The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-05-08
Deputies Ordered Held
on a Charge of Murder
Coroner's Jury Finds Bayless
and Graham Guilty of
Serious Crime.
VERDICT GIVEN
IN SHORT TIME
Accused Arrested at Once and
Locked Up-May Se-
cure Bond.

Deputy Sheriffs F. e. Bayless ana
Hugh Graham, upon return OF coro-
| ner's jury at 4:45 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, were formally served with
warrants charging them with nur-
der. They were specifically charged
in return OF the corroner's jury,
which deliberated but a short time.
with having ''feloniously erected the
death" of Jim Lowry The fury was
composed of w. G.. Porter r. f.
Williams. w. C. Mackey. t. Fl. Hurst.
M. A. Dubuisson and w S. Lurton. 1t
was stated that the decision was
reached without much discussion. and
was unanimous. They only reason
sooner. 1t was stated. was because the
first written verdict was spoiled and
II had to be rewritten.
Immediately upon such return be-
ing made, Judge WIN l.. johnson form
ally drew up the warrants, and per-
sonally turned the documents over
TO the sheriffs office for execution,
He saw TO it however. that the men
were formally and duly arrested, and
last night they were placed I'm close
confinement Whether or not they viii
be admitted TO bail remains as yet an
unsettled question Last night two
authorities stated that the men were
entitled 70 bail but this was not quite
clear to the coroner, and this very
important matter will be decided
finally today. II was stated last night
that very heavy hail could readily be
furnished for each OF then
The testimony yesterday followed
along the same line as that adduced
and printed herein yesterday when
the jury could not agree The only
deviation was that the cause OF death
OF Jim Lowery was being investigated
whereas the first jury investigated the
cause of cath of I'D. Jenkins. the
negro, who was shot down and killed
as he was evidently trying to get the
protection of pine tree.
Detective Moore's testimony was
another big feauture OF yesterdays
session. He detailed how, on Sunday
he and Mr. McGeachy, the state at
torney, visited the seen. and tn re-
volver was found. The deputies had
claimed the negro had started firing
at them. The pistol found was readily
lutnllleu DE the negro woman. IDlNle
Merrill, who. wounded, and in bed.
was heard by the coronerss jury at
her room at the home OF a relative at
731 West Belmont street. She testi-
fed that the deputies, after shooting
down jenkins, had advanced on him
with guns In position. white folks,
don't shoot me no more" she said he
begged. You done killed me- she
said he told them as he fell to his
knees, and then rolled over dying al
most immediately. She said that the
missing cartridge from the negro's gun
was the one he fired on her in the
quarters at Bagdad when she in
formed him she was coming to Pen
sacola- She was positive that he
fred not a shot after that.
In proof of her story. the gun was
exhibited. It was shown that the
weapon had recently been fired, but
once, and that every other chamber
was loaded. Tae gun was exhibited
to the jury just as 1t had been found.
Joe Pressly. the taxicab driver. was
another strong witness for the state,
and the testimony he gave the day be-
fore was repeated without the least
dispute of former statements. He
detailed how his car had been the first
10 leave the ferry, how he had met
the Other car ana or the men IN tns
latter had waived his hand as if in
salue. He thought the man wha waived
was another party of his acquaint-
ance and he called attention of Lowry
10 it, AS Lowery looked to try and
identify the supposed acquaintance
the shot were fired, and this account
ed for Lowry having been shot in the
head. This woHnd, il was claimed.
was made by the bullet which entered
the car from the rear, and was thought
to have been one OF the first fired
into the said car Mr.. Presley again
stated with positiveness that the ne
gro, who was in the car never firee
a shot
States Attorney r. A. McGeachy,
who has attended the two legisiations,
was especially busy yesterday, af-
fording every opportunity 70 the jury
learning every detail Of the ctrong
case which he believes was finally
worked out He was present in his
official capacity as state prosecutor.
and brought out statements from wit
aesses each Of them STRENGTHENING the
sfetes case, seems.
Two other highly interested spec
.ators were Sheriff Sutton Of Okaloosa
county. and Sheriff Harvell Of Santa
Rosa county, who was also used as
4 state witness. explaining his mes
sage 20 Sheriff Van Pelt regarding the
departure of the negro. Jenkins, from
santa Rosa for Escambia county.