The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-06-17
DR.. BARTHOLTF, sWoR.

one. Thought Yerger struck at Crane with
q Knife some three or i've times that he saw.
DIR. BARTHoLTF, SWORN.
Testified only as to the wounds-certain
they caused his death; did not see the af-
fray.
GEORGE 8. GREEN, SWORN.
Was in the bank-heard angry words,
loud talking, &c, went to the door, saw Col.
Crane and Yerger talking, Yerger calling
Col. Crane cowardly puppy, &c. Crane said
he did not want to have anything to do with
him. did not regard him. Yerger used other
very hard language. Crane seemed anxious
to avoid any difficulty and turned and start
ed to leave Yergeri Yerger caught him by
the arm and jerked him round towards him !;
Crane then struck Yerger with small end Of
his cane; Yerger then caught Crane and
commenced eating him or cutting at him.
Crane backed into the store of WI. Brown,
struggling with Yerger; after Crane fell,
witness went to the store of Brown, saw
Crane lying there-a dirk or bowie knife
lying between Cranes legs; thought it was
about six inches long, not quite as wide as
his two fingers--donble-edg The cane
Crane used was a small cane, q rattan, noe
large enough to infiict any injury on Yer
ger; John K. Yerger picked up the knife
that was lying between Cranes legs.
DIR. CRAFT, SWORN.
Did not see the cutting testified as to the
wounds. Certain that one of the wounds
would cause death; the other might also do
it.
ROBERT IsLER, SWORN.
Was at Mr.. Cranes Office in the forenoon.
Geo. Yerger came to the Office, called Crane
utinto the hall; heard them talking, heard
Crane say, he would not leave his Office to
see any one. Some time after Geo. Yerger
left Dr. Harrington came down to the office.
Witness introduced him to Col. Crane; sat
talking a few minutes; Harrington asked
Crane If he had a private Office. Crane re-
piled that he had not, but would have one
as soon as the new Clerks Office was fixed
up. DR.. Harrington said he wanted to see
Col. Crane privately. Col. Crane took him
into the United States Clerks office. They
stayed there some time, when Harrington
left and Crane came back into his Office and
said, Yerger wanted him (Crane) TO meet
him on the street. Witness told Col. Crane
not to 90 on the street. Witness thinking
there might be difficulty put on his pistol.
Crane told him that he was eXcitable, that
there was going to be no trouble.
Crane sat down to write letter, saying
that he was going to Headquarters as soon
as he got through; that he also had to get
bottle of Jamaica Ginger for man who was
sick. Witness stayed at the Mayors Office
until pretty near one o'clock, when he went
home for his dinner While at dinner was
informed that Col. Crane had beer killed by
Yerger. Went up to Yerger's house and
arrested him went with him to head-quar-
ters from there Yerger was taken TO camp
by soldiers.
Witness was informed that John X. Yer
ger had the knife with which Col. Crane had
been killed; was told by some one he ought
to get it; went after it, met George Yerger
aud went with him to John h. Eerger;
George Yerger told John h. Yerger that he
might as well give the knife up, which he
did. Witness produced the knife before the
jury.
DIR. CARTER, SWORN.
Witness met E. NJ. Yerger in the forenoon.
Yerger told him that he had challenged
Crane; Yerger told witness that the least
Crane would get off with was good ours
ing. Yerger then pulled up his sleeves,
took off his gold buttons and then gave
them to witness, telling him to keep them
for him. Witness left them at the drug
store. Witness also testified as to the
wounds; thought both were fatal wounds.
Were made by two edged instrument as
the ribs on both sides were hacked. Thought
the knife before the jury, taken from Jno
the wounds.
HARRIS BARKsDALE, SWORN.
Came out of Clarion Office and met Col.
Crane, passed him with usual salutations,
and went into Green's bank; while there
heard some one say, "You are a damned
puppy" ran out with Mr.. Thomas Green
and George Green saw Col. Crane and f. NJ.
Yerger standing near each other. Col. Crane
said, '.You are drunk and had better go
home.' Mr.. Yerger said, 81 am not drunk,
and want to tell you that you are a damned
puppy" Col. Crane said, II don't care for
you and will not have anything to do. with
you" Yerger said, 81 teIegraphed to you
not to take advantage of me during my abb
don't know which hand, in Cranes face
Crane said, Il did not take advantage of
you," and made a gesture with his hand.
Yerger said. stake your hand out Of my face
you damned cowardly son of bitch,'' at
the same time striking Cranes hand down.
Crane said, II don't know you and don't
want TO have anything to do with You ex-
cept officially" At this time witness noticed
that Mr.. Yerger had his right hand in his
bosom. Col. Crane turned his back to Mr..
Yerger and took one step up street. Mr.,
Yerger pushed him and said, $50, you
damned dog.' Col. Crane wheeled round
and struck Col. Yerger with walking stick,
they then clinehed, and Mr.. Yerger drew a
knife and commenced cutting at Col. Crane.
Mr.. Crane caught Mr.. Yerger's arm and
held it awhile; they were still struggling
Mr.. Yerger jerked his arm away and struck
Col. Crane in the back, at this time Col.
Crane backed into Browns store; the par
ties struggled just inside of the door. Wit
ness could see nothing but the arms of the
parties. Col. Crane fell and Yerger stepped
out and threw the knife at Col. Crane, say
ing, Snow, you damned dog, you struck
me, or, "what did you strike me for" Wit
ness could not identify the knife-did not
see it except in Mr. Yerger's hands,-at the
time thought it was ''thug" knife.
GEORGE GREEN, RECALLED.
Was shown the knife taken from John Is.
Yerger. Witness said, it was like the knife
which he saw lying between Col. Cranes
legs Could not swear positively as to its
being the same knife, as it had been in 9TH
ers' possession, and he only saw it lying on
the floor, but he thought it was the same.
FINDING OF THE JURY.
We, the undersigned, a jury Of inquest