The Neshoba Democrat. (Philadelphia, Miss.) 1881-current, 1921-09-29
HUNG JURY IN BL0UNT CASE
JURY IN CHARLIE BLoUAT CASE FOUR FOR
CONVICTION AND EIGHT FOR ACQOITTAL.

was iCo bA SAANeAc
Court before Judge East last week
on a charge of 'manslaughter. A
special venire had been summoned,
and the jury was selected Thursday.
The case was argued Saturday
morning, and went to the jury Sat
urday afternoon. After several bal
lots the jury could not agree, stand
ing four for conviction and eight for
acquittal, and was discharged.
Charlie Blount, it will be remem-
bered, killed DIR. L. F. Jackson at
Stallo several months ago, by strik-
ing DIR. Jackson with drawing
knife. The difficulty happened in
Blount's smithy at Stallo. DR.. jack
son'Ss skull was fractured. and he
died from the injuries.
The only star witness was Frank
Massey, who was in the blacksmith
shop at the time the affair occurred.
He said, on the witness stand, that
DIR. jackson came into the shop
where Blount was at work, and pick
ed up u drawing knife from the work
ing bench, asking Blount how much
he wanted for 1t. Blount made him
a price, and DR.. jackson handed him
money. But Blount later needed the
knife to finish single-tree he was
working on, and told DR.. Jackson
that he would give it back to him as
soon as he had completed the single
tree. DR.. Jackson refused to let him
have it, and Blount took hold OF one
handle OF the knife, and jerked 1t from
DR.. Jackson, pulling DR.. Jackson to-
wards him and striking an undercut
blow back with the knife cutting DR..
Jackson In the forehead. Witness,
Massey, said, too, that DR.. Jackson
told Blount that 1T was good time
to settle that old grudge, and that
when Blount asked what old
grudge", DIR. Jackson answered, "you
know, damn YOU.
Blonnt testified substantially az
did Frapk Massey, exceptin one ma
terial factss and tEIt @tas tlsat when
he jerked the knife from DIR. Jackson,
DIR. Jackson moved his hand to the
bosom of his shirt apparently to
draw q weapon, and 1t was only
then that he struck back with the
knife DR.. Jackson's back was turned
to Massey, and Massey said that If
DIR. Jackson attempted to draw a
weapon he did not see it. Blount In
testifying in his own behalf. said i,
too, that DIR. Jackson had threaten
ed to kill him, and that whenever DIR.
Jackson entered his shop he usually
went away to avoid possible trouble
Though there was negro boy in
the shop at the time, named Wheeler
Burnside, he threw little light on the
facts. He said that when he looked
around DIR. Jackson was on the
ground. Sid NOVEL;, another witness
said that he entered the door OF the
shop only in time too see Blount
strike the fatal blow.
Mrs. Milton Clay, Marshall Lon
Welsh and Sheriff M. G.. Posey testi-
fie as to admissions made after the
affair was over.
The theory OF the prosecution was
that Blount killed DR.. Jackson In a
fit OF passion and anger and should,
therefore, suffer the consequences.
The prosecution attempted to show
that DR.. jackson had given little or
no aggravation, and that DR.. Jack
son, at the time OF the killing, was
just joking with Blount.
The defense, on the other hand, at
tempted to show that DR.. Jackson
came in the shop to stir up trouble,
and that there was an old grudge,
and that DIR. Jackson was the agrees
sor and that Blount struck in self
dafpnHa