Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-08-30
TRIAL OF FRANK JAMES.
The Mcmillan Murder-Diek Liddel
Gives the James Gang Away.

The trial of Frank James for sthe
murder of stonemason Mcmillan, at
Winston, NO., on the 18th Of July,
1881, began in Gallatin, Mo-, on Fri
day last. Mr.. Wallace opened by
giving the detail of the attack made
at that time upon passenger tram
of the Rock Island railroad, and
charged that Frank James, Jesse
James and Wood Hite went through
the cars while Dick Liddel and Clar-
ence Hite looked after the engineer.
The first witness introduced was
John L. Penn, who was present when
Mcmillan was killed, and swore that
he was shot in the head and slain
while looking through the cars for his
father. Upon being cross-examined
by Ex-Gov. johnson, witness de.
scribed the appearance and dresses of
the three men that entered the cars
and fired; but admitted that he could
not identify the robbers or tell which
did the shooting The next witness
was Adds E. Walcot, engineer Of
the train, who, when the bell rang to
stop the cars, was ordered to go
ahead by two men, who jumped off
the coal in the tender into the cab
with drawn revolvers. Witness could
give no description Of these men.
Upon cross-examinatiou he stated
they fired several shots at him as he
went through the window in front of
the engine. One Of them followed
him as far as the sand box. The
men on the engine were limo position
to see or know what was going on in
the coaches.
Frank Stamper, baggage man, tes-
tilted that he was pulled out of the
express car by a man with revolver.
Charles N. Murray, U. S. Express
Agent, swore that after Stamper was
pulled out he hid behind some trunks.
After the train stopped man came
and compelled him to unlock the
safe He could not say whether he
gave the man the money or it was ta-
ken by him. The man threatened to
kill him and struck him with some
thing heavy. He could not state
what amount of money was taken,
There was another man in the car be.
sides the one who did the talking.
On cross-examination witness stated
he had no recollection of what was
written on the stolen packages, OF
what they contained.
Drs. Claggett and Brooks had ex'
amined Mcmillan body and testified
that he was shot, the one a little
above the right and the other a little
over the left eye.
w. L. Ea thman Of Nashville
Tenn, testified that he knew Franz
James by the name of Woodson W
to the fall of 1880. Witness was Al
last trial and was recognized. by
Frank who asked him If he had come
to help hang him. Witness also knew
a man who went by the name Of Ton
Hill. At this point Ex-Gov. johnson
objected, but witness was permitted
to proceed and this was looked upor
as the first knock down for the State
He had arrested Hill on March 25th,
1881, at 9 p. m, with belt and pistols
on and $500 in money in his posses
sion. He locked Ryan alias Hill il
the Nashville jail. Witness never
saw Dick Lidael to know him unit
the trial. -
Mrs. Sarah Hite said she first saw
Frank James on March 27, 1881,
when he came early in the morning
to her husbands house near Nash.
vile, Tenn, in company with Jesse
and Dick Liddel. They were armed
and did not say where they came
from. They stayed day or two,
Clarence, Wood and George Hite
were there. On the 26th of Apri
they returned and left the next day.
Some men who were pursuing them
came close to the house and the men
seemed excited. Dick Lidden got a,
the front door, Jesse at the window
and Frank in the parlor. All had
guns. The party did not stop.
Frank went away the next day. Dur.
ing the summer of 1881 Clarence
Hite was in Missouri. He and Wood
left home in May and she did not see
Clarence again until November. Mr..
Hite's first wife was Frank James
aunt.
Silas Norris, father Of Mrs. Hite,
swore he first made the acquaintance
Of Jesse James at Mr.. Hite's house
IN March 1881, and he introduced
Frank as his brother; Dick Liddel
was with them.
Nicholas Bishop and G. B. BARLEY
testified that a box addressed J. I.
Ford came to Lexington on the 18th
of May, 1881, and weighing 14O
pounds. 1t was forwarded to Rich
mond on May 18th. On cross-exam-
ination, Bishop said he never knew
Frank James or that he had anything
to do with the box.
Dick Liddel was next permitted to
testify after great effort upon the
part of the defence on Saturday
morning to exclude his evidence, be-
cause he had been in the penitentia-
ry and was pardoned under the three
forrfhe rpfa n;oI .,,a.o <ho.a -,