Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-10-21
PREACHER TO KNOW
FATE FOR KILLING
ALABAMA PRIEST
EVIDENCE CLOSES IN SENSATION
AL CAsE-DEFENDANT CLAIMS
HE SHOT IN SELF DEFENSE
JURY GETS CASE.

birmingham, h;A, Oct 2l,-Tho
Rev. Edwin n. Stephenson, slayer Of
Father James E. Coyle. dean Of the
Catholic clergy OF Alabama, proDably
will know his fate today. Arguments
began late yesterday.
Closing chapters In the most dra'
matte trial in the history OF Alabama
were written today as the state in.
Produced witness after witness in an
attempt to damage the character or
the minister.
Witnesses were principally men,
bers OF the BARRIERS union, OF which
Stephenson was formerly member
Hugo Black, chief counsel for the de-
Tense, forced the admission that all
BARRIERS we're bitter against stephen.
son because of labor trouble.
The big sensation OF the Day came
when Pedro Gussman, whose marri-
age to the preachers daughter, Ruth,
precipitated the killing Of the priest,
was put on the stand by the state.
The defense immediately took occa-
sion to bring out several facts it 9th
erwise could not have put before the
jury.
Gussman was questioned about the
events OF the day he was married,
Black, cross examining, showed Guss-
man a newspaper picture with hair
curled closely.
when was this picture taken?" he
asked
when was arrested for killing
a woman.
Gussman was subsequently releas'
ed from this charge,
Tire examination then proceeded,
with Black questioning as follows:
Q.-You have had the curls rolled
out of your hair since this picture
was taken. haven't You?
A--No, had haircut Monday.
but nothing done to my hair TO make
II straight"
Q.--Have you ever visited Ruth
Stephenson's home?
\ No.
@. Have you ever taken her out?
A.--No
p.-How long have you known her?
A Ten years.
Q,-You were married ten year,
ago weren't you?
q no, my wife died eleven years
ago,
= When dia you ask Ruth ste
phrpson to marry you?
A-Three or four years before We
Nela married,
q Didn't you propose 10 her when
she yas -?
AL don't know how cid she was
G. Don't you know that you hadn't
seen her for five years before the
marriage and YOU did not see ha for
several months before she wrote you
lf:eI:
A. was looking to meet her
Tho state attempted to introduce a
witness WHO lial seen the actual
shooting but an objection was sus-
tainrd.
After all the evidence had been
completed the jury went across the
street 10 s.. Pauls ca ie1ral to view
the scene Of the killing. As the jE-
rors walked up the rerIpry steps a
funeral pic"i asion moved ~ St Pauls
steps
Following the return OF tn jury to
the courtroom. arguments we're be-
gun T ir' will end 'op,croW and
the jury will have the case late in the
that all three shots Ware fired while
5tit,.rnt y
Recalled ~ the sttnl ald under
(rss examination by coun@; for the
state. ~!eIlenson testified tina; he did
rot fire at the PRIEST a. he .ell, but
Father Coyle stood
The defendant repeated the name
he said Father Coyle applied to him
1t the time the witness said the
priest attacked him. Pressed for the
reason he had not told before that
Father Coyle used this alleged Ian
guage he said he had not previously
tod anyone "all about it He de,
scrised the alleged kick il the side
b. he priest as "tolerably hard Tha |
kin was neither broken nor discol- !
orGe, he said.
Asked the direct question. "Is Pc |
dro Gussman a negro?" tha defendant |
replied, II look upon him us SUCH