The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-12-23

AAS SAA~uit SOult IOUul Has UGGU
more or less crowded all the week
with witnesses, interested spectators
and others during this term of court.
The greatest interest, however, SEEM
ingly centering in the trial of A. L.
Parker for the killing of j. B. Canning
ton near Orange Lake on June 25th
last Quite number of jurors were
called and excused for different reas-
ons before twelve men were decided
upon to listen to the evidence Mr.. r..
3. Bullock represented Parker and Mr.
MIR. L. n. Green assisted States At
torney Scofield in the prosecution, and
no stone, was left unturned by either
side from the time the jury was Sc
lected until Judge Bullock gave his
charge to the jury Wednesday morn
ing at about noon.
The state produced number At
witnesses, the most important being
Mrs. Mary Anderson, who was an eve
witness to the tragedy. Mrs Ander-
son, who happened to be in a COW lot
adjoining the residence of Canning
ton, the murdered man, saw Parker
when he approached Cannington from
the rear. and without any warming
raised his shotgun and fred two
loads of buckshot into Cannington's
back, killing him instantly. She said
that Parker very deliberately reload
ed his gun and left the premises. Mr..
j w. Jones, who lived at the Can
nington home at the time of the kill
ing, stated that while he did not see
Parker when he fired the gun, heard
the shot and looking in the direction
from whence the sound came, saw
Parker reload his gun and walk away.
Deputy Sheriff McCarley, who ar
rested Parker shortly after the MUIR
der of Cannington, was placed upon
the stand and told of Parker's con-
fession to the killing when he placed
him under arrest The state produced
number Of other witnesses, whose
evidence in some manner had bear
ing upon the case.
The defense produced no witness
with the exception of Parker him
self who told of the causes leading up
4 to the killing. He said that there had
been disagreement between himself
and Cannington about the latter's
cows grazing upon certain piece of
land near the Cannington home. stat
ing that he had tried several times
to adjust the matter but with no sue
cess, and claimed that failure along
this line was all the proof needed
"a the event that he (Parker) inter-
Tered further with Cannington. How
ever, Parker admitted that he took
MS shotgun with him and made
another visit to the Cannington home,
and upon seeing Cannington approach
ed him and asked him if he was in
clined to come to settlement of their
dispute in peaceable manner, and as
ne received no favorable reply, and
catching glimpse of what he thought
was the stock of gun sticking out
of the feed trough, instantly raised
his gun and fiered, Cannington falling
% the ground. He said that he ini-
mediately left the premises and told
about his arrest later at his home.
The attorneys in the case begun
their arguments and all made ex-
eellent and more or less lengthy ad-
dresses to the jury, both sides giving
+. Splendid word pictures Of the case
rom different angles.
Just before noon Judge Bullock. in
very clear and concise manner gave
'ae charge to the jury, and during its
recital there was intense interest
Manifested by everyone in thecourt
soom, and every word was distinctly
eeard by the jury as well as by the
zpectators.
The jury retired and after con-
Adering the case for about half an
aour returned with verdict Of guilty
e murder in the first degree with 2
ecommendation to the mercy OF the