The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-10
STATE READY TO BRING ACTION, SAYS. SOLICITOR Motive For Woman's Death Is Ascertained,
 Says Perry MORPHINE FOUND
 IN DOCTORS CELL Habeas Corpus Writ To Force First Legal
 Tilt

1lJ
 A special session of the Bes- semer grand jury will in all probability be called for Mon- day to consider the case of Dr. George T. Edwards, now held in the Jefferson county jail under a coroner's warrant charging connection with the death of his wife at the doc tors Fairfield home on last Tuesday morning.
 Judge J. Chester B. GWin ot the Bessemer circuit court, an- nounced late Tuesday after noon that he had virtually de- cided to pursue such a course, and that the session would be called unless he changed his mind"
 Announcement was made during the afternoon by Sollcl- tor Ben Perry of the Bessemer court, that he had requested that the jury be called.
 George Ross, attorney for | Doctor Edwards, had nothing to say regarding the proposed ] action. He had not heard of the special session, he said, and so far as he knew, the case would nave no hearing until December 19, when he ifl- tended to exercise the de fense's right of a preliminary hearing on the coroner's war rant. .,
 The states case against the accused physician is now complete, MT. ferrS said. and every effort will be made to push it straight through to speedy trial. :, Nu
 The motive, or motives, as MT Perry referred to the matter Will not De revealed until evidence is produced ID II, court. the solicitor said. Neither Will the ''inside story" of the case be re- vealed until the day of the trial.
 Morphine Found
 | Announcement of immediate Jury ac- tion followed closely upon the official statement of Chief Deputy Sheriff Henry Hill that approximately 50 grains of morphine had been found upon the accused doctors person when he was searched at the Jefferson county jail.
 The morphine was found in Edwards right hand trousers pocket, Hill said the label and Identification marks be- ing completely obliterated that chemical analysis was employed to establish the identity of the drug.
 That the morphine had been acquired by Edwards sometime after his arrest was the belief of county investigators The doctor was thoroughly searched when he was taken to the Bessemer jail, Solicitor Perry told an Age-Herald reporter Tuesday night.
 The defense explanation of the find ing of the drug is that Edwards brought it with him during his Imprisonment for use in the event that pain from his injured hand should become unbearabe Edwards would make no comment re- i sarding the discovery, and refused even | to tell investigators what the bottle con tained
 First legal action in the case will be forced this afternoon at 2 80 o'clock when hearing is held in Judge J. C. B Gwin' court on a writ of habeas corpus which was served upon Sheriff T. J Shirley Tuesday afternoon demanding cause for the removal of Edwards from the Bessemer Jurisdiction.
 In the petition, counsel for the de fense alleges that the Bessemer county jail is the rightful and lawful place fol the confinement of persons charged witl offences arising within the Jurisdiction of Judge Gwin's court.
 Attorney Barred
 It is also set forth that Chief Deputy Reeder of the Bessemer court and Sher if Shirley issued an order on Decem Der s, prohibiting Ross from consult ing with his client. The writ then re cites circumstances under which tn, attorney obtained access to Edwards by securing an order from the circuit court.
 On the same day, the petition adds Sheriff Shirley and Deputy Reeder anc number of deputies 'unlawfulv' spirited Edwards from the Besscme jail and brought him to Birmingham for no other reason than for "thwart ing or prohibiting conferences betweeI him and his attorney"
 In the meanwhile. Edw6 rds is heI, , in Birmingham where conferences witt him are not allowed except within sigh , of deputy. Attroneys say that tn accused physician exhibits increasin signs of nervousness but remains absc iutely silent in regard to legal aspect of the case,