Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-05-25

I
Mariah Fletcher, all bad; co uld not give
| them credit on oath.
Cross-examlned-Known Lucinda Hall
for or 10 years; don't know her character
don't know Lizzie Larkin; she lives in
miles of witness; knew Art. Larkin, far as
known was peaceable man; knew of his
having fuss or two; had one fuss with him.
Henry Cruze-Liye in the neighborhood
5 miles from where the killing was done;
know Susan Pruner, Mary Pruner and Ma
riah Fletcher, characters all bad; couldn't
| give either of them credit on oath in q court
of justice.
| Cross-examined Been taking q pretty
active part in this prosecution; got up a Pc
tition and circulated it. Had conversation
with Susan recently; told her sister to tell
her unless she could get pay for coming to
Knoxville as witness for the defense she
had better not come, or something to that
effect. Witness produced the petition drawn
| up by him, and it was put in evidence. 1t
| characterZes the killing cold
blooded, premeditated murder, and pro-
nounces George Larkin an assassin, &C.
1t contains about sixty-fve signers.
Witness raised some $40 or more, for the
purposes of the prosecution. Have good
deal of feeling in the matter; never said
to Harve Hamilton he had better not har-
|
more. Don't know whether Mary Pruner
lived with Art. Larkin or not. Witness
never advised joe Fawbush not to come to
the trial; never stopped officers and ad-
vlsed them it was not safe to go into Haw-
| kins County.
Re-examined-No prejudice in Hawkins
County against O. S. officers, as officers,
but the prejudice is on account of the kill
ing of Art. Larkin. His family are poor
and the petition was signed by neighbors.
No political or party prejudice. Expect to
contribute most of the money for the pros
ecution; do it out of sympathy for the
| widow.
Matt. Calhoun-Not acquainted with Su-
san Pruner, have never seen her, but she
has bad character in the neighborhood,
couldn't give her credit as witness Mary
Pruner the same acquainted with Mariah
Fletcher; bad character, couldn't give her
credit on oath.
VIM. Ellis-Magistrate and notary public
| in Hawkins County; live in the neighbor-
hood of where the killing was done; ac-
quainted with Susan Pruner and character,
which is bad, couldn't believe her on oath.
Don't know Mary Pruner's character; know
Mariah Fletcher and character; not very
good, would hate to believe her where she
was interested, but where she wasn't inter
ested would believe her as quick as any
body.
Gross s-examined-Have a good deal of
| feeling in the matter, to see justice done;
been taking an active part in making up
money for the prosecution. George Larkin
was indicted in the Circuit Court for carry
ing weapons being at the time an officer
Witness was a member of the grand jury,
think he was charged with trying to shoot
fo{
the indictment
John Green-Know Susan Pruner, ttary
Pruner, and Mariah Fletcher, characters
bad wouldn't believe either on oath.
Cross-examined by Col. Thornburgh-'T
there anybody else up there you would be-
Heve on oath?"
Witness.-''Yes."
Col. T.-''Stand aside"
Here the State again rested, and the de-
| fense called VIM. Monroe-Born and raised
in Hawkins County; knew Mariah Fletcher,
mother of the defendent all life; good ma
ny of her neighbors don't esteem her very
highly, and others do; it is rather mixed
| From her reputation for truth and veracity,
when on Uath don't know that could say
she is entitled to credit. Know the general
character of Lucinda Hall, it is also rather
mixed; don't think she is entitled to be be-
|
character of Lizzie Larkin.
Gross s-examined-Heard that Lucinda
Halls oath had been set aside in court a
good many years ago. Have heard persons
speak of her character before this case came
up; don't know that have heard auy more
since this case was up than before.
Robt. Cooper, called by the Stats-Know
Lucinda Hall and her character, consider it
good, and would believe her.
Cross ss-examined-Never heard of her hay-
ing been impeached at Rogersville; never
| heard of her parting men and their wives
until this case came up. Don't know wheth-
er she was ever married or not; know she
had two sons; don't know whether they
| were 1llegitimate or not.
Lloyd Ford-Know Lucinda Hall, her
character is pretty good; could believe her.
Here the court took recess till IL o'clock
to await the arrival of witnesses on the
| train.
After the assembling of the court Mr..
| Gillenwaters announced the failure of his
witnesses to arrive. Deputy Marshal a er-
riman reported that he found one of the
witnesses, Judge Ellis Cooke, in the coun-
| try, several miles from kogersville. He
started with the deputy before day
| to come to Knoxville, but was
left at Morristown, didn't know
how, but Cooke had had nothing to eat,
and spoke of stopping there to get some
thing He may have been left. He ap-
peared very willing to come.
Mr.. Gillenwaters, counsel for the State,
said Cooke was about the most important
witness, aud considering the fact that he had
got him as far as Morristown, the defend
ants home, he would ask the indulgence of
the court to wait till he could get him here,
and asked for an attachment AS to the other
witness, DIR. j. A. Goddard, deputy col
lector, he had learned that he was out on
duty, and would not ask delay on his ac-
count, but wanted Cooke. He expected to
prove by Cooke, he said, that he (Cocke)
had heard George Larkin say that he would
kill Art. if it took him ten years; and that
he was going to take out warrant for him
and go up to Hawkins County.
Judge Matthews said the State had an
nounced itself ready, and stoutly resisted a
motion for continuance, and while he would
gladly give all the latitude possible, yet the
case must go on without further delay.
GEO. t. LARKIN's TESTIMONY.
The defense then introduced, in closing
the evidence of the case, the defendant,
himself, Geo. T. Larkin, who was sworn
and deposed, in substance, as follows:
Appointed deputy marshal in 1869 or 10
unuer CapU. o. +. Evans, ana acted up I'LL
the time of the killing, and after, under
Evans and Reeves. Operated first in Haw-
kins, then in Jefferson, Hamblen, Cooke
and other counties. If there was any bust
ness in Hawkins County it was generally
given to witness. A warrant for the arrest
of Art. Larkin from S. B. Noe, commission
er on, an affidavit sworn out by DR.. j. A.
Goddard came into the witness hands
April 4, 1881, with some others; short time
after that had instructions from Capt.
Evans not to serve any process issued after
| March 10, until further instructions. Witness
was reappointed deputy under the new
marshal, Col. Reeves, June 1st or End, be-
fore the killing. Attempted to get James
, Bellamy to go to assist in the arrest of Art
Larkin but failed; also sent for John Rogan,
but he did not come. First heard rumors
of tbraafs bv Art AGAINST vi+nacs then