The Indianapolis journal., 1883-05-14
THE THOMPSON TRAGEDY.
Sensation at Harrodsbu urg Caused by
Miss Buckner's Appearance.
Two Murderers Reported to Have Been
Lynched-Mr. Works Defense-Jere
Dunns Trial-Otber Crimes.
THE THOMPSON TRIAL.
Miss Buclner on the stahd-A Cool and
Steady Witness.


HARRoDsBtRe, KY, May 12.-From early
morn till late at night the court and lawyers
and jury continue to grind away at the
Thompson trial, trying to untangle the
thread which must reveal the baseness of
Walter Daviss treatment of Mrs. Thompson,
or the awful act of Little Phil. in taking the
life of the man who was not guilty of the
henous crime. This much is certain-the
witnesses from Cincinnati have estab-
lished the presence Of Walter Davis in
the St. Clair Hotel in that
city. They all testified substantially
the same to the dsagreeable truth that the
deceased was with the Congr essmans wife,
that she was very drunk, and that she en-
tered and remained for some time in Walter
Davis's room, but the justification OF Phil.
Thompson, the prosecution claims, rests
npon the testimony of Jessie Buck
ner, from whom he obtained the informa-
ton upon which he deliberately
shot the man whom he believed debauched
his wife. Jessie Buckner is then, according
to the statements of the defense and the
claims of the Commonwealth the person
whose revelations caused Davis's death. John
confirmed what she said. This interesting
young lady vas placed upon the stand this
morning. 1t was past IL o'clock when She
the leading figure in the great trial, was es-
corted into the courtroom By Hon. ]. @. s.
Blackburn. The throng opened passageway
for them and she took her seat in the wit
ness chair. She was attired in plaid suit
with large black hat on her head She had
on pair Of long walking-gloves and held in
her hand small black sachel. She wore no
ornaments except pair of gold earrings
and at her throat was a plain black bow. The
crowd wanted to see and hear her. and every
eye in that packed courtroom was riveted
upon the woman who played so promiuenta
role in the lamentable tragedy. Shc is tall,
handsome brunette of magnificent figure.
Hereyes, large, brown and sparkling, bespeak
shrewdness and her general appearance gives
one the idea that she is cold and calculating
in everything she does. The weak point in
Miss Buckner's features is her nose, which is
too much retrousse; but she is altogether n
remarkable-looking woman, who would at
tract second glance from the most indifTer-
ent. The appearance of the lady caused q
flutter of excitement in the courthouse, and
the crowd soon became perfectly quiet in
order to catch every word. Farmers, law
yers, merchants, every one in Harrodsburg
and vicinity, of the masculine gender, who
could get to the door Of the temple of jus
tice, was there
Cne Cdtile III JuSb dlbcT court uSSeiiDltu dJ
1870, looking the same as in the morning. She
seemed to have assumed saucy, piquant air,
an view of the fact that the commonwealth
were about TO subject her to lively cross
examination: This duty was delegated to
Senator B. s. Robbins of Oldham county
The young woman was escorted to the wit
ness seat by Mr.. John Thompson, and the
cross examination was commenced. During
the entire afternoon the cold, defiant look
never left the countenance of the handsome
woman, but at times she became piqued and
disturbed.
The witness was rendered very angry by
some of the questions of Mr. Robbins. A
nice little row occurred over the contents of
letter which Miss Buckner had written to
Mrs. THOMPSON, in which she threatened to
punish her for passing through Cincinnati
from Washn gton without stopping to see
her. A direct threat was proved to have
been made against Mrs. Thompson, and the
prosecution made the best pont in Miss
Bnckner's examination when they showed
che animus of Miss Buckner toward the un-
fortunate wife,
The case now began to be very interesting,
and the young woman's testimony wasn't so
high in the estimation of those in the court
room. She was asked the question: "Is this
the first time You have been instrumental,
directly or indirectly, in breaking up Others
domestic relatons?" The defense protested
against the relevancy of the question, and
petent,
Miss Buckner had testified perhaps twenty
miutes when profound sensation was pro-
duced in the courtroom. Three ladies
shrouded in deep black crepe wells made their
appearance and stood at the entrance of the
bar. The first lady was the wife of Walter
Davis, and she was weeping bitterly. The sec
ond lady was the sister of Mr.. Davis; the
third lady was Mrs. Governor Robin tson, the
mother OF Mrs. Davis. 1t was dramatic
scene. The testimony ceased, and the attor-
neys rose to their feet. The officers of the
court grouped around the ladies. After paus-
ing some seconds the ladies were escorted to
seats inside the bar. No one knew what
would transpire. 1t was the first time the
ladies had made their appearance Miss
Buckner preserved her self-posession, and,
when the ladies were seated, resumed her tes-
tmony.
Phil Thompson begins to look careworn
and tired. The strain is evidently telling upon
him. Mrs Walter Davis. his victims mother
and sister. who entered the courtroom this
morning under such dramatic circumstances,
did not make their appearance this after
noon. 1t was an affecting scene, and has been
the talk of the town this evening. The wonder
full self-possession of Jessie Buckner was never
more thoroughly tested than when she sat
there giving her statements of the facts
which she had revealed to Phil. Thompson,
and which caused him to rob the sobbing
woman in black of her beloved husband
The uachartable declare that the arrival of
the three nearest and dearest relatives of the
deceased at the particular time was inten-
tional, and not accidental.