The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-22

d., and that he saw John G. MONTGOMERY and
Lee Pettus at the house of Mrs. Pettus during
.he afternoon, and within the hours the outrage
is alleged to have been perpetrated.
The first witness, this morning, was Lee Pet
tus. He went over about the same ground as
Clement. stating that he was at home all day;
was in the wagon with Clement part Of
the afternoons; John Q. Montgomery was
at the house for dinner and supper; he was
no nearer the schoOl-house that day than his
mothers house; he had nothing to do, directly
or indirectly, with the outrage. He nrst saw
Miss Bond that day when she came to his moth
ers house at night and told them she had been
outraged by two tramps who wore dark clothes
and white shirts. The witness then described
how they took Miss Bond home, her statement
to her father, and how he, with Clement and
his mother, on the way home passed several
neigEbors and told them about the matter.
After reaching the house they went to the
sehool-house, where quite a crowd had assem-
bled. He told what the crowd did, and SAID
Swick and Henein told him that CLEMENT aud
Montgomery had confessed. and that II ne
lPettusl knew anything he had better confess
also. He told him he ala not know anything.
He positively denied the truth OF the convict
Meyers's testimony.
The witness was cross-examined for an hour,
but the direct testimony was not broken.
Mrs. John c. Montgomery the next wit
ness. She testified that on the day of the out
rage she took dinner and supper with the Pettus
family, and stated where her husband, Clement
and Lee Pettus were on that day and evening,
corrOboratlng the testim ony of Clement and
Pettus.
Mrs Montgomery continued her testimony at
the afternoon session. She was very closely
cross-examined regarding the whereabouts OF
Clement and Pettus on the afternoon OF the
outrage and as TO Miss Bonds visit to the
house, but her evidence was so closely Identical
with that of the other defendants that the pros
ecution failed to make any points off her.
Misses Ona PettuB and Minnie Pettus, sisters
of Lee Pettus, were examined at length as TO the
whe reabouts of Lee Pettus and Clement on the
day OF the outrage. Their testimony was similar
to that of Mrs Montgomery. Both stated that
their brother and Clement were at home all
afternoon and evening, and described wnat
they did during the Yarious hours of the day.
The court then adjourned till nextWednesday
So far the defense has produced some strong
evidence in favor of an alib but the prosecu-
ton claim they have witness who will over
throw it.
CHANGE OF SENTIMENT.
Miss Bonds positive identification of John G.
Montgomery furnished all the incentive to q
lynching that could have been desired, yet no
offered to take advantage of it. AS the trial
progressed 1t seemed to Oe settled conviction
in the public mind that all three of the defend
ants were guilty The State made what was con-
sidered strong case against them, and up to
last night the defense had not introduced any
evidence tending to weaken the States position
Yet there was a change in sentiment in favor of
the defendants, even in the face of the admitted
strong case of the State. This conclusion, Of
course, is reached only from the general CONVEX
sation overheard the streets and in the stores
ana hotels. AT half a dozen points your CORE
over in Christian county believes the boys are
1Dss0eent"
THAT 'ar Detective Page is at the bottom of
the hull trouble" was remarked by a Christian
county farmer From inquiry aud observation
your correspondent learned that a compare
lively new idea had taken possession of the ru-
raj mind, or rather an old idea had been resur-
rected
"Ef tibet ar man Page had KEEP away, them
boys wouldn't hev bin whar they are" re-
marked a farmer last night, who had heretofore
been declaring his complete belief in the guilt
of the defendants. GAN he card fur was ter
make money outen Their case, an 1t didn't
make no difference ter him eff twenty men was
hung
It's a singular fact that Notwithstanding that
the evidence now standing against The accused
Is stronger than it ever before, this sort of
talk may be heard among those who have been
persstently eamoring for the blood of Mont
gomery, Clement and Pettus. The idea has
been promulgated that Detective Page is to
blame for the whole trouble that followed the
outrage upon Miss Bond, and hence the guilt or
innocence of the defendants is lost sight OF for
the moment As soon as this idea has become a
little worn it will be thrown aside for another,
and what that will be it will be impossible TO
surmise.