Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1920-04-15
PRELIMINARY TRIAL OF ALFRED Smith HELD AT
COOKEVILLE-.DENIES CHARGE MADE AGAINST
HIM BY KIRBY---DOUND OVER TO CRIMINAL
COURT WITHOUT Bail.

! her house on foot and that thre,
: of them were the three defend
ants, John Kirby, James Made
well and Alfred Smith. and tina
the other one, whom she did no
know. wore a soldiers uniform
They had passed her house al
almost dark. After she retired
she continued. she was awaken
ed by the barking of dogs and 8
disturbance in the locality of the
tragady and arose and went Out
into her yard where she heard
ticks being infiicted upon some
Ione; that she heard outcries and
shots, the oulcries which she
heard being uttered in a broked
speech which sounded unlike the
speech OF a negro or a plain.
speaking white man. The wit
ness stated after looking at the
defendant. Smith, that she was
satisfied that he was one of the
four men whom she saw on the
evening referred to. She was
we'll acquainted with Madewell
and Kirby, and was positive as
to them in the examination. At
the coroner's inquest the witness
stated that one of the men look
ed like Alfred Smith and Friday
after looking at the defendant.
Smith, she stated that she was
sure that he was the man.
Smith took the stand Friday
afternoon in his own defense.
Smith denied all knowledge of
the murder of the soldier. de-
claring that he was absolutely
innocent of the charge against
him and that he never saw Purl-
mutter in his life. He detailed
his movements and whereabouts
for several days proceeding the
day on which the murder of
Purlmutter is alleged to have
taken place, as we'll as his where.
abouts on the day and night of
March 16 and during the pre-
ceeding days until his arrival in
Detroit. He stated that he was
drunk on the afternoon and
night of Tuesday, March l6, and
that he was at his home in Cook
eville. He stated that he lay
down on a bed at his home in a
drunken condition at about 4
s'clock on the afternoon of Tues
day. March 16. and that he re-
NAMED on the bed asleep until
about midnight, when he woke
up and undressed and went back
to bed and remained in bed the
remainder of that night. He
stated that he left Cookeville
for Detroit on Friday morning,
March 10. and he detailed his
trip to Detroit and told of his
whereabouts and employment
each day after his arrival there
until he was brought back to
Cookeville by Deputy Sheriff A.
L. Weeks.
Smith stated that while he
was in Detroit he wrote to his
wife these letters as letters writ.
ten by him from Detroit to his
children were read and made a
part of the record. He stated
that while in Detroit he wrote
letters and postal cards relative
to business matters TO numerous
citizens of Cookeville. He abso-
lutely denied all statements made
by John Kirby tending to incrim-
mate him. He declared in a
dramatic manner that if he was
not testifying the whole truth he
hoped that God would paralyze
him and all his family. He re-
hearsed his life. stating that he
was born in Pickett county.
where his father. Fount Smith.
was sheriff of Pickett county;
that he lived for several years in
| Monterey: that afterwardhe liv.
led for about four years at Gain.