Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-04

have heard; she belonged 70 the Methods
Church; / was present at the inquest, M
and Mrs. Housen were near by
Redirect Housen did not 60 to see
his dead mother that night, but went to my
house; don't think he was in the room wher
the inquest was held; did not closely ex'
anime the track that was with the bare
footed track; couldn't sag how many fisf
there was on the string; don't know OF my
own knowledge of Bill Houson and hi.
mother having any difficulty; don't know
that Mrs. H0usen made viii; heard OLD
Mrs. Housen insinuate that she didn't In.
tend to let Mrs. Housen or the Mayheids
have aay of her property; the Msgfields are
young Mrs. Housen's folks; didn't find any
money at Mrs. Housen's house that night;
she owned seventy acres of ground there
and the impression was that she bad money!
Housen told me that night, after we got
back to my house that he thought IL was
Wilkes Barnes who killed bis mother; next
morning Wilkes came to say house and
asked HWhat's the NATTER" l told him
Mrs. Housen was hung, and he said
"MY GoD.n'
He saw the dead body and I watched
him closely; be didn't look guilty; Capt.
Everett measured Wilkes foot and
thought it was shorter.
Re Cross.-I invited Bill H9usen to re-
main at my house that night.
ROBERT II. PATTERSON SWORN.
Direct-eTGnindtion-I remember the
killing Of Mrs. Housen; it was Monday
night geek ago; live about 81 miles from
Nashville on the NolensviIle pike; about
800 yards from Mrs. Housen's; l heard
screaming about Mr.. Barnes; seemed to be
woman's voice; I run down to Mr.,
Barnes and met Tom Barnes coming do xn
the lane; went down to Mrs. Housen's with
him; searched Tia house and around the
yard; saw an underskfrt hanging on plow;
followed that direc ion; saw something
white and found Mrs, Housen hung; | cut
at the rope; then we got help; when we told
Young Mrs. Housen that the old lady was
dead, she threw up her hands and said,
"My God, is Mrs. Housen dead at last"
think she said this; then she said, "would
she could have been spared this tlme;n the
rope seemed to have been put around her
neck; then around the pole three or four
times, aud then around her neck again sew
eral times; if there had been screams at
Mr.. Housen's house, think would have
heard them.
The rest Of the testimony of this witness
was principally re petition Of that OF the
preceding witness.
MRS MARTHA GOODWIN SWORN.
Direct examination Il live Ia The leigh
borhood of the scene Of the murder heard
Mrs. HOusen calling for Mrs. Barnes that
night; live at Mrs. Barnes; we sent her
something TO 90 around her and she came
in; she wouldn't come ia until We did !; she
said repeatedly, sob what has become Of
Mrs. Housen?" She also said, I" If Mrs.
Housen could be spared just this time"
This was before she heard of ths murder;
she said she had heard Mrs. Housan scream
and saw the door oper, and she jumped out
of bed aud run TO Mrs. Barnes; never
knew of any i'll will between Mr.. Housen
and his mother; the two Mrs. Housen did
not get along so well together as they ought
to; heard Mrs. Housen say she was going
to make 2 vii. before she died and FIX her
property so that his wife could not touch it;
Mr.. Housen went off to the mountains
ABOUT six weeks ago; was gone about
week; amer Mr.. Housen came into our
house that night he raised bis hand and
said be believed Wilkes had done it /; he
said Wilkes knew everything on the place /;
Mrs. Housen said the door was never
locked when Mr.. Housen was out; heard
old Mrs. Housen say she had money loaned
ont.
Cross examination. Wilkes knew that
Mr.. Housen was going fishing; Mr.. Hou-
sen stood high among his neighbors.
MRS BETTY BARNES SWORN.
Direct eCdDlilGtiOn-Mrs. HOusen came
10 my house the night of the murder; first
saw her near the gate; she called and said
some one is at our house; she said she
HEARD SOME ONE SCREAM
once, saw the door open, sprang out of the
bed and ran out; when mr. Housen said he
thought it was Wilkes whoshad done the
murder, she said she didn't believe he did;
have heard Mrs Housen say that she never
wanted the Mayfeld's, Mrs. HOussn's folks,
10 get any of her property; she owned 20
acres Of ground where she lived, house
and lot in Edgedeld, and l saw her bank
book one time, and l think there was $500 |
in it; her land was
WORTH 5000, THINK.
Cross examined There was bad feeling |
between the two Mrs. Housen Just before
Christmas, but know thsy were friendly
On that day; Mr.. Housen stood high with
bis neightoTs.
FLETCHER FIELDS SWORN.
Direct ecdminGtiOn-I was sent for at
daylight to 60 to Mr.. Housen's; found Mrs. |
HOusen's body laying on the ground about |
200 yards from the house; she looked as |
though she had been hung; saw three |
'mall bruises on her arm; looked as though |
hey had been made with 60ger nails;
vas present when Wilkes Barnes
,ame up to Mr.. Barnes the next morning; |
le was wbistling loud; he STOPPED and
Isked, "What's the matter?" be came up,
md Capt. Everett had him take Of his
hoe so that he could measure bis foot;
Mrs. Housen said she couldn't think that
Wilkes was knowing to the murder; after
his, had conversation with Mrs. Housen
t the jail; Mr.. Robertson was with me;
lie asked her if she would be willing to
maze & statement before magistrate; she |
wanted to know if it would make it any
ighter for her to make q statement, and l
old her thought il wouldn't make it any
worse.
A CONFESSION.
The counsel for the defense objected TO
he witness being allowed to testify as to
he statement or confession made to him.
elf and Mr.. Robertson by Mrs. Housen, at
hat time, and asked that, if Mr.. Fields tes-
imony on this point be received, Constable
robertson De examined first.
The court decided to hear Mr.. Robert
on's testimony before Fields was allowed
o proceed,
CONSTABLE ROBERTSON SWORN.
Direct examination by Mr.. Brien MIR.
Fields and l visited Mrs. Housen in her
ell; told her we were her friends: Fields
Sked her fshe knew or lad suspicion of
ny one; We told her We didn't propose to
fer her any inducements to tell any
hing; she asked me if Wilkes hasn't al
eady turned States evidence against her;
told her didn't know; she asked me if
he couldn't turn States evidence; | told
Ter l didn't know; told her if she wanted
o tell the truth about it, the matter
wouldn't be any worse; L told her now
you'd be a better time than after a
rial; at this time she appeared to be 10
ress trouble and distress.
The counsel for the defense objected to
ny testimony relating to the confession of
drs. Housen being received, holding that
was made under the influence Of both
ope and fear, and thst the confession itself
vas not competent testimony and
hat lit should be ruled out.
Thss |