The trials of a sensational event that took place in Bibb County, Alabama in 1900.
(Transcribed from The Centreville Press, Centreville, Alabama, March 14, 1901)
The case of Mrs. Lilly Gardner for the murder of Mrs. Mamie Caddell at Blocton some months ago, was called in the circuit court on Monday morning. The largest crowd that has been in attendance at any time during the term was here on that day. The case was called at 10 o’clock, but on account of the absence of several witnesses, the case was postponed until the next term of the court. The case of Pomp Peyton for murder, was also continued.
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(Transcribed from The Centreville Press, Centreville, Alabama, April 25, 1901)
CASE REVERSED
Associate Justice Sharp of the State Supreme Court, rendered an opinion last week reversing and remanding the case of Festus Caddell, charged with murdering his wife, Mamie Caddell, in Blocton some months ago, and who was under sentence of death. The case was reversed and remanded on technical errors. Mr. Glover, who is an attorney for Caddell, and who carried his case to the higher court, is justly proud of his victory.
The case will no doubt be tried again at the next term of the Bibb Circuit Court.
(Transcribed from The Centreville Press, Centreville, Alabama, September 5, 1901)
The case of The State vs. Mrs Lilly Gardner for the murder of Mamie Caddell in Blocton, will be called in the Circuit Court today. The case has attracted a great deal of attention and a great many are interested in the trial. A Birmingham lawyer has been employed to defend her, assisted by several Centreville attorneys.
(Transcribed from The Centreville Press, Centreville, Alabama, April 25, 1901)
The Case of the State vs Festus Caddell charged with murder was continued until the next term of the circuit court.
The Case of The State vs Lilly Gardner, charged with murder was called in the circuit court on last Thursday. Several important witnesses for the state were absent and the case was postponed until the next term of court. The Judge placed her bond at four thousand dollars which she can easily make. There was a good deal of surprise at the court allowing her bond, and especially for the sum of four thousand dollars. We think the state acted unwise in not forcing the defense to trial at this time. We wanted to see the case disposed of at this term of court. The Judge added one thousand to the bond, making it five thousand dollars.
(Transcribed from The Centreville Press, Centreville, Alabama, October 31, 1901)
Mrs. Lilly Gardner who has been confined in the county jail for some time, made bond this week and will be sent to the asylum by her relatives. Mrs. Gardner murdered Mrs. Mamie Caddell in Blocton. The case has been postponed for a number of times and she was finally allowed bond in the sum of five thousand dollars. The bond was signed by Lilly Gardner, Mrs. S. E. Brown, J. H. Brown, Claud Brown, J. N. C. Brown, J. M. Brown, Mrs. V. S. Brown, C. H. Cleveland and M. L. Cleveland. A writ of lunacy will be sworn out by her relatives and they will seek to have her confined in the hospital for the insane at Tuscaloosa.
(Transcribed from The Centreville Press, Centreville, Alabama, February 13, 1902)
A prominent citizen of the county who is a good judge of human nature, and who was a schoolmate of Festus Caddell says he believes he is crazy, and that others who attended school with him are of the same opinion. The gentleman referred to spoke in all earnestness, and has formed his opinion from association. He has been tried once and sentenced to hang, but the Supreme Court reversed the verdict of the lower court, and he will have a new trial. The Press believes the guilty should be punished, but if Caddell is mentally deranged, he should be sent to the asylum. A board of lunacy should be appointed to pass on his sanity, as it would be doing the prisoner and the people of the county an injustice to put a man’s life in jeopardy who is mentally unbalanced. If he is sane and guilty he should be punished; if insane, as the gentleman remarked, he should be sent to the proper place.
(Transcribed from The Centreville Press, Centreville, Alabama, Mar 13, 1902)
The Caddell case went to trial on Tuesday evening. Up to Wednesday morning only ten jurors had been selected. This will be the last case on the docket for this term of the court.
The case of the state vs Mrs. Lilly Gardner, came up for trial on Friday morning, but on account of the illness of Judge Moore the case was continued until the next term of the court.
(Continued in PATRON + Mrs. Lilly Gardner Kills the Wife of Her Paramour in 1900 Bibb County – Part IV)
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