The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-20
house to hang paper about four weeks before the shooting.
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 My husband told me to stay al home" Mrs Stephenson said, referr- ing to the day of the shooting, he was troubled to death. He was like crazy man."
 She testified that she went to the sheriffs office on the afternoon of the shooting, and her husband came in later lie wanted to get war rant to search places he thought the girl might be. She left him at the sheriifs office about o'clock, and did not see him until g o'clock when she came to the jail. Se saw a knot on his head.
 Mrs Stephenson said she and her husband had offered their daughter anything in the world they could give her If sne would stay at home.
 When the state began the cross examination, John Morrow assistant solicitor asked her what had been her husbands occupation since he had been in Birmingham, and tried to get her to say what he did st the courthouse, but was unable to get an answer out of her. Not Bitter Against Church She was not bitter against the Catholic church she said, though she was bitter enough not to be a mem. Der, She denied that her husband had made threats against Father Coyle or the Catholics. Mrs. Ste phenson told, after being questioned by the state, of the five times Ruth had run away from home.
 She did not know at what time Ste- phenson had put the pistol in his pocket He was not in the habit of carrying a pistol she stated.
 On redirect examination, Mrs. Stephenson said Ruth had been given a piano after she came back to them following the time she ran away from them in May.
 "I have not seen her since the shooting except the time I saw her in the courtroom al the preliminary trial" the witness said as she left the stand.
 Mrs. Stephenson Nervous
 Though Mrs, Stephenson stood the grueling questions of the state well, She was apparently very nervous as she took her seat behind her hus- band.
 The defense launched into it's self defense plea immediately after court convened yesterday morning. Fred McDuff, chief deputy was called back to the stand, and testified that hs had seen q small knot on the de- fendants head when he examined him in the Jail at o'clock ~on the night of the shooting. The defendant had said his head and back were hurting and had asked for the county physician.
 Steve Wiggins, deputy sheriff, when placed on the stand the second time, testified that he had also seen the knot on his head. While walk ing With the defendant to the jail Mfr Wi0oinc cot ha c1k Al !, was hurt and replied, mot to amount to anything
 Belt Hanging Down
 II. H. Weir. city officer, told of taking Stephenson to the sheriff's of flee immediately after the shooting. He testified that he had seen a belt hanging down from his side.
 Dr. R. A. Hamricly, county physi- elan stated that he had examined Stephenson about 9 o'clock the night of the shooting. He was nervous and excited. He could see and feel the knot on his head. The skin was not broken. He assured that Stephenson was sane.
 E. V. Watkins, president of the Birmingham Laundry testified that Stephenson's character was good.
 George C. Moore, assistant coroner, said he saw the knot on the defend ants head when he examined him in the county Jail. He said there was an impression on the belt, but he did not know whether it was caused by wear or by the belt being jerked.
 Solicitor Tate was there at the time, MT. Moore said. When asked by Judge Black If the defendant was told that he could have a lawyer called, MT. Moore said he had heard no one tell him that.
 Found at Bender Home
 Chief T. J. Shirley, of the Birming- ham police department, told of the efforts the Stephensons had made to keep their daughter at home. He said that on the occasion the girl had been found at the Bender home and brought to police headquarters, her father had gotten down on his knees and offered her anything to keep her at home.
 The witness said he saw the de- fendant several times on the day of the shooting. and he talked about Ruth each time. MT. Shirley said he asked if any boys were going with the girl. and the father replied that Mir. Johnson, of the Young Mems Christian association, had been com Ing to see her, and that he was q very nice young man.
 The witnesss said he received report coming from the Renders that the girl was being treated badly by her parents. He sent Mrs. Dill, then his stenographer, ' ut now a police woman, to investigate and she re- ported that the rumors were un- founded. He would not say ne thought the defendant insane but thought that he was very excited. Chief Shirley said he was not bitter against the Catholic&
 Kenaeth C. Charlton, United States commissioner, testified that the de- fendant had come to him to get help in finding his daughter and he had taken him to the city hall where he introduced him to the city detectives,
 Judge~C. B. Smith testified that he had never heard anything against the defendant. Emmett Williams, pastor of Calvary Baptist church. testified that while he was assistant pastor of the First Baptist church. stephen son came to him, and asked him to see his daughter
 H. F. French, of the Washington Methodist church, said he had lived In the Stephenson home two months. and while there the Stephensons treated their daughter exceptionally we'll"
 L. J. Baski. of Loveman. Joseph & Loeb, testified that the defendant had come to him several times about his daughters disappearances and that he had seen him on the day of the shooting.
 No indication was given yesterday