The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-16
HUSBAND AND WIFE. PLACED IN JAIL ON. KILLING OF ROBERTS.
Killing of Pratt City Man Is Shrouded in Mystery. Statement of His
 Companion


 Marc, 1401 Eighth avenue, north. were transferred to the county jail late yesterday, following the inves- tigation of Coroner J. D. Russum into the killing of Ralph J. Roberts, 407 Third street, Pratt City.
 Roberts was found dead about 1:30 o'clock yesterday morning 50 yards from the home of the Naros.
 According to a statement made by Marc immediately after the police arrived on the scene yesterday morn ing, shortly after 1:3o o'clock, he and Sam Willhoite, who, with his wife. lives with tho Marc family, arrived home about 1:15 yesterday morning and were told by Mrs Marc that she had shot 8 man who had tried to gain entrance to the house. He stated that he and WIllhoite went outside and found the body lying on the side walk, where it remained until the coroner arrived a few minutes later.
 Body Identified
 1t was several hours after the finding of the body that the police were able to identify it, as the only articles found in the clothing of the dead man was a business card of q local electrical company, s1,S5 in change and a telephone number. The body was finally identified as that of Roberts at o'clock by his two brothers, John and William Roberts, of Pratt City
 Roberts was 24 years old and had been employed by the Southern Car Wheel works, Ninth street and Ave nue F, south, for the past several years, and according to his employ CTS had always been a good steady worker.
 The following, who were in the house at the time of the occurrence, were brought to police headquarters, but were released soon after by or ders of the coroner: Mrs. Ruth Will hcite, Miss Mary Stoner, Miss Lucille Jackson. Joe Marc and Ali Marc.
 Ali Marc, husband of the woman who claims to have done the shoot ing, was rearrested yesterday morning by Detectives Moser and Brown after they were placed on the case. The several statements made by those in the house at the time dif- fer widely.
 Corn's Statement
 Felton Corn, who was with Rob- erts during the evening, made the following statement yesterday when seen:
 Roberts and myself went into the house and asked for drink. Roberts went into the room with the Stoner woman while I was in another room with Lucille Jackson and Ruth Will hoite. Mrs Marc came through the room where we were, with a pitcher of whisky and the two girls with me, asked for a drink. Mrs. Marc gave them each a drink and then went into the room where Roberts was. When it came time to settle for the drinks. Roberts refused to pay for the two drank by the girls with me. An argument ensued and gen. eral fight resulted. I went out on the front porch and in a minute heard one shot. Roberts came stag eering out and fell on the sidewalk, where he was later found"
 Corn's statement is partly sub stantiated by the Stoner woman.
 Mrs. c. F. Roberts. the boys mother. with whom the boy lived. was prostrated. when seen by a rep resentative of The Age-Herald, yes terday afternoon. She said -she could not believe that it was her boy as he had always been good and obedient, having promised her when he left home Tuesday night that he would be home by midnight"
 Was Good Boy
 c. E. Roberts, 407 Third street. Pratt City. father of the boy, made the following statement yesterday:
 Ralph was a good boy, hardly ever drank and never in his life do I remember him coming home after midnight. He ate supper at home with us Tuesday night and left about o'clock with Felton Corn, his pal, to go to a dance in Birmingham. He promised his mother that he would be home early and it was not his fault that he failed to keep his word. There was a frame-up some where, and I hope to see the time when the public will know the whole truth"
 According to L. E. Smaris, 7oe Third street, brother-in-law of the dead man, Roberts had over $l00, on the night of the murder
 Immediately after the coronor ar rived, the body was turned over to johns where it will be held pending the final outcome of the coroner's investigation.
 Wound in Back
 When examined, young Roberts was found to have pistol wound through the hack, just near the spinal column and stab wound in the right chest There was prac- ticalIy no blood on the clothes or Roberts when he was found, but the white crepe de chine shirt that he wore, showed powder b3rns, 1t is said, which made it look as though the gun had been fired at close range.
 According-t to Investigating officers, the coat of Roberts had a large hole in the back, which looked as though 1t had been torn instead of beinS shot through. The clothes are being held by the police officials who have placed the case in the hands of De- tectives Moser and Brown, who are at work in an effort to solve the killing.
 JUDGE ABERNETHY TO
 PRESIDE OVER MOCK