The Washington times., 1921-10-21
PRIEST s SLAYER
MAY KNOW FATE
TH|SAF TERMOON
Eyes Of Nation on Jury, Prose-
cutor Warns in His
Argument.


BIRMINGHAM. Ala. Oct. 2l.-The
case OF the Rev. Edwin II. Stephen.
son, Methodist preacher. on trial for
killing the Rev. James r. Coyle,
Catholic priest probably will go to
the jury this afternoon.
Arguments Under Way.
All testimony was completed and
arguments were under way when court
adjourned last night.
BY agreement each side will con.
sumo two and half hours in argu.
ment. after which the court will de-
liver his charge and the fate OF the
minister will rest with the jury.
While the bell OF st. Pauls Church.
OF which Father Coyle was pastor. was
tolling yesterday afternoon, a funeral
being In progress. the jurors visited
the rectory next door and examined
holes In the wall where the bullets
fired at the priest entered.
The Rev. Mr.. Stephenson shot
Father Coyle shortly after the priest
had Joined the minister's daughter in
marriage to Pedro Gussman, Porto
Rican OF the Catholic faith.
John Morrow. assistant prosecutor,
began argument for the State just be-
fore court adjourned. after the jury
had returned from its visit to the
rectory. He consumed forty-six min
utes of the time allotted to the prose
cution.
"The eyes OF the entire country are
focused upon this jury" he declared.
u utgh In tA hAs N
Southern jury will free a murderer be-
cause OF prejudice"
The charge was made that the de-
fense had entered the insanity plea for
the purpose of prejudicing the jury
but objection of the defense to this
statement led to it's exclusion from the
record.
Gussman A Witness.
The sensation of yesterday after.
moons session of the trial was the
testimony of Pedro Gussman, son-in-
law Of the defendant, who was desert
ed by his bride a few days after the
wedding. which preceded the Staying
of the priest by the Rev. Mr. Stephen.
son.
Gussman stated that he was forty
three years old and had been in Birm-
ingham for fourteen or fifteen years.
He told of obtaining a license to wed
Ruth Stephenson and said the cere-
mony was performed by Father Coyle
He had known Ruth for eight years.
He was born in Porto Rico. he said.
his parents being natives of Spain.
A newspaper clipping containing a
picture was shown Gussman by a de.
fense attorney
"Is this a picture Of your" he was
asked.
1T is supposed to be-" Gussman
answered. "It was taken while I
was held on suspicion of having COM
mitted a murder in Illinois"
81 want the Jury to see this picture,
taken before the witness had his hair
worked on" said Hugo Black, defense
attorney.
The prosecution objected, but the
court admitted II to the jury.
you've had the curls taken out of
your hair since that photograph was
made, haven't your"
Had Hair Cut. He Says.
IT have had nothing done to my
hair"
when have you been to the bar
Der shop"
"I had my hair cut Monday"
The Rev. Mr.. Stephenson had pre-
viously testified that he accused Father
Coyle of marrying his daughter to a
negro during the dispute between the
preacher and priest before the shoot.
ing of the latter.
Gussman said he had never visited
Ruth Stephenson at her home, that
he proposed marriage to her several
years ago, but that the wedding was
postponed till she became Of age. He
said his wife left him on Labor Day.