days of Ballard's death, had been labeled as "the negro who killed Clergy Ballard," was brought to trial. Many black people in the city feared being attacked again if James was acquitted, packing their personal effects so they could leave town the moment the jury read its verdict. Judge Creighton also ordered a special venire of 100 jurors to be on hand. A total of 123 potential jurors were excused before the final jury was compiled. The defense barred men, born in the south, from serving on the jury. The defense also asked potential jurors to reveal where they were during the riotous attacks, and if they harbored any prejudice toward black people. During his incarceration, he "repeatedly" refused to enter a guilty plea of murder. He initially entered a plea of "not guilty," but his lawyers changed the plea right before the trial began, and entered one of "self defense." James was represented, pro-bono, by black attorneys, Octavious V. Royall and A. Morris Williams. Royall requested a change of venue, noting his belief that James could not receive a fair trial in the county; however, Judge James A. Creighton denied the request, stating: As the trial began, several "Black Hand" letters were sent to Sheriff Werner, and left in the yard of the courthouse, threatening more violence if James was not hanged. The letters included demands such as: "If Joe James don't hang we are going to kill him and run every nigger out of town." An effigy of James was also hanged from a telephone pole at Third and Washington streets, with the message: "Nigger don't let the sun go down on you." The police excused the effigy as "a bit of humor." The Prosecution During the trial, Wines claimed that Ballard's killer wore "a light pair of trousers, a black coat, and new shoes which squeaked." He also stated that the piece of torn cloth, which Charles Ballard was now claiming to have found, matched James' shirt and that the hat, reportedly found in Ballard's yard, belonged to James. Royall cross-examined Ballard's family and established that no one in family had really seen the alleged intruder – Blanche conceded that it had been too dark in her room for her to discern the skin color of the "form" that had intruded into her room, but stated that she felt a knife in his hand; Charles and Homer