The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-08
LEGAL CLASHES RETARD PROGRESS
 OF HILL TRIAL
State Rests and Witnesses for Defense Go On Stand. Case May Go Over
 Until Monday

wrangling between attorneys for the state and defense caused considerable delay in the trial of William M Hill, on trial before Judge W. F. Fort for the murder of A. B. Sudduth. The state rested its evidence at noon yesterday. and witnesses for the defense were in troduced.
 The frequent legal clashes between Attorney c. P. Beddow. who Is assist ing the prosecution, and Attorney John W. Altman, counsel for the defense, over the introduction of certain evi, dence retarded the progress of the trial and many objections were made to the rulings of the court on this point.
 Mrs. Lillian Jester, who was em- ployed by Mir. Sudduth, testified that shs was sitting in the office when Hill came in and ordered a soft drink. After this, she said, he called Sudduth out and they went out on the sidewalk by the southeast corner of the store, where they engaged in conversation.
 After few words she as- serted that the argument be- came heated between them. She looked out few moments later and saw the men rolling over in the road. She then heard a shot, and ran out to find Hill holding a pistol. Sudduth did not have pistol, and she seized Hilrs arm, crying don't shoot again, you have killed him already" She tes- tified that Hill fired twice more while she had her hands on the gun, trying to prevent it. and she then ran for aid.
 DOCTORS TESTIFY
 Other witnesses testifying for the state were Drs. S. R. Caffee, J. D, S. Davis and w. c. Gewin, who told of the con- dition of Sudduth's left arm, which had been partly paralyzed by gun shot some months before. and that he could not raise 1t above a level with his shoul- der The state then rested
 Miss Edna Hicks, the coroner's ste nographer, took the stand as first wit ness for the defense. She corroborated the testimony of Assistant Coroner John R. T. Rives, concerning the statements ot eye-witnesses and the arresting of- ficers at the time of the coroner's in- quest.
 Council for the defense also introduced IT. H. Glover, warden of the city jail who took the stand and testified that Hill had not been drinking at the time, or at least that he could not detect any whisky fumes on his breath when he was brought to the city Jail, within an hour after the killing.
 B. G. Wheeler, negro fireman on the Southern railway, testified to seeing Sud- duth's hip pocket turned wrongsids out when he arrived on the scene. Other witnesses called during the aft ernoon were Paul Swanson. a little white boy, who testified to passing Sud- duth's store at the time of the killing (about oclock), while on his way home from school. He said he saw two men rolling over on the ground, heard shot, and then ran home.
 Fannie Mae Watson, negress working in a field near the store. testified to hear ing shot, and then seeing Hill fire at Sudduth, who was then lying on the ground. Other witnesses were called who testified to arriving on the scene im- diately after the shooting.
 EYEWITNESS ON STAND The last witness called by the defense during the afternoon was Ananias War ren. a negro. who testified that he was standing talking to Ike Smith near the northeast corner of the store, at win dow, when Hill entered the store. A few minutes later. he said. they both came out of the store, carrying on a conver- SatiOn Tn an ordinary tone OI VOlCe lHey walked to the southeast corner of tho store where they began to argue In loud tones. The negro testified that Sudduth called Hill foul name, striking him at the same time with his right fist, and turning him completely around. He then struck Hill again. both men then fell to their knees and Sudduth pushed Hill over
 He said Hill kept reaching back to- ward his hip pocket with his right hand and finally pulled his gun, lying flat on his back. He showed how Hill brought the gun up. hugging it close to his side, and fired twice in few seconds.
 The negro stated that 1t was at this iuncture that Mrs Jester rushed out of the store, seized the gun and at tempted to prevent Hill from firing again, saying. Don't shoot again; you have killed him already" After a few intellectual attempts to wrest the gun from Hill, she ran back into the store. Then Hill raised himself on his left elbow and fired three shots at Sudduth over his left arm. The case will be continued this morn- ing with further witnesses for the defense. and will probably not go to the jury before Monday.
 
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