The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1923-12-14
WILLIAM LOTT
GIVES VERSION
OF SHOOTING
Tells His Story Upon Which
His Fate May Rest in
About Forty Minutes.

William H. Lott, negro barber
this morning took the stand in his
own behalf and told for the first
time in public his version of the
shooting of w. F. Prentice on July
!, last, for which he is now being
tried on a charge of murder in the
first degree. He testified that he
was first attacked by Prentice, seiz-
ed by the neck and struck in the
face and, fearing for his personal
safety and life, he shot.
Lott went on the witness stand
at 1875 a. m. His direct examina-
tion by his attorney. II. l.. Faulk-
ner, lasted just 40 minutes. AS the
negro told his story, upon which his
fate probably rests, intense silence
prevailed in the courtroom which
was crowded with spectators. All
chairs were filled and the crowd
blocked the doorways at times MAX
ing entry and egress difficult. The
accused man, while far from being
unnerved showed today plainly
signs of the strain of the trial tina:
has lasted all this week. His face
seemed to be slightly drawn, his
eyes brighter and sharper than nor
mad, and at times signs of restless
ness appeared. He bore up well
on the witness stand both under
direct and cross examination.
Tells of Acquaintance.
4. q f0. ra nj
and native of KENTUCKY. He said
he came to Juneau nine years ago
from Pendleton, Ore. He had known
Prentice since a few months after
moving here and Prentice had been
a patron Of his shop and bathhouse.a
Mrs. Swanberg, he said, was also a
patron and he was on friendly
had visited his shops at various
times and frequently and he had
visited in their apartments. He
was not more intimate with them
than with other patrons, he added.
He told of a visit by Prentice to
his shop about the middle of last
June when Prentice said he had a
..
the Harpers and in the course of
which, Lott declared, Prentice called
the woman vile name. Prentice
had poured out a drink of whiskey,
added Lott, and the witness re-
fused to drink with him pouring
the liquor on the floor. Pentice re-
marked: "I see you are still in Win
D.tf T-4sf
Swanberg on later visit to the
shop told him of the same quarrel
and he in turn gave an account of
pouring the whiskey on the floor.
He said Prentice came to the bar
Der shop after that time but no
further mention was made of the
matter.
Is Given Warning.
On July 4, Lott testified he went
to his shop about noon and took a
bath. He said he met Lloyd V.
Winter on his way up town from
the shop. Mr.. Winter told him
ito look out for Bill, he is on the
warpath for you," and that Prentice
would knock my head of and
wreck my joint. l had better watch
out for him as he was a dangerous
fellow. Winter said, declared Lott,
"he Is liable to get you"
After the warning Lott said he
went to a shoe shining parlor and
then returned home. He already
had the revolver in his pocket be-
fore he was warned by Mr.. Winter,
he testified He had never fired the
gun and had planned to walk out
Salmon Creek road and test it out.
He said he had told his wife about
the gun and why he had 1t In his
pocket.
The next time he left home was
to go to ball game. He returned
from there in a taxicab with Mr..
Winter and several others. When
all of them left the machine on
Front Street near Franklin, he
started to cross the street and Mr.,
Winter called him back and said:
"Bill, you pay attention to what l
told you. You had better watch
out for that fellow"
He then went home. had dinner,
and slept for a while, arising at
Ia D. m. to watch a parade. He
then went down Front Street,
watched the hose races and later
went to the City Cafe where he
played a punch board. Among
other things he won was small
dice set which he took home with
him. When he arrived, Mrs. Lott
lhad retired and was asleep. lie