The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-22
QUESTION OF AGE LOOMS IN KILLING NEAR MONTGOMERY
Yol,shfm Brewer Girl Suspect ed of Being 19, Though Age Given as 15--0n This De-
 bends Legal Course
By FRED IT. GoRMLKY Montgomery Bureau, The ARe-Herald, 2sl-2 First National Bank Building

2sI-e First National Bank Building
 Montgomery, July 21.--(Special.) If Mildred Willis Brewer, who con fessed to police and the coroner that she fired the shot which killed Vertis McKeithen, prominent young Mont gomery man, at lonely spot near the Montgomery-Haynesvillel high way Thursday afternoon, is only Is years old, as she claims, she will never be placed on trial for her life.
 Attorneys retained by the girls
 family tonight declared that the
 Alabama law prevents the trini
 of n child under IS but provides
 for its confinement in state in-
 stftutIon for correction unless 1t
 cnn he shown reformation cam
 not be brought about except
 through the criminal courts.
 But William T. Seibels. circuit so- l.citor. announced that the defense must prove that the girl is only l5. He said some information had reached his office that she was i9 and if she Is she will be called be- fore a jury in trial for her life.
 Mir. Seibels said the state would be ready for trial when the evidence has been collected and the coroner has made his report. Coroner J. J. Diffly tonight announced that he IS still at work on the case and Is not prepared to make report. Letters taken from the girl when she sur rendered will not be released ly the Juvenile court but Solicitor Seibels said they must go before the eyes of the public when the case is called either in the circuit court or Juve- nile court.
 Miss Brewers mother, Mrs. Frank Richardson. has been with her con stantiy since the girl was trans fered to the county jail on a charge of murder. but has declined to make any statement regarding the case and has declined to permit her daughter to give out any informa- ton.
 Refuses to Speak
 The girl was questioned by court officials, but refused further infor- nation than her first statement that tI Killed him." Sheriff J. l.. Scogin declared that no details had been ob- tained by sherifrs forces regarding the killing. other than the physical facts developed by the finding of Mo- Keithen's body In clump of bushes about 150 yards from the main high way.
 While the girl remained in the county jail on charge of murder. Coroner J. J. Diffly was attempting to weave together the various threads of evidence which he had been able to obtain in the hope that. a verdict, could be rendered which would bring before the criminal court the person who fired the fatal shot.
 Officers skepticai
 Officials remained skeptical of tho girls story. Although she has con fessed, tho theory Is that another is being shielded. In this theory various threads of evidence have been brought together In support.
 For instance. there is the story of Henry Payne, MsKeithens negro chauffeur, who drove McKeithen to the negro church in the midst of the Willis Brewer plantation at s:30 in the morning. Payne told officers and newspaper representatives that he stayed. in the automobile after Mo- Heithen was met at the church by the Brewer girl and the two had disap- peared in the rich undergrowth.
 Negro Heard Sho. ( He said he remained in the car and
 tContinued on Page Two)