The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1923-12-13

against William Lott. Four wit
.n,s1es testified this afternoon, Chief
of Police T. E. P. Kecgan and Doc
DIS Pigg. Borland and Dawes.
When the Distriht Court adjourn
ed at noon today. the Government
had substantially built up before
the jury its case against William
Lott, negro barber, being tried for
murder in the first degree for shoot
ing w. F. Billy" Prentice. reputed
rum runner, on July 4. last. By
means of ten eye-witnessesH it had
presented the shooting as preceded
by almost no warning quarrel, only
the bestowal of foul term on
Lott which was followed by shots
that came quicker than those pres-
ent could turn around in their seats.
Thirteen witnesses had been call
ed by the Government up to noon
today. Some five or six more were
still to testify in chief. u. S. At
torney A. g. Shoup. who is in
charge of the prosecution, said that
he hoped to have all the evidence
in chief presented by the time Of
adjournment this afternoon.
Tell Uniform Story.
OF the ten eye witnesses testify
ing, no one was found who heard
or saw a blow struck; none of them
heard the conversation between
Prentice and Lott after they left
the side of Mrs. Uhl; none of them
were expecting or though of any
trouble, SO they testified Four of
them heard Prentice call Lott a
lying son of a bitch" and the
others testified they did not hear
these words and that their first
warning came from tho shots.
Four of the eye witnesses testified
this morning, six yesterday after
noon. Those on the witness stand
today told virtually the same story
as that related at the opening seq
sion yesterday. Today's witnesses
were: Mrs. Eva Wilson, who was a
waitress in the Harry's Grill where
the shooting occurred; Walter Bind
sell. Esther Harper and William
Strong, who were all members of
Prentice's party. Bindseil and Mrs,
Wilson heard Prentice apply the
epithet to Lott, the others testified
they did not hear it.
All OF the eye witnesses today
testified that Lofts back was toward
the kitchen, Prentice facing him,
agreeing with most of those who
testified yesterday.
Wounds Cause Death.
DR.. II. c. DeVighne, physiciar
who performed the autopsy on Prem
tice shortly after his death, testified
that he came to his death from the
bullet wounds. Either of two of
them, he said, would have been
fatal and third one might have
resulted in death. A fourth wound
would not have resulted fatally.
He described the course of the
wounds and the location of the
bullets
City Patrolman V. L. Tibbetts
testified that he arrested Lott i'm
mediately after the shooting. The
officer was on his way from the
Alaskan Hotel to the scene of the
shooting and met Lott near the Am
erican Bakery. He testified he
asked Lott what the trouble was
and the former replied 81 did It,"
"Ycu did what?" asked Tibbetts.
Il shot Billy Prentice" replied the
negro. aiassass
Slayer Not Excited.
Tibbetts said Lott handed him
the gun immediately. The slayer
was not apparently excited. Hel
was walking along the outer part
of the sidewalk smoking cigarette.
Tibbetts put him in an automobilel
and took him to the Federal Jail.
On the way to the Jail he con-
versed with Lott asking him how 1t
happened. The latter replied that
Prentice had called him a black
son of bitch" and that he had to
protect himself. The witness said
that he smelled burning cloth while
he was in the car with Lott but
paid no attention to it. After Lott
was placed in jail, ne complained
Of a pain in his stomach. On ex-
animation 1t was, found that both
his coat and trousers were burned.
The coat was introduced and fden-
titled by Tibbetts. 1t had hole
near the lower front left hand
pocket. The Epn, containing i've
discharged cartridges, was also
Identified by the witness.
Both of these articles were passed
to Lofts attorney for his inspec-
ton. AS Lott looked at them he
slightly nodded his head but showed
no emotion of any kind.
An effort ws made by Mr. Faulk-
ner to show undue interest in the
case by Tibbetts when he began
his cross examination. He question
ed Tibbets about q conversation be-