The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-22
SELF DEFENSE WAS
PLEA OF ACCUSED
FOR THE SHOOTING
Jury Returned Verdict After De
Iiberating Four Hours
Over the Evidence.
STATE CONTENDED RIGHT
OF DAUGHTER TO CHOOSE
Was lis Years Of Age and Ca
pabIe Of Deciding for Herself
q Religious Belief.
~ rhe Assaslatsd Prsssl

BrRarTNcHAAF, Ala, oct. 2i.--A
verdict of not guilty was returned by
tho fury shortly after ten o'clock to-
nieht IN the case Of Rev. Edwin r,
Stephenson, tried for the killing OF
Father James +. Coyle. The jury had
been out since six o'clock.
the jury carao into the court room
before tho defendant was brought up
from the county jail Mrs: stephen
son was in the court room, ana when
10 came IN she walked over and took
q scat beside him.
Tho court room tonight presented q
strange contrast with It's appearances
during tho trial Only a few persons
had heard that the jury was going to
render its verdict
When the clerk read tho verdict
there was shout By some spectators
who ran from the room.
Judge Fort told tho jurors that they
had finished thoir duty and were ex-
cused
rhe Indictment Of the grand jury
against the preacher. the pistol with
which be Is alleged 70 have used in
shooting rather Coyiu. shortly after
tho priest had Joined his daughter,
Ruth. and Pedro Gussmans Porto
Rican Catholic. IN wedloclx and pair
of suspendera worn by Stephenson at
the time oe the shooting. which were
offered az evidcnco at the trial were
handed to tho jurymen ss they re-
tired.
rhe closing argument for the state
was made by Solicitor Joseph r. Tate.
who contended that Ruth Gussman,
Supplements daughter. was IS years
old ana therefore had the right to
choose her religion for herseR In an
awer l0 the attack OF Hugo Black. de-
Tense attorney who preceded him. upon
q state witness. Mr.. Tate declared that
an Il was necessary FOR the state 10
prove was the death of Father Coyle,
that Il occurred in Jefferson county.
show the means Of the killing and that
the shooting occurred before the grand
jury had indicted the accused
Tate declared that the deiense had
offered a number of excuses for the
shooting. but said none Of them were
sufficient Regarding the self defense
plea, tho solicitor held that tho defense
would have to provo that the defen-
dant was free from fault In bringing
on the fight. that he was in imminent
danger az death or bodily harm and
that there was no reasonable avenue
OF escape for him.
the solicitor declared that had the
priest had hold of the defendants sus-
panders at the time OF the shooting
they would have been so near each
other that there would have been pow
der burns on Father Coyla. He de-
clared that Ii was peculiar that both
ctty and county officers were all on
tho side Of the defendant
III you so into the jury room and
kick out the evidence" he said "and
render a verdict Of not guilty. you
will have all the narrow-minded. fuz-
zy-nccixed people pat you on the back.
hut the remainder Of your lives your
consciences win sting you
Judge Fort began his charge ten
minutes after Mr. Tate concluded his
argument. He declared Il was IN tho
jury's power 10 find tho defendant
eithe4 guilty or innocent OF murder in
tho second degree. nanslaughter IN tho
first deg.ee OF manslaughter IN tho
second degree.