Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-02-10
MELTON ACQUITTED
OF MURDER CHARGE
Claimed Self Defense in Staying of
Brother in Law.

Coffeeville, Miss, Feb. Ave, the
jury, find the defendant not guilty"
was the verdict rendered this after
noon at the close of the trial in which
Robert Melton was tried for the muir
der of his brotaer-in-law Lee Tierce,
on March n of last year.
This trial, which has been Of more
interest than any murder trial in this
county in many years, began at o.
clock Tuesday afternoon. Robert
Melton was tried for murder in the
first degree, special vsnire of SO
men having been ordered. The state
was represented by District Attorney
Richard Denman, assisted by II. H.
Creekmore Of Water Valley. Stone &
Stone, local attorneys, represented the
defendant.
Tuesday afternoon, was taken up
vita securing jury. The following
were selected: ID. M. Brown, .. M.
Mooney, J. A. Massey, c. II. McLavy,
w. L. McComb, p. Nj. Howell, J. E.
Cole, nj. Stevents, James Boswell, j.
f. Arbuckle, A. +. Patton, W.. H.
Burke, with d. G. Chapman and Rich
Evans as baliffs.
On Wednesday the evidence was
submitted, in which all the details OF
the tragedy were brought out. On
Saturday, March 27, Lee Tierce had
gotten off the noon train. and shortly
afterwards, between 1890. and l
o'clock, was shot by Melton near
Bates drug store.
DR.. O. I. Coleman, was the first
witness to testify as to the nature OF
the wounds. He also testified that
Tierce told him after he was shot that
if he had done what he should .lave
done the evening before that would
not have happened.
DR.. b. B. Sayle wassthe next wit
ness called. He also testified as to
the nature of Lee Tierce's wounds,
saying that as he remembered it, one
wound was on the right side and an
other on the left arm.
Jim Simpson, one of the witnesses
for the state was next called. He
stated that he was about six feet
away from the shooting and that he
witnessed it. He said that Lee Terce
was coming around the crowd, going
north, when Melton shot him iirst,
shooting three times and following
him up the street saying :"Stop him,
boys; he has slot me all to pieces. +"
Then he stated that Tierce remarked
he would stop him, and turning around
quickly toward him, grabbing him
and throwing him down, but just be-
fore he grabbed him Melton slot
again. Then the two men were sepa-
rated, the deputy sheriff taking fdel-
ton, and Tierce being taken to DIR.
Eoleman's office, where he lived for
three or four hours. Simpson further
said that Tierce impressed him as a
man looking for someone or some
tai1g. Then w. +. Shields, r. F. Pitt
man, Walter Goodwin, w. P. Gardner,
S. c.. Pittman and Hewett Doris also
testified as witnesses for the state, the
substance of their testimony b3lng
that without any words Melton had
begun firing on Tierce and that he had
kept on shooting as Tierce retreared,
apparently hitting him in the back,
though testimony of both Drs. Cole
man and Sayle had been to the effect
that none of the bullets had struck
him in the back.
Then number of witnesses testi-
fled that Tierce had frequently threat
ened the life of Melton, who had every
reason to be afraid for his safety.
Melton himself testified, telling the
court, in calm and composed man
ner, how he had been warned that his
life was in danger that very morning
kof the shooting. The evidence was
all in Wednesday afternoon and
Thursday morning arguments We're
begun by H. H. Creekmore, assistant
counsel for the state, followed by J. p.
Stone, counsel for the defendant. He
was followed by w. l. Stone, who
went through the details of the testi-
mOny.