Richland beacon., 1873-11-08

TRIAL OF W. X. ADAMS.

trial of Mr.. WILLIAM r. ADAMS, a citizen Of |
our Parish, who was carried 10 that city un-
der the enforcement act, and most Outrageous
ly treated, in the face Of the best and strong |
est evidence that could be produced in the |
State to establish his innocence. From every |
fact elected in this case, it becomes painfully
manifest that Mr.. Adams is the victim of
heartess persecution. There is no evidence
against hin. but that of prevaricating, igno-
rant woman, who gratuitously con,radicts
herself in every material point that could
possibly fasten suspicion of criminaty on
Mr. Adams. At one time she says the cotton
was as al as herself, and she saw the priso-
ner's face plainly on the ether side then again
she changes base, and alleges that she did not
see his face but had full view of his back,
and could not be mistaken in his identity
From the time that she first commenced to
air her know ledge of the shooting she has
been supported and brought from place TO
place by some secret agency. and had several
interviews with Mr.. Isaac Crawford, the broth
er Of one of the murdered men, and since she
| came to the city she has seen him twice.
There is. at the bottom of this entire busi-
ncss-and Mr.. Crawford struck upon the
point in his evdience-a palpibe conspiracy
| to prosecute and vc,mize the prisoner. A
violent antagonism appears to have existed
between the families of Crawford and Adams,
and though we would not alcge anything un-
WORTHY again:t Mr.. Crawford we submit that
he might be easily prevailed upon to believe
the tale of an artful woman, in view Of the
an,ipaihy existing between the two families.
FRIDAY-FIRST DAY.
This morning Mr. w. R. Adams was
brought up for examination before United
/ States Commissioner Weller on the charge OF
obstructng the due course Of law, by being
one of patry, who conspired and effected
| the murder of Thomas s. Crawford and Ar
thur II. Harris. The parties charged with
completely in the affair are John Adams.
John and George Ellison and Thomas Winn.
Messrs. Hunter and Hays appeared for the
defense, and District Attorney Bcckwith for
the prosecution.
! n tdrge nutnDer Ol luleIts'tu lIItu 10 Oii
both sides were in the room.
The Charge against Mr. Adams was made
by Isaac Crawford, on information received,
District Attorney Beckwith moved for a
contin. a zee Of the iri,l on the grounds that
hi. witnesses were not all present, and in
consequence of the irregular mode of transit
in the country, the witnesses might have been
delayed by circumstances beyond their con-
troll.
Mr. Hunion opposed it, alleging the incon
veniencc, trouble and expense TO which his
client was subjected, and stated that he did
not see any necessity for witnesses, as the
Charge against his client was for obstructing
TIE course Of justice and not for the murder as
that was a charge which only the State Judi.
ciary could take cognizance OF.
Mr.. Hunton contended that the prsorer
was entitled TO be discharged on the ground
that he was arrested under the Kuklux law,
and the affidavit did not show wherein his
case came within the provisions of tina. law.
The killing Of Messrs. Crawford and Harris
might have been an obstruction of due course
of law, but since il did not necessarily deny
to any man the equal protection of the law
, it did no: come under the ACT of Congress
On the grounds therefore, that the case did
!,
al Judiciary, Mr.. Hunton finally moved that
the prisoner be discharged.
. Mr. Beckwith thought that it was inmate
8 rial to the prisoner whether he was tired by
State or Federal authority; bnt General Hay:
I, contendec that, since the United States had nc
Jurisdiction, lie should be discharged, ano
. made motion to that end.
1 After some desul,ory argument, the motor
| n,-orrplaJ and thn case copfinued
SECOND DAY.
At ten oclork to-day the trial ofMr. Adams
was commenced before Commissioner Weller
!, The first witness examined was Mr.. Dink
grave, Sheriff of Ouachita parish. He saie
that lie went with the Sheriff of Caldwell
parish with posse 10 arrest the murderers
while in the cars met woman, who said tina
;: she knew Mr. Adams to be one of the part,
who did the shooting.
n Cpon her information he arrested Mr. Ad
q ans on the cars, the latter evincing much ex
r ci,ement. He arrested Mr.. Adams out Of hi
. own parish without warrant
The next witness called was Jane Wood
!. the negro woman mentioned in Dinkgrave'
eviden, who testified that she was pickin
cotton in the field and subsequently hear
shooting Before that she saw several per
;, sons walking rapidly across the field. Sh
u went forward and saw Adams crouching il
in tn" cotton saw his face, and was positiv
p bout him.
Upon cross-examinafion, she admitted tia
E her testimony at the inquest showed that sh
said she bad not seen his face. Some contra
.. dictory trifies here followed when Mr. Hun
4 ton cross-examned her again. f
She las been in town since last Friday
. didn't kno " who paid her expenses up sa,
y MIR. Crawford in Delta, and had q talk, wit
him; met him In town twice since then. "
Mr.. Wells-Wbat brought you to Delta
sc Don't know l went there to cook, can
III tell who sent me. nor how much was PAID
Mr. Wells-You say the cotton was talle
D" than your head how then could you see hi
face!
n, didn't say saw his face it was his bac
ty saw.
Tie next witness called was Willis Woot
III who said that he heard the shooting and a
I'd forwards saw the murdered men on the roa,
side.
Mr.. Adams lives miles from the plac
= but his mother has place about five mil,
V from the scene Of the murder. He did n
see anybody in the vicinity of the spot whe
n. the murder was commiited-merely saw
>, horse running away. but could not tell who.
it was.
Alex. Brown was the next witness put Q
on the stand, but here our report closes for Il
of first edition.
~ Two other witnesses were examined, lsa;
Crawfo and man named Murell, but the
10 evidence did not touch in the slightest upc
| tha