The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-04-19


was lying on the ground, dead. Itwa James NJ.
Phillips. identifies the prsoner.) The reason of
witnesses going down there was, he saw Philips
shoot and heard a noise. Heard gun go of at
the time. Saw Philips previous to going down
where Morse was Heard noise Immediately
aiter the gun was fired. Supposed it to be the
following of Morse. Went down there very short
ly after. 1t was descending ground from where
witness was towards Philips house. Calls it
down probably because 1t was towards Indian
Creek. Found Morse lying upon the ground.
lie Was dead when witness got to him. There
was blood on his clothes and on his face. His
hands were bloody, apparently fresh blood. Look
cd like blood that had been running out Of his
nose on his face. One hand was very bloody
Don't recollect that one hand was bloody. Saw
where he was shot. He was shot n his igh,
shoulder. 1t was in the shoulder where it came
out Of the body. The ball did no, come out Of
the arms it struck so high, it went into the body
Saw Philips partly between where Morse wasand
his house when he fired the gun. here was a
fence between him and Morse lie stood nearly
or quite to the fence. Should judge very near tn
the fence when he fired. There were several
stacks on the premises: three very little ways
from where Morse lay two further of in nearly
the same direction all on Philips lot. Thinks
there were some two or three stacks still further
north: some 20 or 80 rods north or northeast.
Thinks in that direction. Should think the fence
was six or eight rods from Philips house: might
have been eight or ten rods. Don't know justly
how far it was. Had not seen Philips that NOR
ming before seeing him there with his gun when
he fired. There was stable down towards the
road from where he siood-down q few rods be-
tween where Philips was when he sho, aud the
rna Limb t,cn li.ro IL fro,
where he stood. south. There are bars still for
Their south on the road fence. There is a lhicket
of brush rod or two Southwest from the stable.
Thinks ii was 80 or 60 rods from where Morse
was found to Morse's house. to guess at ii. There
is a slough on Philips land, running across 1t
there was one on Iurse's, pretty much north Of
his house it would be at the right hand looking
down to Philips house. Saw Abram p. lIoslurd
there after the shooting. Salmon Price aud
his family were residing IN Worscs house at that
time. Amy Price was there that morning. Can't
tell the exact direction Philips shot; thinks it was
southeast. Thinks Morse lay nearly east from
where Phillips stood when he shot. The first
blood was near " cast from where Philips stood.
Morse ran northeast from whrIe witness first
discovered the blood. Thinks the frs, blood was
southeast from where Philips stood. Found the
body very nigh east from where Philips stood it
might be little north. The body was north.ras,
from where the first blood was found. Did moi
see Morse at the time philips shot. Could not
tell whether he (witness) could see u person stan
ding where the first blood was found f,om the
house or not at the tine of the shot.
Court adjourned to 2 o'clock, pm.
Itco o'ciock p. N.
Linus HoNdGy continued Don't know wheth-
or hn hayp 4 b.L uI
stood at the place where the first blood was
found. At tho time Of the shot, was the FIST
person there no knows Of Did no, see Morse's
track, only where the blood was, that he knows
of. Should think the body was very near east
from where Phillips was. lie might have been II
lllllc north of east Should think g. 9, or 10 steps
would have carried Morse in line with the stacks
aud out Of Lis (witnesscs) sight, if he had gone
right south from where he lay. Stood little east
of Morses house. on box by tho side OF the
picket fence tina, cncloses The yaIj. Was In the
yard. Don't know, that he noticed that Philips
had gun IN his hand until hc took ii up to
shoot Don't know whether he shot at a rest or
of hand. He came near the fence and shot, and
Immediately turned and went right back. He
made but very short halt. Stepped oil from The
box Immediately after Phillips TUNED round.
Should think that he was going towards his
house after he shot and turned round. II. ID.
Wallace and Salmon Price were there fist after
witness got there. In short time after they got
there they removed the body to Morse's house.
There was not much done uil the next day.
There was a coroners inquest held over it. He
was opened. DR.. Youngman was there and made
an examination. Saw him make it, The noise
witness heard after he heard the gun 90 oil
sounded sore like a person following. 1t was
rather different noise from what we generally
hear. Saw a gun hanging up in Phillips house
afterwards. Could not state tina, il was the same
gun, was not near enough. Was not ncar
enough at the time he shot 10 dccrbe the gun.
When he came up to the fence he drew the gun
up to his face. Could not tell whether he laid the
gun on the fence or not. lie had it in his hands
Saw him few steps betorc he got 10 the fence.
lie was walking.
Cross E1amncd-Camo into the county a
year ago las, fall. Was not any acquainted with
Morse or Phillips before that time. Came from,
Gcncsee county, n Y. Is farming at present.
Lived in A Allegheny county, town of Andovcr, 7
or years Had been living in Gencsce some IL
years before coming here, except two years. Was
engaged in carpenter and joiner work and farm
ing. Had peddlcj dry goods aud books some
Morse got up that morning before sunrise. Saw
him as he was dressing before the fire. DOM
know just how long it was after he dressed him
self before he went out it was very soon. Got
up very soon after. Don, know whether Price,
dog went down with Morse. Did not see the
dog after getting up until he came from down
| in the lot. The dog, when witness saw him, wal
near where Morse lay. Could see the dog sitting
there. After Phillips shot, witness stepped or tn,
box. Stepped on the box rs he saw PHILIPPE
come up TO the fence. Was on the box o very
shor, time. Witness supposed his COW was dowr
in Philips lot. Got 10 the box to see If she was
| She was in there the night before. Did not SCI
Phillips before getting On the box. DID not SCI
the cow. Did not hear the dog .ha, morning
When tina, noise was made, did no, know but
was the dog. Remarked, II guess Phillips ha
either shot the dog or hurt Morse" Witness In,
picked up some corn in his bucket and and wen
and fd his horses before he got on the box.
nigh, have been one half or ,hrec.quarsS Of al
hour after witness got up before he got the box
l