Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-20
MEMPHIS.
The Hindman Assassination.
Testimony ON Application fer Habeas
Corpus.

Testimony ON Application fer Habeas
Corpus.
MEMPHIS, April 80 Lewis Vaughn, ALA:
Frank Burdett, charged with assassination
of Gen. Hindman, at Helena, Ark, on the
night of Sept. 26, 1868, was brought before
Judge Halsey, of the Second Circuit Court
to-day on a writ of habeas corpus. j. d.
Adams appeared in behalf of the prisoner;
Judge Charles W. Adams and Col. Cayce
Young for the prosecution. Mrs. Mary
Hindman, widow of the deceased, was the
principal witness. She identified the pris-
oner as man calling himself as Frank
Burdett, claiming to be q son Of the former
Police Commissioner, and who had writ
ten her several letters asking her to come
to Memphis and he would reveal the whole
plot of the assassination of her husband.
On the night of the15 tn INST, he came to
her room, at tie hotel, and told her in the
presence OF Judge MaDgum that the party
who killed Gen. Hindman was hired to do
it by John P. Moore and DR.. Linthcum, Of
Helena; that his motive in
dis closing the plot was partly from con-
science, but principally from revenge, as
DR.. Linthcum had tried to poison him
last summer when he was sick; that on
the night of the assassination he and the
man who fired the shot after loading a
ouble-barrelled shot gun in blacksmith
shop near the generals house, went into
the yard leaving Linthcum holding the
horses outside; saw the general through the
window sitting in large rocking char
with his feet in another, smoking bis pipe;
his back was 10 them and they went to an
other window where they had a view of
his side face; when the gun was fired
he heard her shrieks and would
have given the world to
recall ten minutes. He then mounted his
horse, made his way to Mariana, and
thence to Tennessee, and also stated that
he had a photograph of her house and all
the parties concerned. When asked who
fred the shot, he said he would get Capt.
Clendenning and return in two hours, and
she should know all. He then asked her if
sha had told any one in regard to his letters.
She had, and told him she came near max
ing a confident of Linthicum, aud he ex-
claimed "My God, if you had, he would
have murdered me-" as LiDthicum had
taken him to Helena to kill Hindman.
The letters written by Vaughn were shown
TO witness and identified.
On cross examination she said Vaughn
told Judge Msngum he did not want mon.
ey; revenge was what he wanted and
mean. to have it. Witness was then ques-
toned in regard to the assassination OF her
husband and was very much affected in de
failing the bloody work.
She was accompanied by her little son
who had just gotten out If his fathers lap
when the fatal shop was fired.
Chief of Police Athey identified the let
ters and said Vaughn told him they were
written at the instance of other parties.
When asked why he did not return to see
Mrs. Hindman as he promised Saturday
night Vaughn said it was because the police
chased him when he went to the appeal Of
fee to get the letter. Had known the pris-
oner for 8 months, first as Flowers anu
then as Vaughn. Vaughn had proffered
his services as a detective when the safe in
the police office was robbed, but he (Athey)
had no confidence in his (Vaughn's) homes
ty. When he arrested him last Sunday
Vaughn remarked "you have pulled me
about those Hindman letters"
Detective Harry Cranmer testified
10 about the same. Had known
the prisoner by bis different ala
ses; said that when Vaughan was ar
rested be told him he had written the lei
tiers, but was very reticent about the mat
ter.
Mrs. Quackenbush, of Nashville, te' tiff
ed: was mother Of the prisoner; his name
was Lewis Vaughn.
Several other witnesses were introduced
but nothing of impc rtance ELECTED. The
prisoner was at work at Sailors Rest near
GAINESVILLE, Tenn, at the time of the muir
der. After lei gthy argument Judge
Halsey remanded the prisoner to jail to
await requisition from the Governor OF
Arkansas, which is on the way.