The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-07
Gives Full Account Of the Muir
der I'm Bold, Brazen Way,
Showing No Sign of Fear
INDIFFERENT AS TO
CONSEQUENCES OF ACT
Martin, on Other Hand, Shook
and Trembled, and Even
Burst Into Tears.
(spooIaI - Tho JournaI.)

Especial 70 The Journal)
CREsTyIEW Fla. Sept. 6.-Calmly
and brazen and with apparently no re-
grets Putnam Poncell alias Jim Lingo,
on trial IN the circuit court here,
charged with J. v. Martin. alias Jack
Morris, with the murder OF John Tug
gle, an automobile salesman OF Chip
ley, on the fourth OF last July, told
how he and Martin plotted and COM
rnltted the crime and later fled to
Bainbridge. Ca
BY the time court opened this morn :
ing this little city was crowded with
people from all parts Of western Flor
Ida. all eager to. set a glimpse Of the
men charged with the crime and to
hear the testimony in the case.
There were rumors rife early In the
day OF mob violence, but OSaloosa.
authorities were ct no time perturbed
as they had everything well in hand
and the prisoners well guarded.
A special venire Of 100 was ordered
al o'clock this morning when court
opened.
When the prisoners were brought
into court PonselI through his attor-
neg. Mr.. purdins entered plea Of
murder IA the firat degree.
This Is the first time in the history
of this court. and possibly one Of the
only times, II not the only time. such
a plea has been made in the history Of
the state
Judge Campbell tentatively accept
ed the plea, but even under a circum-
stance like this, the law requires that
the Judge hear the evidence in the
case.
Martin. when brought to plead, was
the opposite to Ponsell. He was ner-
vous shaking and very pale and at
times shed tears. He entered plea OF
not guilty
II was said that Martin was wear
ing some Of the dead mans clothing
while IN court.
Ponsell was represented by Attor-
ney Durdin. OF Georgia. but Martin
had no attorney and Judge Campbell
first appointed Mr.. Kehoe, who was
debarred from serving. as was Alto
Adams. both having assisted in the
prosecution. Finally Pearl G. Adams
was appointed to defend Martin.
Martin made a statement. alleging
that he had communicated with his
brother at Birmingham and was ex-
pecting an answer. and asked that the
case be postponed until his brother
could arrive. Judge Campbell did not
deem this sufficient reason for post
poning the trial, but gave Martin un-
I'll 2 o'clock to get in touch with his
brother But when o'clock came no
sign nor word of his brother was in
evidence.
When court convened az . O'clock
the selection Of the jurors began, At
torney Adams taking a leading part.
A jury Of 12 was selected out of the
first AZ names drawn.
The Jurors were then excused for
an hour while Ponser's plea U9s
heard.
The first witness to testify was the
undertaken who examined the body of
John Tuggle when found He testi-
fled that he found the body Of the
man lying beside the automobile. and
that alongside the body was an auto
jack and an iron pin about IS inches
long. and that these instruments had
hair blood and brains clipging to
them, and that the pockets OF the vic
TINS clothes were turned wrong side
out
o.
was about SO yards off the road near
Deerland.
Lester Afford Of chipley testified to
going to Bainbride. Ca, and there saw
the defendants who made full confes-
sions at that time.
The sheriff at Bainbridge, who was
next on the witness stand. made SINH
lar statements as to the confessions Of
the defendants.
The mother and two sisters OF John
Tuggle Identified a watch, chain and
knife taken off Ponsell at the time of
his arrest as the property OF John
Tuggle.
At the close OF the states testimony,
Attorney purhin requested Ponsell to tell
the truth about the whole affair.
Pensell then took the stand, and calm
y and without any sign OF fear or regret
told the story from the time he and Mar
tin first met John TuggIe toktheir arrest
IN Bainbridge, as follows:f
about the second Of July Martin and I
met Tuggle at the Choctawahatchee FER
1cansinnad on Pana Threa.l