Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-07
THE ,GOODLETTsVILLE TRAGEDY.
Fifth Day of the Preliminary Exami-
nation.


TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENSE.
Mr.. Mathews testified: Live in Good
lettsviIle, and was there the day of the
murder; am a merchants just after noon
| strange gentleman rode up to his door on
a white horse left his horse near the wit
ness door; witness requested him to re-
move his horse from his front door the
| gentleman left late in the evening, and was
a stranger in the neighborhood. Has
| known the Warmack family a long time,
and believe ali them to be entitled to the
| fullest credit on oath also knows DIR.
| Burns to be a gentleman of undoubted
veracity. The stranger wore a half-worn
buster he had no arms that were visible;
| travellers frequently pass witness door, but
| seldom stop; saw nothing suspicious in the
stranger; when requested to move his
horse he did so readily without complaint.
| Witness saw Dallas Warmack and Pike
| between sundoWn and dark under a locust
tree near brakes grocery they seemed to
be talking, but too far off to be heard; two
| other drunk men were standing near by
it was nearly dark at the time; thinks
Dallas Warmack was drunk from the way
he staggered.
proposed to show that Scruggs, the de-
ceased, had had various difficulties with
| other parties some of whom might have
been his murderer. This evidence was
ruled ont by the court as indmissible. At
various times during the trial the same
question has been presented to the court,
and argued with much ability by the coun-
sci for the State and defense. The court
has invariably rejected.
Charles Beasley testified: Have lived in
Goodlettsville fifteen or twenty years
have known the Warmack family for
many years, and know them to be truthful,
and would give each one of them full credit
on oath also know Dr. Burns to be man
OF veracity, and entitled to full credit on
his oath. Witness examined a diagram
presented by the counsel, aud pronounced
it a correct topography of the grounds and
location of the houses around the scene of
the murder Witness corroborated the
testimony of other witnesses in regard to
the doors and stairways of the Warmack
house. Witness has known Sarah Bur
CESS and her mothers family since the 18th
of April. Witness rented them a house,
and was condemned for renting them the
house, as they were regarded by majority
of the community as base women, and des-
titute Of virtue
Mr.. Shivers testified that he had not
seen the return of the officer who was or
deTed to arrest VIM. Bloodworth.
Miss Sarah Burgess, recalled Saw Matt
Warmack and Dallas about a week ago
with gun; were going towards the woods =
did not see them return; was sitting in
the porch sewing. Witness intended to go
blackberry hunting that evening, but her
mother told her not to go after berries as
those Warmack boys had gone up that way.
The Warmack boys passed in a few yards
of witness, and she recognized them dis
tinctly; this was few days before the
murder; witness sister also saw them pass
had never seen Dallass Warmack before
was one square from him; he had been
pointed out to her by several persons; could
not reeollect the names of any of the per-
sons who told her who Dallas Warmack
was; two negro girls sitting on the door
steps remarked that it was William and
Dallas Warmack who were passing. Witness
denied that she had ever received a hoop
skirt from Steve Bowers.
Miss. Emily Burgess testified: Saw Dali
las Warmack and Matt week before the
murder; Matt had gun, and both were
going in the direction of the woods; they
were going along what is called Muddy
street; did not see them return. A black
girl pointed the young men as Dallas and
Matt Warmack; don't know what kind of
gun it was. Dallas Warmack was dressed
| in black hat, linen buster and yellow
pants Witness had been raised in Ken
| lucky, and then came to Robertson county,
and then TO Goodlettsville; lived in the
| neighborhood of Steve Bowers from April
to Christmas, then lived with Steve Bow
ers from then till April. Witness admitted
that Steve Bowers had given Sallie Bur-
CESS hoop skirt; didn't know the consid-
| Grafton.
Reese w. Porter, recalled: Saw Horace
| Edmunds at the grocery the evening of
the murder, also saw Stump Johnson there
at the same time; knows the general char
acter of the Burgess family, and believes
| them to be honest, hard working women,
| and would give them full credit on oath
have only known them since April; have
/ never heard their character discussed
/ till the excitement about the murder !;
saw Horace Edmunds at the grocery near
/ dark. but did not see him there at the time
Of the killing there we're fifteen or twenty
negroes in the grocery; saw one drunk
white man, and one negro lying down,
either drunk or asleep.
| James johnson testified: Knows col
ored man named Stump Johnson; he was
raised with witness believes him to be a
truthful and temperate man; have known
him since the war don't know his charse-
ter as well since he left, but believe him to
be as honest as when a slave.
| Mr. Shivers testified: Did not know the
general character Of the Burgess girls; one
of the officers ordered to make the arrest,
told witness that reward Of 5000 had been
offered for the arrest of Dallas Warmack
and Pike; knows the character of each
one Of the Warmack family, and believes
them entitled TO the fullest credit on oath
also says the same in regard to DR.. Burns,
Stalcup and Haley.
| School vacations can be used to learn
neat, free and elegant writing and book
keeping, without enormous expense foI
/ l. oF1 lao rh0rnUrq nHC