Alfred Meacham murdered fellow glassworker in Tennessee

REVIEWS MURDER

OF FRED CUMMINS

Samuel Holman, Also Attacked

by Alfred Meacham, Tells

Story of Killing.

CONVICTION IS PREDICTED

Former Muncie Man Faces Fate of

Spending Remainder of Natural

Life in a Convict Mine.

Samuel Holman, a former Muncie glass worker who figured in the shooting affray, in the offices of the Chat­tanooga, Tenn., Glass and Bottle company’s plant, in which Alfred Meacham, also a former Muncie glass work­er shot and killed Fred Cummins, a fellow workman, is in Muncie the guest of his father-in-law, Joseph S. Heirich.

During his visit here Holman has been called on time after time to repeat graphically the details of the murder, all the party concerned being well known in Muncie.

Holman was himself a prominent fig­ure in the affray being attacked with murderous intent by Meacham, after he had turned the smoking weapon from Cummins the murdered man. Hol­man states that Meacham has been indicted for murder in the first degree and according to the latest news from Chattanooga, his trial has been set for a date early in the September term of court. The former Muncie man also predict that Meacham is almost cer­tain to spend the remainder of his life, following his trial at penal servitude in the Tennessee coal mines.

PERSONAL FEELING EXISTED.

In speaking of the murder Holman states that it grew from ill feeling of Meacham toward Cummins and him­self, engendered during their work to­gether in the factory on the same shop. Meacham prepared for serious trouble, Holman states, by buying a revolver and drinking although he was not in­toxicated, and evidence otherwise seems to prove conclusively that the murder was premeditated. The fact that Meacham's ill feeling toward Cummins was stronger than toward Holman resulted in his attacking the former first, and giving Holman a chance to prepare for the struggle with the enraged man, which saved his life. Meacham's brother, William Meacham, who was in the office at the time, it will be recalled, was wounded by a bullet fired by Meacham while he struggled with Holman.

Holman states that Cummins was a prominent member of the Masonic ord­er in Chattanooga, and a strong effort to hang the murderer or send him to the penitentiary for life will be made. In Tennessee penal servitude consists of work in the coal mines, the prisoners being confined underground without a glimpse of daylight until death. This is the gloomy prospect which Holman believes looms before the murderer.

Holman was formerly employed at the Ball Brothers Glass factory. He is at present enjoying a stay of some time with Muncie relatives. He expects, however, to return home with Mrs. Holman and his children within a week or two.