Evening journal., 1919-01-22
CANAL TIE PLACE
FOR REVOLVERS
Judge Heisel Tells Negroes
to Throw Away Their
Guns
NO CONVICTION In
DANCE PISTOL PLAY

Trial OF Thomas Gould. Negro,
charged with assault with intent TO
commit murder on Wallace Thomas,
another Negro, came 10 an abrupt end
ing In Court Room 20. 2 OF Court OF
General Sessions this morning when
Deputy Attorney General Green asked
10 have a n0lle prosequi entered after
the hearing OF considerable testimony
by both sides. A strong defense was
put In which led Mfr. Green TO dis
cintinue the trial.
After the disposition OF the case.
Judge Heisel Cox occasion TO warn
Negroes OF KirkwoOd and Summit
Bridge about carrying revolvers. The
Judge declared that II any Negroes be-
come involved In any shooting or other
trouble with pistols and are brought
before the court, they viii be given
the full penalty OF the law whether
he is Sitting or not He said that should
be not be sitting at the trial OF any
such case, he will interest himself In
Il TO see that the defendants are fully
punished.
III you have reyolvers you had bet
ter throw them in the canal" Judge
Helsel advised the Negroes. In the court
room was a large number OF Negroes
from that section OF the county.
Judge Heisel reminded the Negroes
that he Is from that part OF the county
and Is familiar with their manners.
Philip l.. Garrett appeared for Gould,
while Mr.. Green conducted the prose-
cutlon.
The case was an outcome Of a small
sized riot, IN which guns played most
important part, at a dance given by
Aunt Beck" near Summit Bridge, on
the night OF November i5 last. Some
trouble arose between the men attend
ing the affair, and for some minutes
bullets literally ralned about the
scene, most OF them finding a resting
place IN the side Of the house. Wallace
Thomas appeared TO be the only man
who stopped one OF the pieces Of lead.
According 10 the testimony, there
was a mad rush 10 get away from near
the lsouse when number OF the
Negroes drew their reyolyers. Those
not fortified with weapons, II appeared,
hastily took 10 some nearby cover or
ran away from the scene altogether.
Negroes were running In all directions
when the guns started barking, and all
the witnesses heard this morning did
not deny that they made themselves
scarce"
The defense was that Gould was DOT
the one who shot Wallace.
Wallace said that he went TO the
dance at Summit Bridge but did not pay
admission as he had been told that he
would not have TO pay unless he was
going 10 dance. Shortly afterwards,
he said, Gould, who was the doorten-
der demanded 10 be paid. The
witness said that he then left the house
and was followed by Gould. Outside
the house some trouble started, Thom-
as said, and Gould knocked down Perry.
who IS known as Daddy" Stats. The
defendant then drew a pistol and shot
him, Wallace testified. The ball passed
through his left arm and entered his
side, ne said.
After he was shot. Thomas declared
that he made himself scarce" and did
not stop running until he was some
distance fro mthe house. He heard many
shots as he ran, the witness said.
Stats testified 10 being knocked down
by Gould and beaten by several other
| couldn't tell who did &C." remarked
Stats. He did not see Wallace shot.
Randolph Smith said that as he ap-
preached a number OF Negroes near
the house, Thomas Gould stepped out
with a revolver and chased him down
the road yelling that II he didn't stop
he would shoot him.
Thomas Gould, in his own defense, de-
MED shooting Wallace. He said he did
not have a revolver that night. but that
Daddy" Stats had drawn a pistol and
ne admonished him for il.
Wesley Kuhns' said that Daddy"
drew a revolver and he knocked him |
down, and that Gould took no part In
subduing Daddy" Gould was not pres
ent when Wallace was shot, the wit
ness said.
John Nicholas. John NJ. Pondsley, |
Herbert Chandler and Charles Roy were
also placed on the stand by the defense,
All giving testimony'to the effect that /
Gould did not do the shooting.