The Morning herald., 1878-12-05

Draper finally threatened the deceased, and
the latter walked up to him without any
intention OF hitting him. When he came
within reach Of the prisoner at the bar, he
hit him with an exc. The wounded mar
walked q few steps and fell dead.
The first witness called was Jonathan
Hazard, col who on being sworn, testi.
fsd:-I live In Hamtown, quarter of q
mile from Middletown; knew George
Drapsrj have known him for year; last
September he lived In Hamtowp In house
rented from Charley johnson; have known
John Wilson since he was baby; he had
no regular occupation; was preseut at
the murder. ! stood in ny yard and Wilson
came up to where Draper was cutting wood
in his yard; after bit thev were quarrel
Ing; my wife came out of the barn and
told them to stop qusrreling; then Wilson
walked up toward Draper with his hands
In his pockets, and George cut him; Draper
stepped toward Wilson just ss he struck
the blow; as soon ss he was cut Wilson
threw up bis hands and said "God have
mercy on my SOUL" he then went down on
his knees and fell; both Draper and Iswent
up to see him as he lay; thought maybe
he could be saved and / would 20 for .
doctor; ss soon as I saw the wound, said,
George Draper, what made you kill John
Wilson for talking to you" and he answer.
ed "Uncle John, dunno what made me do
1t, didn't know what was about" VIII
son had nothing In his hands when he walk
cd toward Draper, and had his hands ia
his pockets; my house is as far away from
where the fight occurred a. across the
court room. ,t
Cross-examination:- is one house
between Draper's and mine, and when VIII
son walked toward Draper his back was
toward me; whom I fret saw him he was
going up to talk with Draper.
Re-direct-Georges father came up in q
moment and he (George) said to him 81
don't know what to do; II guess III give
myself up" he then started toward Mid :
dletown and / followed him at some dis
tance to watch him; he met white man
and he went with him to Mr. Rothwell, the
constable, and saw him locked up. ,.s
John Veasey, white, testffed-I live in
Middletown, and Hamtown is about half
a mile away; I WAS not acquainted with
Draper until the day on which the alleged
killing took place; saw Draper about Is
or 20 minutes past O'Clock in the morn>
ing saw him coming up the lane to-
ward Middletown from Hamtown; he sp-
peared to be very much excited; was
crying "Oh Lord! oh Lordl oh LordP' In
very loud voice, and was walking very
fast; l asked him what was the matter,
and he said he had cut Q man with an
axe and killed him, "whena" I asked,
'just now, down in Hamtown." (The
rest of. the conversation between the pris-
oner and the witness objected to. The
witness also testified to accompanying the
prisoner to Constable Rothwell, who
locked him up. .aG.s
Amanda Hazard, colored:--I live in
Hamtown and know both Wilson and Dra-
per, was in Hamtown on the day of the
killing, and saw It done while standing In
the door, Wilson came up and they had Q
discussion about piece of fence. Draper
who was cutting wood In his yard, said to
Wilson, "you black devil, 60 way or III
knock your head off, Wilson replied Pm
tired Of you calling n,e black devil all
the time for nothing George. Wilson was
going away at the time, and Draper cried
out: 7'If you come here, I will knock your
head off," Draper then came back, toward
George with his hands in his pockets He
did not get time to stop, till Draper hit
him with the axe. Wilson raised his hands
and cried out, "Lord have mercy" saw
the blood and then went into the house.
When came out again he was dead. -.
Cross examined When Wilson started
toward Draper his back was toward me,
and could not see his face.
Wilson Downs, colored:-I know both
Draper and Wilson. The former lives In
Wilson's house and on his property. / did
not see the cutting, live about rs yards
from Drapers house, snd was In bed at the
time heard Wilson say to Draper. "Td
like you to put up that fence. '''I'll put 1T
up when get ready" he answered. "May
be you'll put it up before you get ready y
answered Wilson, "for Pll sue" Draper
then started to go away and George struck
q l'ck or TWO with his axe In the wood. Then
he aid "Go away you black devil or I'll
knock your head off," Wilson said, "you've
talked about knocking my head off often
enough" eff you come back here
answered Draper, will kill you" heard
the blow but did not see It struck, and
when looked out, Wilson was walking
away with his hands raised and crying
"Oh Lord have mercy" He said this two
or three times, and walked about Is steps
with Draper following him dragging ths
axe. When I got there QEapsr was dead[
Ariminta Hazard, colored:-I was In
the yard of my husbands house, which is
next door but one to Draper, and Draper
and Wilson were quarrelling, / said to
them. "Children don't fight on de Loid's
day." After good BIT of hard words
Draper hit Wilson with the axe in the
shoulder before the cutting, Draper took of
his coat and hung It on the wood pile and
rolled up his sleeves, and thought there
was going TO be fight. gg.q.5.
Cross examined The fight was about
panel of fence which was right IN front
of the house. There was mound of dirt
which was right over clsse by . fence, and
one was on each side when the blow was
struck.
By the Chief Justice:-Have you any
hard feeling against the Drapersf
No sir, nulsed his little child night. and
day for o week before, and he had buried
ono nv q la hafnrA