The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-02-19

der Case.
The case of the state of Florida
against Clarence Langford and Jake |
Anderson, charging them with the |
murder of Mr.. j. J. Guthrey at Ken
drick on the night of January 24th,
came suddenly to stop so far as evil
dcnce was concerned just after the
dinner recess today. The attorneys
fer the defense announced that no tes
timony would be introduced, and the
case is now being argued.
Wednesday Afternoon
The Langford- Anderson trial which
began in the circuit court Tuesday
morning and promised to consume
quite time in the hearing of testi-
nony now appears to be nearing the
end. The states testimony, with the
exception of two witnesses was COM
pleted just before adjournment yes
terday afternoon, when court adjourn
ed until nine o'clock this morning.
The entire day yesterday was given
to the taking of testimony, and con-
sidering the number of witnesses ex-
amined, no time was lost as is usually
the case in trials of this nature.
Mrs. Clara Cook, who has been en-
ployed as a clerk in the Guthrey store,
was the first witness to take the stand
after the Wednesday noon recess, and
said that Langford came into the store
the day before the murder and asked
about the daily receipts of the place;
also asked if the Saturday receipts
were not considerably larger than
those of other days. He told the wit
necs that he had stopped work in the
packing house and stayed broke all
the time.
Minnie Ordish, who lives just above
Ocala on the road to Kendrick, said
that Langford had left shotgun at
her house Saturday afternoon, and
called for it at about 8 o'clock that
evening in company with McRae,
seeming to be in considerable Of a
hurry.
David Cook, who was employed by
Mr.. Guthrey, stated that he had left
the store about ten o'clock on the
night of the tragedy. after putting out
all the lights except one, which Mr.
Guthrey was using; stated that as ne
turned the corner of the building some
one entered and several minutes later
from his apartments overhead. heard
some one talking; however, he did not
stop to see who entered as he left. He
was the first one to go into the store
room Sunday morning and found mon
ioH Z
as was the custom of Mr.. Guthrey.
Manning Roberts, who drives al
auto for hire in this city, related how
Langford had approached him at th'
union station just after II o'clock ant
engaged him to take him to Perry Ed
wards place about five miles out ol
the Blitchton road. where he secures
a jug. Upon their return to the cit,
they went to the railroad restaurant
and after paying his fare Langfor
crossed the railroad track, returning
shortly afterward to get a lunch
Lsngford he said had a good size
roll and told him he had plenty O
money.
Harbin Hinton. who also drives
public auto, was the next witness an
testified that Langford met him abou
two o'clock and gave him $40 in 81
bills, asking him to keep it for hin
stating at the time that he had MOI
money in his shoe. Hinton spent thre
or four hours with Langford, an
when Langford was arrested turne
over the money to Chief Thomas, ar
declared on the stand that the bill
turned over were the Identical ones
received from Langford some hou
before.
Allie Hough testified that he kne
Langford and H. r. Hinton and tn
he had heard them talking on Sunds
morning, January 25th.
Chief of Police Thomas, who arres
ed Langford, stated that he had on
the time of his arrest overalls and t;
shoes, with no coat. He also produ
ed the $40 given hi mby Hinton a
the same was placed in evidence. Chi
Thomas recited in detail two confe
s;ons made to him by Langford; o
claiming that Jake Anderson (colt
ed had borrowed the shotgun a
came back to him later and gave h
the money; the other was to the eff
that Earl McRae had taken the g
a short time later. after he had hes
several gun shot reports, returned
the car, which they were occupyil
and gave him (Langford) the NOR
which he afterward gave to Hint
During Mr.. Thomas recitation Of
confessions he referred to Jake 4
6erson as selling "moonshine" to
boys. On motion of Anderson's att
ney the jury was instructed that t
evidence did not apply as to And
sons case, as Anderson had no part
the confession and was not pres
when it was made. Mr.. Thomas as