The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-05-12
THE COFFIN CASE,


In the above ease, and withhold all
comments, Us the matter ia not yet
decided The case was called AZ u
quarter past two, before Justice Me.
Lure. Geo. Aldrldge conducted the
case for the state, aud Messrs Slerrett
A. Stemmous for the defense, Both
sides handled the Gaze with great
ability. The state desired 10 continue
IL, NJ they were not ready; the defense
objected; his honor sustained the Oh
lection and the case proceeded, The
first witness called for the rtate was
Mr.. Curtis; the other state witnesses
were put under the rule.
CURTIS TESTIMONY.
On the fourteenth Of March, he
went to Iinskie for colin in compa.
ny with Mr., Kent and Mr. Cullen;
a bargain was made for the coffin and
lot; In the evening. Mr. Linskie de-
livered the coffin, aud presented the
bill; Curtis said that he did not have
the money, but could give him lfIy
dollars on Shursday and the bal
lance on Saturday the funeral then
took place; Linskle came Thursday for
his money, didn't get II and came again
Friday evening, and had n CONVERSE
ton saying, when he went OIL, lac must
make himself safe; dilh't see him
again Till three weeks agD; was going
TO work; he overlook mt; walked with
him quite way; he asked for his
money again; as they parted, LInskle
said he didn't feel as though he could
lose his debt, and would take his pay
in ten or five dollar payments;
the same evening my brother was
buried went and marked the
grave. The next Monday went and
saw that the grave had been disturbed;
got parties to open tho grave, and
they took the lid of the case and
found the rosewood coffin gone, and n
stained coffin in its place; witness
ordered the coffin, and told Linskie
where to bring it; never gave my
consent for Mr.. Linskie to take or re.
move the coffin.
Cross examined Mother and father |
living; went after the coffin on the
l4th of March, with Kent and Cullen;
went on my own suggestion to get
the collin, and ordered out the coffin |
and hearse, and the grave dug had
no money to pay for it at the time;
| asked for walnut coffin, and Lins
kie said that he had none, but had |
rosewood, | then said that would do
left the trimming of the coffin to Mr..
Linskie went to the cemetery to see
the LOT; nothing was said about the
bill, till the hearse came to get the
body; Mr.. Lnskie took me to one
side and presented his bill, and said
his terms were cash | told him that
| had no money, but would give him
fifty dollars Thursday; never said any
thing to Linskie about the grave being
disturbed until few days ago.
A long argument ensued between
the attorneys.
Witness then related u converse
ton he had with Mr.. Liusllie on the
18th of May, when he said that he went
to Marshal Morton to have a guard on
the graveyard he said that Linskie
told him he had taken up his broth
ers coffin he then said he couldn't
recollect his answer to Linskie, when
he told him that he had taken the
coffin has lived here seven years, of
and on.
Re-examined by state-The authori-
ties placed guards alter | informed
them. Mr.. Morton placed the guards.
Saw them there.
State closed for the present.
Mr.. Golay called for thesdefense-
Was present when Linskie took up
the coffin. 1t was in broad daylight,
about four o'clock in the afternoons;
there was no concealment. Mr.. Lins'
kie told Mr.. Curtis that if he didn't
get his money by four O'Clock, he
would have to take him up, put him
in a pauper coffin, aud put him in the
public burial ground; Curtis then said,
81 can't blame you Mr.. Linskie, for |
know you have been beat by several
parties;n heard no conversation after
the body was taken up; the converse
ton took place on the corner by Lins-
ke's shop; helped take up the body.
with Potter and Mr.. Williams; open
ell the grave, took up the rosewood
coffin, put it on tie side of the grave;
lowered the pauper coffin in; lowered
the body, and filled up the grave; the
coffin was valued at forty dollars;
told my folks about taking up the
coffin, and one or two outside parties.
Mr. Potter was then called-He said
he heard Mr.. Curtis say that he was
very well satisfied that Mr.. Linkskie
did IL; this was on the night Of the
eighth of May; Linskie asked Curtis
II he had anything to say about NOV
ing the body; Curtis then said he was
satisfied that Mr.. Linskie did 1t, and
didn't want any more said about IT;
Linskie said he wanted to put a card
in the papers; Curtis said there was
no occasion; he wanted nothing more
E..nLi. tha no