The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-02-24

The trial of Aida Shaw and wife
and E, F. Kelley for the killing of
Jailer George Reeves in Memphis on
November 30, last, has excited more
interest in Upton county than has
been manifested here in court pro-
eeedings in many years. The interest
taken in the trial By the women Of
both the town and county has been
surprising to many. People began
to gather in town Monday morning
to hear the trial Of the "dandy
bandits and the crowds have been
growing daily since. On account of
the limited space in the courtroom,
seat has been at a premium and a
good many ladies, too, spent the
entire day in the courtroom We'd
nesday, refusing to go home to
lunch and allow someone to get their
seat The conversation Of the en-
tire town is about the trial. Those
who can not get seat eagerly ques-
ton their friends as to the latest
developments.
The case is being heard before
Judge Richard B. Baptist. Gen Sam
O Bates and his assistant, John Shea,
are assisting Gen. w. X. Alternately
in the prosecution. Aida Shaw is
being represented by A. B. Galloway
and Shaw's wife by j. B. Webb,
while Abe Cohn is counsel for e.
F. Kelley. The three attorneys are
all from Memphis.
Securely handcuffed and in charge
Of 0. F. Perry, of Shelby, and Sheriff
10. N. Volz, of Upton, the prisoners
reached Covington at 9:15 o'clock
and were taken directly to the court
house With them was ]. D. Bell,
who it is alleged owned the pistol
with which Mr.. Reeves was killed.
Bell was used as a state witness.
Shaw and his wife were handcuffed
together, while a pair of steel brace
let's served as the bond of compan-
.ionship between Kelley and Bell.
K The four apparently were uncon-
cerned. When they reached the
portico Of the building, the sheriffs
were asked to have them pose for a
picture. This they did without a
protest, even Mrs. Shaw smiling as
she gazed at the camera a dozen
steps away.
The trial started at / o'clock Mon
day afternoon, when court convened
after a recess ordered by Judge r.
B. Baptist. after a brief, but spirited
session Monday morning.
Although the morning session took
but 20 minutes, Judge Baptist or
dered special venire Of AL men to
supplement the 10 men available for
duty as jurors; he overruled mo-
ton made by Abe Cohn, Kelley's at
torney. for a severance, and he also
overruled Joint motions Of COIN and
A. B. Galloway, Shaw's attorney,
when they sought to force from the
state a bin Of particulars.
When court adjourned at $50
O'Clock Monday afternoon IL jurors
had qualified. The jurors are: Will
liam Vaughan, Glover Smith, Rich
ard Hastings, ]. r. Smith, Tom Lind
sey, Justus Faux, Jr., Earl Elan,
Ed Jackson, Don Max, r. s. Hast
ings, Sam Yarbrough and Bob
Graves.
The defendants were arraigneO
and entered pleas Of not guilty.
Kelley's parents, Mr.. and Mrs. d.
w. Kelley, Of INLAY City, Mich, and
his sister, Thelma Kelley. were at
his side as court opened Tuesday.
Mrs. Reeves, who was an eye wit
ness to the killing, was cool and
calm while telling the story on di-
rect examination, but she became ex-
cited during cross examination, when
Al. B. Galloway, attorney for Aida
Shaw, asked "Mrs. Reeves, you didn't
see either Shaw or Kelley make d
single effort against your husband,
did your"
"They are as guilty as Hamilton
screamed Mrs. Reeves.
Judge Baptist took a hand and
Gained her. "You must answer the
questions, Mrs. Reeves" he admon-
ished gently.
Mrs. Reeves then repeated the
statement she had made on direct
examination, stating that she did not
see Kelley or Shaw at the time of
the shooting.
Other witnesses during the morn
ing session Of court were DR.. T. G.
Graves, county health officer, and
Sheriff Oliver Hazard Perry.
With a lead pencil used as a
pointer, and bending over plat Of
the Shelby county jail, which the
prosecution had drawn. Mrs Reeves
told Of the killing of her husband, to
whom she had been married 10 years
and who was the father Of her five
children, the oldest of whom was
only nine when Hamilton's shot
snapped short the fathers life.
Mrs. Reeves said that her family
lived at the jail and that on the
morning Of the killing, Kelley and
Shaw had been brought out Of the
trap which guards the cell entrance
and were taken to consultation room
at the jail with Hamilton. where the
three were to confer with an at
torney and two prospective bonds
men.
The three men, with Joseph red