The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-24
THE BOND TRIAL.
Rumnr that the Defendants Are Meditating
FIight-The Evidence To Be Intro
duced in RebuttaI.

HILLsBoRo Ill, Dec. 22.-The jurors in
the Emma Bond trial are probably the only
parties interested who will not be grateful
for the rest afforded by the adjournment of
court until next Wednesday. Two night
sessions and steady work during the days of
the week just closed have been a strong
strain on everybody connected with the trial.
As would naturally be expected it has
been rumored to-day that Montgomery and
Pettus are going to leave the country before
Christmas, and that Clement will escape by
a different route from here, but there is very
little reason to believe that there is any sort
of foundation for the rumor. They, as we'll
as their relatives and friends, believe that
they will have no trouble in proving an I'M
questionable alibi, and that an attempt to
evade any of the consequences of the trial
now would be suicidal. Montgomery was
seen early this morning at the railway depot,
and in response to interrogations as to the
destination OF himself and Pettus, he replied
81 don't know where Lee is going; Pm going
to Boston,"
what are you going to Boston for?' was
asked.
ooh! 1 amt going to Boston," he replied
with a sckly attempt to smile. I'm going
to New York"
1t was these remarks, probably, that caused
the circulation of the reports of the intended
fight of the defendants. When he went
over into Christian county last week he made
evasive answers as to his destination both at
the depot here and in Taylorville and it was
this fact more than anything else, that led
to his being Swallowed from the time he left
here until he returned, as well as TO the
spreading of a rumor that he had skipped
the country" or intended to do so. 1t is con-
sidered next to impossible for either of the
defendants to escape, as the people OF both
Montgomery and Christian counties are de-
termined, apparently, to ascertain the bot
tom facts of this most atrocious crime, and
that the accused shall remain at the trial I'M
til a hung jury or verdict of some kind is
reached. 1t is said that they are kept con-
stantly under surveillance, and that every
move they make is known to the prosecu-
ton.
The same train that conveyed Pettus, John
G. Montgomery and old man Montgomery to
Litchfield this morning, where they took the
cars for TayIorville, also carried Miss Bond,
her father and her step-mother. They were
in the rear car, while Pettus and the Mont
gomerys took seats in the smoker. Their
former experience in riding in the same car
with Miss Bond and her father probably de-
tered them from exposing themselves again
to the latter's wrath. Miss Bond was not as
well as usual, and soon after entering the car
had an attack of nausea and fainting, owing,
it was said, to the fact that she was startled
at seeing John c. Montgomery at the depot.
On the streets there is very little said Of
the evidence of Clemeuti, Pettus, and tine
latter's sisters, and Mrs. John C. Montgomery,
tending to prove an alibi Tor the first two
named. The statements of these witnesses
are positive that CLEMENT was in the old wa
gon in Mrs. Pettus's yard between the hours
of 2 and p NJ. ON the day the outrage was
committed, and that Lee Pettus was not out
side tine yard during that time There are
several other witnesses who Will swear to the
same thing. The prosecution, however,
claims that it has one witness who will swear
that on that afternoon he went to Mrs Pettus's
house to engage Clement to do some work
for him on the following day; that he went
to the house shortly after o'clock, and was
told that Clement was lying in the wagon;
that he went to the wagon and found it
empty; that he looked about the yard to see
if Clement was anywhere else on the prem
ises and that neither he nor Lee PettuS was
to be seen. 1t is also claimed that there are
three other witnesses who will swear that
they looked into the wagon at different times
between and 6 o'clock p NJ. and saw neither
Clement nor Pettus there. One of these is
the mail-carrier Thomas Mcneil, who passed
the Pettus place about o'clock on the after
noon of the Goth, and saw the wagon stand
ing under the cherry trees empty. Accord
ing to the testimony Miss Bond was out
ragged between clock and sunset.
From remarks dropped here and there it
appears that the testimony to establish an
abb thus far is far from convincing to the
general public None of the attorneys have
anything to say beyond what has been al
ready given. The defense will endeavor first
to prove an abb for Clement and Pettus,
and will then turn their attention to John c.
Montgomery. Miss Bonds positive identifi-
cation of Montgomery does not stagger Judge
Thornton and his associates in the least.
They expect to show beyond the shadow of
doubt that on the afternoon of the day in
question he left the Pettus house before 2