin, the former OF whom
! declared that Will Blackwell was at
| her house in Crestview between :
and o'clock on the night of March
J 81, the very time the murder was
/ being committed: and the latter that
! Bob Blackwell was on the train going
| to Pensacola Tuesday night, or the
night before. Witnesses could not
! be shaken; but they were arrested
| immediately after court adjourned
upon warrant issued by State Attor-
ney McGeachy, and charged with
! perjury.
They, together with the accused
were taken to DeFuniak tonight
/ The Settles family made a violent
| scene when Mrs. Erin was arrestd.
Political Revelations.
Besides the Ma sterious Snufman
Will Blackwell expects to go on the
stand Monday and promises to revea
the secret workings of the politica
steam roller which he says is drag
cling two innocent men to the gallowS
booo,,ro Of oCr7j+y tO one
Three Questions.
The questions the people are ask
! ing themselves tonight are, Can the
defense prove that Detective Moore
put the handCuff key under BOZ
Blackwel's chair a few hours before
the famous leap from flying auto
mobile? Was Will Blackwell drink
ing whiskey in Mrs. Erin Settles
house at the time of the murder
And was Bob Blackwell saying
Hello, Mr.. Melvin, how You com
ing" through the window of a chat
car bound for Pensacola the nigh
before the crime?
j If not, Will and Bob Blackwell vii
hang; if so, they will 90 free, Florid;
will still be seeking for three muir
derers. and
The Days Proceedings.
| Following are the proceedings o
the fourth day, proper, of the Black
we'll brothers trial on the charge o
numbering Bud and Nancy Davis:
T. J. Martin, of Opp, Ala, former
(Cor+inr1ed on Paoa Ninel