The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27

MRS. srILwEIL on THE STAND.

| FOR THE MURDERED MAN.
The supreme sensation of the day was the
WHISPERED announcement of the appearance
of Mrs. StilwelI. It was understood that
this grievously afflicted lady would be nee.
essarily examined. and the rumor of her
presence lent an almost painful expectancy
to the proceeding A short time before the
close of the testimony of the preceding wit
nesses Mrs. Stilwell was brought into the
room, She was dressed in deep mourning
and closely yelled. A way through the
crowd was made for her, and she took her
seat in front of the reporters table, to the
right of the Justice. There was no apparent
agitation in her countenance, but the traces
OF deep sorrow were plainly dlstinguishable
| After the the testimony given above, she
| was called to the witness seat. 4 respectful
silence fell upon the throng, and even the
attorneys assumed unwonted gentleness
| and courteous sympathy toward the
witness. Mrs. Stilwel's statements were
! substantially as follows: "I am the widow OF
| Thomas N. Stilwell Mr.. Stilwell came in from
the country about four O'Clock in the afternoon
of the day he died. He returned home by way
of the stable and came on through into the house
for for three Years. He seemed deIiehted to Get
home. 1 asked him III he had a pleasant trip,
and he replied unl he had; Tread TO him an
| article from the Indianapolis Sentinel. and he
| wept like a child. He wanted To go up TO the
sore at once but told him he had better not go
Mr. Trees and Mr.. Halfo-d came in after a
| while, and he went into the parlor. l
6 6eeTd them which reading b M W9 aoTd
what he gathered in the city. He got mp and
said. collie. get my overcoat." l wanted him 10
take off his overshoes, but he would not.
thought nothing moro of 1t after that. though t
Mr.. Trees and SIR. Halford accompanied him.
THE overcoat was here exhibited and identified
by Mrs. StilweI. 1t was new one and had
been worn but once.l My husband has not had
good health since his injury last June. He has
been very feeble. Seven weeks ago he took TO
bleeding at the nose. He must have bled
! GALLONS OF BLOOD.
He scarcely had any color left in his complex
ior. That was four or I've weeks ago. DR.. Jones
and others had attended upon him. They did not
think he would live he has been as weak as a
child. think any one could have thrown him
over since that. Once he went upstairs at Odd
| Fellows hall, and when he got to the top of the
about a week. before. his death" Upon being
the country hunting with Mr.. Sever, when be
and Mr.. Sever drove to the stable. The Sentinel
There were things In the Journal did not think
II iudicious TO read to him in the condition bis
health was In. sent Lula up to let Mr.. Halford
interview with Mr.. Halford. Mr.. H. read
from an abstract from the court records and
gleanings he got in the city. Mr.. Stilwell didn't
express any ill-feeling or blame in the converse
ton about the srticles He mentioned no names
that" "l5th of October" "mer "" "don't pub
| fish such thing as that" ait is most ridicu-
Sk that He said that %as sae by
the Journal. Immediately after this he asked
for his overcoat. He didn't stop TO walk with
them, but proceeded diagonally, while they
The court then adjourned to one o'clock P. NJ
/, A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY.
THE STORY OF LEE NJ. TREEs-HE CLEARS UP
SOME POINTs-THE SCENE AND THE DEATH.
Mr. Lee NJ. Trees was the first witness exam
ined at the opening of the court In the after
noon, and testified about as follows: live here
am selling dry goods; will have been here seven
years the 18th OF next April: was intimately ac-
quainted with Col. Stilwell In his lifetime
some weeks ago l stepped into the bank and
suggested he had better go down to the house;
1t bed In perfect stream; saw him pass GO
was bleeding again; went down and found II to
be true his nose bled off and on every day; his
got to. bleeding so, knew 1 could have
handled him like ten-year old boy; ]
think he was very weak. He has been physi-
cslly very weak ever since He weighed about
one hundred and sixty:hve pounds. l don't
minutes before he was killed when l left him.
When Mr.. Halford and came from the house
never saw him cooler In my life. He was In
very good humor. He was, suppose, ten steps
ahead OF Us and came little ways up the walk.
He walked diagonally across the street toward
the court house. didn't notice whether he was
across when got up to my store. L may have
seen him afterward. but dc not remember. Mr..
Haiford went with me up to the store. / don't
remember seeing Mr.. Halford after the shooting.
| saw Colonel Stilwell after the shooting
floor OF the bank; didn't go in. Mr.. Rltten::
house said to me: "where am | shotF"
He was man of very nervous temperament; a
very quick active man. He was not man OF
road. He looked rather like robust, ieshy
man. In the cross-exsnination he testified that
he was the gentlemen who filed the afidavii
was perfectly cool when he talked with Mr.. Hal
ford, and did not notice that he was unusually
excited he thought he manifested his accustom-
ed composuTe. He said that he did not see Mr..
Stilwelf walk into the bank. He didn't remem-
Der precisely what occurred as they were going
out of the yard. He thought Mr. Halford said
"that man is undoubtedly crazy"-referring to
Mr.. Stilwell, but he did not remember that he
said anything. They all left the house together,
but while they were bidding the ladies goodbye,
Mr.. stiiwell started on. He was about ten ten
slammed it, he probably only let the gate go to.
my God, he referring 10 Mr.. stiiwelll
IS what f6 bis friends are afraid Off He femem
bered making the remark in front OF his store
after ne neaTd the shos; MY CO., se mas sT
coming out holding his hand on his hip. He
said that he did not at the time, and never had
having said in the presence of certain ladies al
Mr.. Stilwells house that when Mr.. Stilwell
wanted to go and shoot Corwin he took hold Of
his arm and told him not to do II.
THEiDEAD MANS CONDITION.
Nathan w. Garrish next testified. He said
that he had resided at Anderson about foul
! years; was acquainted with Col. Stilwell In his
lifetime. and also knew OF his physical strength
have hunted with the colonel and nshed with
him many time. He was weak latterly
. think could have thrown him easily. He had
spells of bleeding at the nose several weeks ago
and was very weak afterwards. only saw an
exhibition of his physical condition In his walk
ing. On one occasion, while out hunt
ing, he became so exhausted he had tC
sit down on log. In the ex
animation Mr.. G.. testified: Am a mechanic
The tcuffies he had had with Mr.. Stiwell were
! simply playful. This was done before he was
afflicted with bleeding at the nose, and simply
TO test their strength. In reference to the din
Guilty between Corwin and Stilwell, he said thai
in conversation with the former he seemed