The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-09-06

GALLATIN, MO-, Aug. 30.
A few minutes after eight o'clock this MORN
ing Mr.. Rush commenced the opening state
ment for the defense. The chief point, he
claimed, would be that Frank james was not
at Winston. 1t would be contended that the
testimony of an accOmplice was insufficient
to convict unless corroborated as TO the main
facts. The character of Mrs. Bolton and Lid
dell, as wen as other principal witnesses for
the State, would be shown to be such as to
render them unworthy Of belief
There would be testimony to contradict that
of such men as Jonas Potts and Ezra Soule,
and a witness would be produced who was
on the train that was robbed. The latter
would swear that Frank James was not i'm the
car. It should be shown, too, that there was
a conspiracy to prosecute the defendant with
Liddell as the chief plotter, and the Fords
and Bottoms as co-eonspiTators.
The officers of the law from Kansas City
were in this trial actuated by revenge, as they
failed to get the reward OF 1000 which would
have gone to them if the accused had surren-
dered at Kansas City.
As to the man the States witnesses saw at
different places, it. would be urged that this
was man who was like Frank James, but
who, in fact, was somebody else. The case
was one of mistaken identity, and it would be
proven where Frank James really was. me
defendants counsel had been unable to tol-
low the maze Of LiddeIs testimony, because
their client could not assist them, he being
Just as ignorant of the details Of the Winston
robbery as they were.
The first witness called was Sam T. Brosius,
who was on the train at the time Of the Win
stOn robbery. He testified to seeing the con-
ductor shot and to the appearance of the rob
bers who entered the car where ne was, whom
he described as having full boards. He was
certain the defendant was not one OF them
Fletcher W. Horn, a Nashville detective,
knew B. j. WOOdson In Nashville first IN 1877;
saw him as often as once a week; he always
acted as a gentleman and kept good company;
gaw him last in March, 1881; he wore sandy
Whiskers. short on the sides and long the
chin; had seen Dick Liddell occasionally, but
never saw him and defendant together; knew
Jesse James as J. b. Howard; never knew
Woodson and Howard were the James broth
ers; thought he knew Jim Cummings, but did
not know the Hites.
Raymond B. Sloan, attorney Of Nash
vile, knew defendant as y. J. Woodson in
Nashville first in the winter of 1876 II; he was
living in the old Felix Smith house: last saw
him March 26 1891; be had light sandy whls-
kers ali over his face; was engaged as defend
ants attorney August 8.
Mrs Elizabeth Montgomery, who resides q
mile and a half east of Winston, testified that
some strange men ate at her house the even
ing of the Winston robbery; the clock struck
seven before they finished; the younger man
was the taller and light-cOmpleXioned, with
Burnside whiskers and mustache; one of their
horses was bay, the other a shade lighter.
thought defendant was not one OF them, but
not positive.
Miss 81 Montgomery. daughter Of the pre-
ceding witness, corrOoOrated her mothers
statement; did not think defendant was one
of the men, but wouldn't say positivelys nei-
ther Of them had large, biaze-faeed, sorrel
horse.
John L. Dean testified to a conversation with
Jonas Potts, the blacksmith in which the lat
ter told him he had been TO sec Frank James.
and that he had never seen him before; o.
another occasion two men had drove up 70 hid
shop whom he said he recognized as the men
he had shod horses for before the robbery.
Marion Duncan testified 70 a conversation
with Potts In the winter Of lssZ- 50, when he
said he had seen Jesse James picture at
Winston. and he had EhOd horse for him;
Potts was pretty boozy at the time.
Gus. A. Chapman testified that Potts told
him after visiting Gaiiatih jail that he did not