Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-12
Graphic Eventin a harder Trial.

CHILLI coTHE, O., December 1.-THE most
graphic event that has occurred in the Gid
dipgs murder trial was the testimony of
the prisoner as given Saturday forenoon,
it being the sixth day in the case. The
prisoner gave the history of his life up
10 the time when his wife eloped with Wilt
shire; her pafafnoiir. Tor whose murder he ia
now on trial. he testified that he had no
suspicion of his wife's infdelity until June
last, and that just previous TO the elopement
his wife represented that she WAS about to
visit relatives in the North, and that he sup
piled her With money for the journey. He
afterward learned that she was living with
Wiltshire at Washington Courthouse, and
came here about the 10th of July TO file his
petition for divorce. His wife promised
repent ance and showed the deepest cotltritiof,
SO he decided Tor the sake of his children to
take her back, and move away TO the West,
where the sh anne would be forgotten. With
this intention he came to Chillicothe, on Au-
gust 5;h, arranged with Mr.. Lindley, real
estate agent here, 10 sell his little farm, be-
tween this and Wayerly, and accidentally
met Wiltshire in 2 saloon. The latter spoke
frat, the injured man responded in
friendly ua=; and the two shook
hands and drank together. They went
to another saloon, at Wiltshire's suggestion,
and took another drink, aud then started in
the direction oil. Massleyillei where Both
lived. eiddings IN his testimony said that
the detour to The banks Of Paint Creek
where the homicids occurred, wss made at
Wiltshire's suggestion. Before this it should
have been stated-snd The matter went into
testimony over the Objections OF The attor-
neys prosecuting the case-that Giddings's
wife, when she returned, had told her hus-
band that Wiltshire had made threats of
killing him. The prisoner, in relating, the
story Of the Homicide, said that when Wilt
shire got to little pile of driftwood he sat
down on log and exclaimed, "Now, by
God, what do you want 10 tell me% Gid
dings, in his testimony, said he told Wilt
shre that Mary had come back; that she
had repented of her conduct, and asked him
Tor the sake OF himself and FOR the sake Of
his children not 10 have any further inter-
course with her. Wiltshire replied: "You
be,d-d; L have as much right TO your wife
as you have. i have come down here to
take her away. l will shoot you but what
will get her away"
There was q breathless atillness in the
crowded court IS Giddings continued with
ilIs story. He arose and showed the Jury, by
pantomime, how Wiltshire reached back az
IL 10 draw a weapon. "Just at that time,
suppose" said Giddings, "the shooting &C.
CURED. l wss very much scared and excited,
and don't know if ! shot once or a dozen
times- Ny recollecions OF what followed are
very lin. The first l remember 1 was half
way Up TO the bridge, with a revolver in my
hand, and the next two or three days spent
in hiiipg IN the woods" The prosecution,
at ssysrai stages, Obj scted strenuously to al
loving evidence TO 20 before the Jury in
which Wiltshire, the deceased, was discussed
by the GiddiDgs family, but they were over
ruled, and claim that Judge Minshall in this,
has departed from all known rifles and pre-.
csdents.
Another important piece of evidence de-
velopsd was letter written by Giddings
10 his brother in the freight depart
ment OF the Bee-Line at Cleveland, two
weeks bebre the homicide and Just after he
filed the petition for divorce, in which he
says that ie had been depressed, discour-
aged aud maddened almost to desperate IN.
and if It had not been for the love he bore
his mother aud his children he would have
doue somehihg desperate.
The triaiwss adjourned this afternoon,
owing to tha sickness of juror. The trial |
will consume the greater part if not all of |
he coming week.