The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-12-06
BOONVILLE'S BUTCHERY.
An Interview with Capt. L. L.
Bridges, Of Counsel for
the Prosecution.
Some Wrong Impressions with Re-
gard to the Conduct Of John
r. Walker, Prosecuting
Attorney. Corrected.

ed criminal lawyer, had just returned from
Boonville. on the 400 X & L. train last
evening. BAzoO reporter selected fresh
Faber and new note book, and started
| for the Herculean counsel with the deter
mined purpose Of interviewing him. He
was found in his cosy office, buried in
heap oi mus;y tonnes of the criminal law,
with one hand resting on his forehead and
the other turning leaf after leaf OF the cele-
braied second volume Of Mr.. Bishops
work on the American law of crimes. The
great work OF AR. Russell Law open and
/ reversed on one Of the Captains knees,
while Roscoe's Criminal Evidence occupied
\ similar position on the other.
will You have cigar ?" said the Cap
tain.
The reporters answer was given immedi-
aiely, and without any undue hesitation.
IL don't care il do"
! After few paffs, the reporter murmur-
ed, in his most winning manner,
Captain Bridges, have been looking
for you ever since half-past four this alter
noon. derire to interview you with re-
gard to the Boonville tragedy, as
yOu have just returned from the
scene Of She murder, and are i'm q better
position than any one within reach of the
BAzOO at this time TO furnish the informs-
iion which the paper published for the
people now on earth desires To- spread be-
lore Its readers i'm that favorite melange
known as the Sunday morning edition."
well, fire away" said the lawyer. 81
don't care"
First, who is associated with Won in the
prosecution of this noted case ,"
John X. Walker, the prosecuting attor-
ney of Cooper county, Is with NE In the
case"
you are special counsel, employed to
represent the state, are YOU nOt?"
Il an" said Captain Bridges.
"Who repr, senls the defendant
"Cosgrove and Pendleton, and J. H.
Johnson"
About what size are they for ability"
They are good LAWYERS" said Captain
Bridges, land thoroughly competent To-
! look after the interests of the defendant,
weighty Us they are. Mr.. johnson is
young lawyer of great promise, and will
make his mark, n he sticks tO his books "
How long have YOU been up there at
Boonville ON this matter. Captain ,"
''Since Tuesday evening"
when did the examination COM
mcncc?"
ION "Wednesday morning
Il think | have forgotten the names of
the justices before whom the examination
is being held" said the reporter.
Justice J. W. Wright prcsides," said
Captain Bridges. squire Howard is AS
suciated with him."
well, tell me" pursued the slave
of the Faber. sis psblic opinion
as strong in Boonville as it is in Scdalia
against the prisoner?
The universal sentiment in Boonville
is strongly against the prisoner"
The people there are without exception
! condemnatory, them"
''Of c, nrse he has \ very few apologists,"
said Captain Bridges. Gle has no vindi-
Gators, however, and his apologists ex-
press their opinions s1tor &c. The general
tenor of their expressions is To the effect
that McDearmon made good marshal and
SD forth. i have not found one citizen, ii
We except his attorneys, who wishes to Of
fer any excuse or palliation Of the murder "
"Have you heard anything of this CEN
sure which has been expressed against
Mr.. Walker, the prosecuting attOr-
new. who is said to have inter
iered and admitted McDearmoa
the killing"
"No, l have not. That matter has been
fully explained to the satisfaction of every
one in Boonville. and elsewhere. McDear-
mon, Immediately after the killing OF
Thornton, reported to Mr.. Walker, stating
that Thornton had shot at him twice, and
he had thereupon killed him, and now wish
ed TO surrender. Mr.. Walker told him that
the sheriff was the proper party to whom
to surrender himself, and that, as prosecut-
ing attorney, he was not the proper person
to take him into custody. McDearmon
then asked Mr.. Walker to 60 with him to
the sheriff, which Mr.. Walker did.
McDearmon then told the same stoIy to
the sheriff about the killing-that Thorn
ton had fired at him twice and that he had
killed him for it. This story neither the
sheriff nor Mr.. Walker doubted at the
time, and, indeed, such was the general i'm
preston Of the people of BoOnYille. The
sheriff thereupOn admitted McDearmon to
bail in the sum of FIVE hundred dollars
When the sheriff learned that he had no
right to admit McDearnon to bail, he took
him before justice Wright, who, under the
same Misrepresentation OF the facts in the case
approved the bond taken by the sheriff
Having learned the true circumstances Of
the tragedy, Mr.. Walker, after ten o'clock
that same night, fled an information, be-
fore the justice, charging McDearmon with
murder in the first degree, and he was ear
ly arrested on Sunday morning. He was
committed to Jail, where he has been ever
since"
"What do you think of the prospect of
his vet being admitted to bail ?"
"The facts in the case show q clear case
of deliberate and premeditated killing.
Fortunately for the state, the presiding JUS
tice, Mr.. Wright, is a good lawyer; and
have no doubt that he will commit Nc
Dearmon to Jail, without bail, to await the
action of the grand jury"
"When do you expect to conclude the
examination, Captain"
Probably by noon of Wednesday
next"