The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-06
LIFE SENTENCE IS GVENROCHESTER
 IN MURDER CASE
Jury Found Slayer of Aged Miner at Mineral Springs Guilty of Murder in
 First Degree

Guilty of murder in the first degree and finding of the jury in the case of Will Rochester, of Mineral Springs. who shot and killed his uncle, J. Y. Teer, of that place, in cold blood. The plea of the un- written law adduced by the defence was of no avail against the weight of evidence Nearly the whole male neighborhood was summoned to court to testify in this case. friends of both men, tradesmen and oth- CTS, to the number of 50 were subpoenaed to testify. The wife of the prisoner took the witness stand and told of all uncle and herself.
 This plea was the surprise sprung by the defence, this was the point relied upon by them to set will Rochester free But the states witnesses had a differ ent story to tell as the immediate cause of the shooting. They testified that Roch- ester Teer, Martin Hill and one Vaughn were all seated around Henry White s well. The topic discussed was the owner ship of an illicit still. Old man Teer stated that he understood Rochester owned it and had made several journeys for the purpose of selling bootleg whisky. Hill broke in and claimed ownership, stating that his brother-in-law, Roches- ter, had nothing to do with it. Some swore the old man wielded an open knife. nt httt nd tad that Rochester. muttering, you cut me" went off towards his house, adding, "I1l kill one of you -v -" Martin Hill and Mrs. Teer, who had joined the group when the thbuble began, ran after him. The ac- cused entered the house. came out with his rifle and as Hill called out Don't you shoot that man. he fired the one shot that took Teer's life. The old fel- low fearing for his life, had run away from the well and was making for neghbor's house B yards away when he was shot down.
 He had just reached the gate of what promised to be haven of safety when the fatal ball pierced his back. He was taken into the house. but complaining that he was smothering, was taken to the porch, where he died.
 Mrs. Teer the sister of the murderer's own mother, took the stand and all be- wiIdered by the strange procedure in court, told how she in an attempt to pre- vent a second shot, was felled to the ground by blow from the gun that had killed her husband. The blow was swung at her head. but by quickly raising her arm she warded it off. Her arm was fractured and mashed and she fell in faint on the spot. After the shooting the accused stood by and with hard smile said that his victim wont try to cut any more people.
 The trial started Thursday and con- tinued till after 6 o'clock last night. IL was heard before Judge w. E. Fort Tn the criminal division of the circuit court.
 Attorney John W. Altman assisted So- licitor J. R. Tate in the prosecution. The defense was in the hands of Attorneys Gibson and Davis.
 The judge charged the jury at some length and the case went to the Jury about o'clock Saturday night. After de- liherating till after Ii o'clock they were dismissed for the night with instructions to go to their hotel and report back to the court at s:3O o'clock yesterday morn ing. It was noon yesterday before nnai decision was reached.