The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-11
HILL TRIAL NEARING END; ARGUMENTS
 WILL BEGIN TODAY
Many Character Witnesses Introduced by the State. Judge Fort and AttOr-
 ney Clash on Rulings

With the examination of character wit nesses, which occupied the attention oi the court practically all day yesterday, the trial of w. NJ. Hill, charged with the murder of A. B., Sudduth, is drawing to a close A few additional witnesses will be examined this morning, and the argu- ments will begin. The case is expected to reach the jury this afternoon.
 At the afternoon session yesterday Judge Fort and Attorney John Altman clashed when the attorney made remark about some testimony after the judge had ruled on the question. That will be all Mir. Altman" said Judge Fort, Tor you will be in contempt of court. MT. Altman stated that the court had made rulings never made before, and if com ment was in contempt, then he was in contempt. Your remarks after court has ruled are not becoming said the court, to which Mr. Altman replied: "If have made any improper statements, l apologize"
 No new testimony was introduced at the afternoon session, and 22 character witnesses were placed on the stand and all testified that MT. Sudduth was a peaceable man and many of them had known him for more than 25 years Those testifying as to the character of the dead man were: Dr. B. L. Wyman, Gus FL lard, J. F. Watkins, F. F. Smith, w. P. Stevens, Arthur Stewart, R. l.. Sumner. J. H. Frost, Samuel Frye, J. M. Corey, E. c. Thurston, Judge J. F. Stiles of the probate court; George P. Hamlin, John T. Grady, F. A. Hamlin, John Moncrief, Prof R. B. Allgood, W. B. Strange, P. D. Richards, J. A. Falkner, G. c. Ellis and Paul Swanson.
 Will Reagin, a negro, was held in contempt of court at the morning ses- sion by Judge Fort, while w. s. Star buck and S. w. Majors, executors of the Sudduth estate, were declared not guilty of contempt or intimidation of wit nesses. The contempt proceedings grew out of visit Starbuck Majors and Reagin are alleged to have made to the home of Fannie May Watts, a ne- gro, to verify statements she had made on the stand as to witnessing the shoot ing.
 Attorney Altman made the affidavit alleging contempt and there was no evidence against the defendants except the statement of the girl, so they were discharged. However, it developed that during the contempt proceedings some one was reading the proceedings of the trial in a newspaper and when the testimony of Fannie May Watts was read Reagin is alleged to have said the testimony was a lie, as he had seen MT Sudduth and his pockets were not turned inside out.
 All during the day the courtroom was crowded, many women being noted in the audience. MT. Hill was the first witness on the stand and was sub jected to an hour and a half vigorous cross-examination by c. P. Beddow, attorney for the prosecution, but re- mained unshaken in the main points of his testimony. MT. Hill, in explaining where he got certain Pullman car blankets and shoes, mentioned in the trial, stated he had bought three pairs pair from Porter Clothing company. He testified these were the same shoes the officers had seized and returned to him after an investigation.
 In response to a question Hill stated he had not heard that MT. Sudduth had reported him to the officers as having stolen the clothes and shoes, and de- clared he did not know who reported 1t. A. J. Hall, inspector of weights and measures before Sudduth was killed. testified that Sudduth had the reputa- tion of being a dangerous man. Court adjourned at o'clock and will recon vene at 9:30 o'clock this morning.