Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-09-06
ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE.
The Celebrated Bandit Chief,
Frank James, on the Stand.
Further Testimony Adduced at the
Noted Trial at Gallatin.. ten. 4
1915 Jo. Shelby Testlaes.


Samuel I. Brasias, called for the
defense, said he remembered the
Winston robbery. 1t took place. 10
July, 1881. 81 was on the tt ain when
it was robbed, and in the smoking-car.
Shortly after leaving Winston, two
men entered and calling out, hold
up commenced firings i saw they
had shot the Conductor. I looked at
one Of the men, the smaller of the
two, to see if he perceived that l had
my hands up. The smaller man was
a full-faced, full-whiskered man"
The witness said he was not too badly
frightened to distinguish men, and he
was absolutely certain that the de-
fendant was not one of the three men
he saw in the car.
Fletcher Horn, a Nashville detec-
tive, was next called. Il knew the
defendant at Nashville as B. I. Wood
son. from midsummer Of 1877 to
March, 1881. He was farming and
working for the Indiana Lumber Co.
Saw him last about the time Bill r yam
was arrested-26th Of March. He
wore full whiskers, short and thin on
the sides, and six inches long on the
chin. His whiskers were sandy. His
department was good. His associates
were the best residents of Whites
Creek. / have seen Dick Liddel at
Nashville, as Smith, about 1879 or
1880. Never saw Dick with Wood
son except in Fosters saloon. Saw
him after he was tried at Huntsville
and was introduced to him as Dick
Liddel. l knew Jesse James aszJ.
d. Howard. First met him three
years ago at sale of blooded stock.
l never knew Jim Cummings; don't
know the Hites. I was subpGned by
the State and had transportation
furnished. Cross-examined:s s"I
went to see Mrs. Hite with Mr.. Sloan
and sat by while he questioned her.
I wrote letter for Mr.. r. B. Sloan
and asked for passes for R. B. Sloan,
Mrs. Hlte, W. W. Moffatt and N.Y.
self, as witnesses for the Defense" !"
On re-examination, witness said he
was under recognizance to appear
here, and wrote for passes to Mr..
Furlong.
R. B. Sloan, of Tenn, was next
witness. He was an attorney at law
at Nashville; knew defendant as
Woodson; never had personal ac-
quaintance with him; saw him last,
26th March, 1881; he wore false
whiskers and never shaved, they were
sandy, of light growth on the sides,
and thicker and longer at the chin.
On cross-examination, witness admit
ted he had said to Mr., Wallace In
Nashville, the last time he saw Frank
was on horseback shaking hands with
a man, to whom he said, "You may
never see me again. confessed also
that he had been summoned as a
States witness. On re-examination,
witness said he met Mr.. Wallace 18th
or 18th of August at the Maxwell
house. s-.5+
Mrs. Eliza Montgomery: 81 live
about half mile from Winston and
remember the robbery. Two men
took supper at our house that even
ing. The youngest was tall and slen-
der, with thin, light burnsldes and no
whiskers on the chin. The oldest had
dark whiskers and dark complexion,
and was heavily built. The horses
they rode were bay, and they had
something hid behind their saddles. I
think this defendant was not one of
the men. l waited on the table, and
my best impression is, he was not
there" Cross-examined: "The stout
man had darkish whiskers and high
upon his face. I don't know whether
it was Jesse James or not. l was
subpened by the State.' ~
Miss M. Montgomery, daughter Of
above witness: 81 saw both the men
that ate at our house, and I don't
think the defendant here was one Of
them" fs- .s.- fs.. 5E4st -
John L. Dean, farmer, testified that
while talking with Jonas Potts con-
cerning Frank James, two men drove
up in a covered wagon, and seeing
them coming Potts went out to them
hurriedly. They wanted something
done to the neck yoke, Potts came
back excited, and asked if they were
gone. I told him they were, and
asked him why he acted SO. He said
they were the two men for whom he
shod the horse ON the day before the
Winston robbery. One was a low
man, dark completed and heavy set,
and the other was little larger, with
very little beard on his face. After
the surrender of Frank James l was
at Potts shop, who day or two be-
fore had returned from Independence,
and asked him If he had seen Frank
James, and he said he had. / then
asked him if he had ever seen him be-
fore, and he replied he had not.
Cross s-examined: sam very certain
Potts was not intoxicated when / con-
versed with him. aa.t .sz -. !.
Marion Duncan, a farmer: Have
known Jonas Potts for five or six
years. 1 remember hearing OF the
killing of Jesse James, and talked
TT Az Do<ta ahonf IL eornofiyno