Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-05-24
THE LARKIN MURDER CASE.
Progress of the Hearing Before Hon.
Stanley Matthews.

Stanley Matthews.
Most OF the Evidence Heard Yesterday
Adjourned to 9 a. m. To-day.
Upon the assembling of the special term
of Ithe United States Circuit Court, at 9
o'clock yesterday morning, Judges Stanley
Matthews and D. M. Key presiding, the case
of the State of Tennessee vs.. George T.
Larkin, charged with murder, was taken
up, the jury having been drawn and en-
paneled Monday.
A motion for a continuance, on account
of the absence of material witnesses, was
made by the defense, but overruled.
VIM H. Edwards, of Anderson County,
was excused as juror, upon his own re-
quest, and James DeArnond, of Knoxville,
substituted in his stead. The jury was
then sworn and is now constituted as fol-
lows: A. G. French, G. FL. Upton, P. +.
Skaggs. James DeArmond, ID. NJ. Caldwell,
J. H. Donaldson, James Matthews, G. w.
Harms, T. R. Lee, L. Hodge, Alex. Ham,
montree, VIM. Patton
The witnesses for the defense and the
State were called, sworn and sent under the
rule, and the case proceeded, w. P. Gillen-
waters representing the State and Messrs.
Thornburgh and Andrews the defense,
Col. J. M. Thornburgh conducting the ex-
animation for that side.
The first witness for the State was VIM.
81. Larkin, who testified:
Am acquainted with the defendant, Geo.
Larkin, was also with Arthur Larkin, de-
ceased. Was present at the time Arthur
was killed-within five or six steps-plow-
ing and hoeing corn. George first came on
his horse in the road. His horse seemed
like it was drinking; he went on and came
hack, when be got TO the fence he stopped.
Arthur stopped his horse and witness,
horse stopped. George came up
and spoke-both spoke. George re-
marked that it was mighty cloddy
place; said something about the corn being
a bad stand, &c. George remarked that
they were bothering him (Art. nightly
about the liquor business. Arthur said yes,
they had taken him to Rogersville, and he got
clear with costs. George said it appeared he
would have to go to Knoxville. Arthur
asked George who indicted him; George
said George Cooper. Arthur asked when
court sits and who would have to pay his ex-
penses to Knoxville. George told him if he
was arrested and taken, he would have his
expenses paid but if he gave bond and came
he would have to pay his own expenses.
Something was said about getting a man to
come in his place, and Arthur said he would
come to Rogersville and give bond. George
said the marshal couldn't take bond. Arthur
turned to his plow, and said he couldn't
leave his corn. George drew his pistol and
said, "Now, you march" George, after
the second or third word, fired, Arthur GO
ing from him. He hit Arthur in the breast,
and shot again. Arthur, after he was shot,
turned and stepped four or Ave steps before
he fell, sinking all the time Witness and
deceased were plowing four corn rows
apart. George passed by out
of sight; they plowed another round and
was sitting on the fence, eight or ten steps
pocket at the time, but had nothing in his
hand. Didn't see the knife taken from his
hand or pocket; knew the knife; saw it
after the killing. The killing was done in
Hawkins County, the 18th day of last June.
Lucinda Hall and Art. 's..three children,
frankie, Tom and Mollie, ,swere in the field
at the time-about 10 steps of-hoeing
corn. Don't know who came to Larkin
first; as soon as the shooting was done
witness struck for home. Aftersthe shot,
Arts children came towards him, but
George presented his pistol at them and
told them to stand back. He then turned
and broke and ran till he got to his horse,
then left in gallop. Frances Larkin was
Is, the others 10 and years old.
Cross -examined-Was living with Art
Larkin-cropping with him. Art. was wit
ness uncle. Was examined at the coroner's
inquest and again on the application for
bail, and evidence was written down. Was
looking at Art. when shot; didn't swear that
couldn't see Art; swore could see him from
the waist up; couldn't see his hands. He
had the line on his right hand, looped
around the thumb; he pushed it off; after
that, when the shooting was d7ne, couldn
see Arts hands. George said Art would
have to go before Netherland, commissioner
at Rogersville; told Art he couldn't take
bond. Don't remember whether or not de-
ceased asked what would be the size of the
bond; believe George did say it would be
$500 or ST., ,000; didn't hear the deceased say
he wouldn't give bond; he didn't say but
said it the pistol was drawn. Art was stand
ing then right at the plow handles; George
standing behind the horse, to the
side of deceased When George
got down from his horse is where witness
first saw him. The road runs around the
field Witness was on the left or north side
of deceased; George came up from the
south side. Deceased lay, after he fell,
right smart while before he was removed.
Witness turned him over and then went
home. When he came back Art. had been
removed to the shade. The reason witness
couldn't see only from waist up, all were in
a row, witness on higher ground. Arts
horse and plow stood, never moved. The
plows remained until all went back to plow
again. Arthur and George had converse
ton Is or 20 minutes, maybe 10 minutes,
before the shooting. Saw the knife-buck
horn handle, IXL, ordinary size two blades,
the little one broke. Don't remember who
had it when came back-maybe Art. IS wife.
All Arthur said in refusing to go was that
he couldn't leave his corn. Can't re-
member what was said about the bond.
There might have been some words passed,
didn't hear. Don't know whether Arthur
knew that George had warrant; heard Ar
thur say he had heard that he was indicted
and he mad heard George was coming to ar
rest him. Never heard him say whether
he was going with him or not. Didn't hear
him say if George came to arrest him he
would never rrrest any one else; never heard
Art. say he would kill George. Never saw
Art. with pistol on Sunday. There wasn't
pistol about the house. that spring.
The witness was asked by Col. Thorn
burgh, s'Didn't you, in the presence of Ma
ry Prunner, see Art. with a pistol in his
hand, say he was looking for white-eyed
s. of b-h, whereupon ske asked who it
was and you told her it was George Larkin?"
The witness replied, that was years ago
this summer, and wasn't within one year Of
the killing He detailed the circumstances.
Gne Sunday he was rubbing up his pistol at
his home; he heard nothing said about
George. Art didn't have pistol for year
before the killing. The witness was at
Mary Primers week or SO after the
killing; had conversation. Didn't
| cav "a rthur showed Ge0r0a d-y, u,1iok ha