The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-25
BILLY MAY HAD
KNIFE IN HAND
WHEN CORA SHOT
Self Defense May Be the
Plea When She Comes
to Trial.

The preliminary hearing in the case
Of young Mrs. May, charged with the
death of her husband, was held yes
terday at three o'clock before Justice
Conaway. The hearing was delayed
an hour because DR.. Ramage could
not be present before three. Long be.
fore two, colored congregation began
to assemble in the basement Of the
court house and by the time Mrs. Cora
May was brought from jail, the crowds
were so thick and so tight that Jallor
Buckley called twice, "Gangway,
please" in order to get his prisoner
through and TO the front Of the room.
Even then there seemed not an ounce
OF room which could be utilized as
pathway and the crowds had to back
out into the basement to make way.
Mrs. May, called by friends and author
tiles just plain Cora, entered the room
TO wide, curious stares. She is decided.
ly light in color, and her hair Is half
straight. 1t stands out from her head
on all sides with the center rolled
high, much like child's pompadour
The sides are bobbed. She wore
light blue silk dress with georgetto
sleeves, chain around her neck,
rings and earrings. She wore the
same clothes she wore when she left
the house after shooting her husband
Charley Moore was the first wit
ness called for the state. Attorney
Harry Shaw, representing Mrs. May,
and Attorney Charles Miller, represent
ing the state, paid close attention to
each word spoken and an official stem
ographer took down everything which
was said.
Moore stated he sat near the kitchen
door when Cora came downstairs and
shot six times at Billy. Charley Da.
Wis was at a, table eating. A man by
the name of James-Moore didn't
know his last name-went for the doc
tor. The tragedy occurred on March
Is at two in the morning. Moore
roomed upstairs just two rooms from
Billy and his wife but heard no quar-.
rels at any time between the. two.
"What were you doing all EVENING""
"Nothing!" came in reply. No trou-
BILE as far as he knew. Saw her play
ing checkers with Charley Davis. Billy
was in the kitchen cooking. jamie
Mack was there and other women and
other men. Mrs. May came in after
the dance with crowd of people. She
went down cellar stayed five minutes
and came UP again. He didn't know
what she went after. Words might
have passed between Billy and his
wife and he not know it as the crowds
in the restaurant were noisy and gay.
She pulled the gun out Of her dress.
Cora opened her coat at this stage
to display that her dress was buttoned
in the back and could not hold gun
in the front. A brown coat with much
fur covered her completely during the
hearing.
Billy followed her out Of the kitch.
en- with a large knife in his hand.
Followed fast, trying to grab her. She
went out the door and ran. Billy got
to chair and friends began wiping
his wounds with cold water and rag.
"Sayed he was shot Nevah seed no
knife aftahwa'ds. Told Jane to go for
the doctor. Seed him put Cora's clothes
long before she come home In safe be-
hind de counter"
DR.. Ramage testified that Billy was
wounded in three locations and that
tho abdomen wound killed him. When
asked If any death-bed statement had
been made, he replied, mo official
statement" DR.. RamRge was merely
asked about wounds and statement
and then allowed to go.
Charley Davis testified next. Davis
spoke in a much more emphatic man.
ner than Moore and had his story we'll
in hand. He had stopped to get
Continued on page four.l