The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-27

roled her into the custody of her own directed her release from the Monte
 Record Established
 It was the first time in the his- tory of Montgomery county that murder case has been tried behind closed doors. About Is persons were admitted to the court room. It was supposed that the admissions would be limited to persons related to the parties involved, but Judge Hollo- ways own law partner, J. Lister Hill, was one of the Interested spec tators.
 Newspaper men were barred. In- formation gathered through devious methods show that Miss Brewer told a story not at all similar to that which she told when she drove to the police station, surrendered her own pistol announced that Nickel was dead and stated that she would answer for the killing.
 Mildred Brewer, L9-year-oid
 granddaughter of the old Con-
 Eressman Willis Brewer, told the
 juvenile court in its investigation
 of the death of Portis McKefthcn,
 well known young man of Mont
 Eomery, Wednesday that Mc-
 keithen came to his death by
 his own hand in . scuffle which
 followed improper demands
 made by McKeithen upon her.
 A transcript of the girls testimony was made public by W. T. Seibeis, circuit solicitor. with the consent of the juvenile court, Wednesday night. It also contained evidence gathered from other witnesses but did not con- tain a copy of letter alleged to have been written by McKeithen to the girl.
 Miss Brewer admitted improper
 relations with McKcithen and
 said they had continued for
 same time. stnrtinR where she ssns
 the guest in the Nick efthen home.
 She declared Mckeifhen often de-
 cinred his love for her and said that he would kill her and then kill
 by her. She testified that on the
 day McE<eithen met his death he
 renewed his demand for the child
 hut that she refused md told him
 their relations must come to an
 end as he was a married man.
 Personal Difficulty.
 She then said McKeithen pulled out pistol, cooked the hammer. caught her around the waist and declared that he wiuld kill her and then kill himself. She said she attempted to grab the pistol and caught him by the arm or hand and that the pistol was fired during the scuffle.
 Questioned as to why she told poSice that she killed McKeithen, she said she felt at the time that she did it because she could have pre- vented 1t by yielding to his demand.
 Kissed Dying Man
 She said after McKeithen was shot she stopped down. kissed him and begged him to speak to her and promised that she would meet his demands if he would only speak.
 The girl said McKeithen met her seven or eight times after she left McKeithen's home and he always had something to do with her" She further said he would bring out letters to her which he had writ ten. would read them and then des- troy them. always expressing fear that some one would see them. She admitted that he sometimes wrote letters to her and mailed them and that she would meet the mailman. Coroner Relates Story J. J. Diffiy, coroner, witness for the state, testified that Miss Brewers story to him shortly after the shooting was in line with the story she told on the witness stand.
  love with her while she was staying | at his home, kissed her many times | and told her there was no harm in 1t because each loved the other. Coroner DiffIy also said the girl l told him McKeithen continued to | meet her after she returned to her mothers home. They were to meet several hours the day of his death, l according to her statement to the l coroner. He told her his wife would l not. or could not give birth to a | babv and he wanted one by her and | wanted one on that day. He then | kissed and embraced her. but she l broke away from him. Told him 1t | was wrong and that before she would l submit. she would kill herself. She 1 then said McKeithen drew revolver | and said he would kill himself 1 She grabbed the pistol and in the | scuffIe 1t was fired. killing Mc- i Keithen. Coroner Diffly also testified that a third person could not have fired the shot. as 1t would have been im- possible for third person to Ee, 1 close enough to fire the bullet and leave the imprint on the face as was left by the bullet.
 Claims Suicide
 l Miss Brewer testified in juvenile court that McKeithen came to his | death at his own hand during a l scuffle in which each of the twr was attempting to obtain possession of the pistol Miss Brewer admit ted that her hand was on Nc ! Keithen's at the time the pistol wal fired which released bullet into the temple of McKeithen and in flicted wound which caused instant I death.
 Following the inquiry. Judge Hol. loway directed Miss Emma MchIii. Ian, probation officer. to take charge of the girl and to make whatever investigations that she .considers' necessary.
 Report Each Week
 The girl was directed to report [; 1 the juvenile court once week un, til further orders are issued. The hearing continued more than two hours. during which the girl told hel | story of the shooting, which oc-