The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-01-27


in the evening to give himself up to me or
the constable. Poke's acknowledgements
were made before the commitment was
served.
Cross-erdnined By Prisoners Counsel
I cant Ray positively that Poke said he in
tended to kill DornelI There was large
company, and much excitement. NV inn
preston is that Poke said he had struck
Dornell, but didn't intend to kill him.
Wiliiana Kitchen, Esq. scorn. had
conversation with Poke in the Jail. He
said it was pity it happened; that he was
not intoxicated when he came from Jersey
town; that Dornell had came into the
kitchen, and that he had struck Dorneli on
the back with the side of the axe. He
said he was not angry at DorAell, but that
he felt ataid Of him.
CToss-eramiaed by Prisoners counsel
Il am keeper ofthe prison. Don't know
that ecer said that Poke ought to be hung.
The wife of Robert Dornell, son of the
deceased, is niece of mine. | have told
the prosecuting attorney what people would
say in the cause.
jacob Turner, stOorn. Poke came 10
my house on Tuesday morning about sun
rise, and asked me to move up his family
to Plymouth. We agreed partly, but not
IN full. He then told me what had hap
pened between him and DorAell; that he
had struck Dornell with an axe; that his
wife had dismissed him and his eldest son
the night before; that she called him a muir
derer, and that he supposed he was mur-
derer.
Cross-eramined by Prisoners Counsel.
Never knew any of Dornel's family un-
dl yesterday. hauled up Poke's family,
and had some angry words when we got
up to Plymouth.
James Masters, affirmed. The morning
after Poke struck Dornell, Poke came into
the grist-mill where was between and 3
O'Clock. lie asked me whether l had
heard that he had murdered John Dornell
last night. saidI had not. "They say
so" says Poke, "and struck him with an
axe" | asked him no questions He
said when Dornell came into the house he
asked him how he was, reaching out his
hand at the same time; that DorneH made
no reply, but caught him by the hair and
back of the neck and pulled him over. In
fright he said he struck him with the
axe, but did not know what he had in his
hand. He said he was not in passion;
that he had nothing against Dornel. Poke
had grist at my mill, and asked me how
soon it would be done.
John .4rmstrong, swom. In 1884,
Dornell came to me, and employed me to
help him to make shingles. | went with
him. first saw Poke-he raised MP while
we were talking about him, about 30 yards
ffom the road, from white pine log, with
rifle. Hejumped upon the log, with the
rifle in hands, putting the breach on the
log. The first word he said was "Damn
you, John Dornell." sis that you," says
DorneIl, "Yes," saws Poke. Poke asked
him how it came that his boy had taken
things from Mr.. Bitman's saw-mill. Dor
nell said because he canght the boy taking
the board. He said Mr.. Bitman had mis-
sed an iron wedge and chsel, and that
Bitman told him that he thought Poke took
it. They then quarreled, and Poke got
into arage & threatened to shoot Dornel,
picking up his lihe. but not drawing it
more than breast high John DorneIl had
rifle with him, which he drew up in the
same way, telling Poke 10 shoot away and
be damn'd, that he had as good rifle as he
had. They both set down their rifles,
Dornell then said spoke, what about your
daughter Z" Poke's wife then raised up
from the same place that Poke raised, and
commenced quarrel with them, and he
threatened Dornell. They quarreled, and