Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-06-22
THE CRANE HOMICIDE
Fifth and Sixth Days of tine Trial.

JACKSON Mss, June 10. 1868.
Commission met pursuant 10 adj
iGurnment at 10 am.
The Court all present, the prisoner
and his counsel.
Proceedings OF yesterday read and
approved.
(TeOrge $. Grtea .SroFH-Tuesday
the gth day Of June, was the day Of
Col. Cranes death: saw an alteration
between him and Mr.. Herger, on that
day; was sitting in the bank at my
desk. when my attention was at
tracted By angry words on the pave
ment, when ! Immediately went to
the door, remarking TO Mr.. BarkS-
dale that ! thought there was a fuss
on the street; | recognized the voice
Of Col. Nerger before / went 10 the
door; the remark | heard was: - say
YOU are a damned puppy;" on look
ing out recognized the parties; heard
Crane say: " wish TO have nothing
to do with YOU except officially, go
away and let me alOne;" the hands Of
both parties were being shaken in this
manner (the witness gesticulating
with his left hand;) Nerger said:
- don't put your hand on me;" some
words passed when Crane turned to
go up street; turned partly around
when NIr. Nerger took hold of Cranes
shoulder or collar, and jerked or
pulled him; and when Crane was
turning he struck back at Nerger
around the neck or over the head,
with a cane he had in his hand, when
the parties Immediately closed. ] saw
a knife in Mr.. Herger's hand; as he
raised the knife | stepped back into
the door Of my Office, not, wishing to
see it; when / looked out again they
were hack i'm Mr.. Browns store,
where | saw Mr.. Crane living on the
floor; he was breathing at the time l
saw him; Nerger's language to Crane
was "nOt - put his hand on him, y
when they We're gesticulating; Crane
did not appear to be eXcited-nOt
much acquainted with him; it did not
look much like either Of them were
trying to avoid a difficulty, the Ian
gliage looked like a difficulty, and
that was what carried me into the
street; il would be impossible for me
to answer your question; whether
either of them We're endeaVoring to
avoid a difficulty; Crane turned away
from Yerger when he said: Ego away
from me, | wish TO have 1othing to
do with you except Otficially;" l do
not know what Cranes object in
turning away was, unless it was TO
leave; the only abusive language ]
heard distinctly was that before | left
the Office; there were words by both
parties going on continually between
them, but / cannot recollect them;
they were standing facing each other
during their conversations just Op-
pOsite each other; my attention was
attracted to the position in which Mr..
Yerger stood, and think / remarked
il at the time to father; Yerger wore
n linen duster, and stood with his
right hand under the lapel of it; it
is impossible to say which part of the
body the prisoner took the knife from
all / saw Of it was in his hand; /
saw the knife lying on the floor,
blade about six inches long, as wide
as your two fingers, had horn ham
die, about such knife as you see
hunters have; saw the knife taken up
by Mr.. John X. Yerger; would not
know the knife if l should see it
again; after the prisoner showed Col.
Crane, the parties closed and the
knife was drawn; / stepped one foot
on the pavement, my left foot being
most of the time on the door step,
when witnessed this; think I was
some twenty or twenty-five steps from
/ the parties; Mr.. Barksdale was in the
door above me, in the bank; my
father was part of the time in the
one with me; they, the parties, were
1 Just above Browns store when first
saw them-twelve or fifteen feet; it is
about five steps from where the
/ parties backed, 10 Browns store; il is
about five steps from the north front
door Of the bank, to Browns store;
the houses join, and l mean steps
not feet; Col. Crane In the direction
north or up the street, when he turned