St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1921-07-16
MISTRIAL in THE
ROGERSMURDER
CASE, JURY
Z TO 5 ......
Lawyers Make Strong Pleas
and Defendant Takes
the Witness Stand "
CROWDS COURT "z..
TO SUFFOCATION
Largest Crowd Gathered At
Courthouse Than at Any
Trial and Years.

The trial of Martin Jenkins for
the murder OF Green Davis near his
home in the second ward, attracted
more interest than any trial that has
occurred in the District Court at
Covington for years. All day Tues
day was required to select jury,
and the lawyers on both sides rN-
amined every man closely before he
was accepted. Court was then ad-
journed in order to give the attor-
neys time in which to consult with
witnesses. Judge Carter Instructed
the witnesses not to leave until they
had the consent Of the attorneys to
do SO, and stated that State wit
Lewis L. Morgan, who was assisting
District Attorney Brock in the pros
ecution, and that the defendant S
witnesses would meet Judge Burns
and f. J. HeintZ, attorneys for de-
fendant, In the courtroom. The
stubbornness of the fight that was to
be made was indicated when Judge
Burns asked that Pelar, the young
boy indicted with Jenkins by the
grand jury, but whose trial had been
separated from that of Jenkins, be
allowed to come with the witnesses
for consultation with defendants at
torneys. This Judge Carter refus-
ed to do He stated that from i'll
formation received he had caused
young Pelar to be placed in the par
ish prison, New Orleans, for safe
keeping, and that under the circum
stance he did not deem it advisa BILE
for Pelar to appear with the witness
es, but that with the permission Of
the sheriff Pelar could be seen ii
his cell by attorneys ii he wished 10
grant a conference. The legal f1'--
tie that followed between the at-t
torneys cauesd the judge to witt
draw the jury while the matter was
for the prosecution. The argumen:
was quite heated.
When Martin was placed on the
stand and admitted the shooting.
and his little girl testified that she
saw papa shoot Green Davis it
became evident that self-defense was
to be the defense of the defendant.
The defendant sat beside his wife
throughout the trial with his baby
in his arms.
The case was closed Wednesday
evening and the jury was discharged
Thursday evening, failing to agree,
there being seven for conviction with
a recommendation of mercy, and five
for acquittal. Judge Carter sent
the jury back twice in the hope of
some agreement.
The only witnesses in the case
were the defendant, his wife and
daughter, who testified that Rogers
and his wife chased Pelar with guns,
and as they passed Jenkins (the ac-
cused) and his wife and daughter
in the woods, Mrs. Rogers exclaim-
ed, There he is, shoot him. and
that Rogers fired at Jenkins.
The prosecution produced CorOpe;
Bulloch to show that it was i'm
possible for Rogers to have fired the
first shot, as he was shot twice, once
fatally and the other time supposed
ly the first) shot passed through his
arm and into the gun stock, showing
that he carried his gun under his
arm when the shot was fired.
Mr.. Morgan made one of the mosi
effective arguments that he has ever
made in criminal case here, and no
doubt prevented an acquittal. Judge
Burns and Mr.. Heintz worked hard
for an acquittal and took advantage
of every opportunity that was offer
ed. The case will probably be re-
tried at an early term.
The courtroom was roasting hot.
While all the windows were open,
there was no breeze. The crowd
filled all the seats, crowded the
aisles and even hung over the
Judges bench and surrounding rail
ings. Judge Carter stood the heat
and the insistency of the surginS
crowd with great forbearance, now
and then warning them that they
must be seated. One man standing,
on a seat broke through it. Judge
Carter had desk fan brought 10
his seat, but it famed only hot air
from the bodies Of the sweltering
mass. But with all the discomfort
and strain attending the trial, Judge
Garter showed unusual strength and
good humor, was quick and thorough
in his rulings and attentive to eVerv
phase Of the proceedings.
1t seemed as if every citizen with
in the vicinity Of Folsom was in the
courthouse during the trial.
Following are the cases disposed
of the this term OF court:
State VS.. Jue1 Wilson, hog steal
ing. Nolle pressed.
State vs.. Julie Wilson, bigamy.
Not guilty.
State VS.. Will Garner, shoot'n at
Not guilty.
State VS.. Luther Smith, shooting
with intent to kill Sentenced o thst
penitentiary for not less than 2 nor
more than IS months. Sentence
suspended upon recommendation Ct
the jury.
State vs. Horatius Payne. charged
with bigamy. Found guilty. Sent
enced to penitentioary at hard labor
for one year and not less than 1S
IN months Spnfpnpp SuSnanda1 nn0n