The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-05-16
HARRODSBURG TRAGEDY
Testimony Regarding the Killing Of
Davis.
/ Opening Statement OF the Defense-Inci-
dents of the Trial May 10.


rodsburg, was the first witness called by the
Commonwealth. In answer TO Mr.. Schuk's
interrogations, Mr.. Smith testified in sub
stance as follows:
Invent down to the depot on the morning Of
\ the killing on my way TO Lexington to bring some
horses over; saw Mr.. Thompson, Mr. Chinn and
Mr.. Elmore; they were standing In the depot in
the usual place for departing passengers. We all
took our seats In the car when IL started for the
junction. and Mr.. Thompson kept his seat all me
we got to the junction with the Southern Road
While / was waiting for the Cincinnati
so1tesrn tisln AZ tne Juncuon' ana walking up
door Of the baggage car of the branch road. This
was the first time had seen him. He spoke to
me and asked where was going. L said to Lex
ington. He said he was goiog TO the same place.
The train then came up; went into the smoking
Car. Mr. Thompson and Mr. Chinn were stand
ing up, talking. went on several feet beyond
them, when Davis came in with his satchel and
coat on his left arm. He held out his right hand
10 Mr.. Thompson. Mr.. Thompson said Have
you the impudenoe to speak to me, you d
s. of D., after running my wife and family 2"
and reaching for his his, Teyolyer- Davis threw his
pistol or the door-knob Mr.. Thompson drew
his pistol as he spoke, and as Davis slammed the
door. Davis sort o. lodged; Mr.. Thompson fired,
and saw Davis no more until the train was
stopped, and we found him OIL the ground, dead.
He was shot in the rear of the right ear. There
iber self-cocker, in Davis pocket. partially out
the pistol in as best could. When we laid him
down the pistol fell out of his pocket; saw Gag
triges in the chambers of the pistol.
Mr.. Smith was cross examined by Mr.. Bell fer
the defense, but nothing OF further Importance
was developed Mr. Smith testified in q stra ght
forward manner.
Pat. Nesler, the newsboy on the Cincinnati
Southern was the next witness called. was on
the northbound train which Davis and
Thompson were on the morning of the killing.
Saw Mr. Davis come in: heard the men, Thomp-
son ard Davis, quarreling. M Chinn was near
them. Some one said; For Gods sake don'tr'
Mr. Thompson had left the aisle aud gone Into q
seat Davis had q valise In one hand and an over
coat in the other When some one said For God
sake don't" Davis backed out, aud the valie
caught; 1t caught second time, then he pulled
Ii q third time, and slammed the door so hard as
to break the glass. About the time the door was
shut Thompson was getting his revolver out. he
stepped toward the window. and as Davis passed
the window Thompson fred, with his revolver
glass. There were glass windows
on both SIDES Of the door He ala
Thompson was in the way. The next time he
} saw DAVIS he was lying parallel with the track,
with his head to the south. He was twelve TO if
teen feet from the track Davis had his right hand
on the door knob, aud never let go of il at ali
saw. did not see him extend his hand 10 Mr..
NesIer was cross-examined BIZ Mr. Jacob, Of the
defense. He stated that he did not see how Davis
could have held out hiss hand. as he had it on the
were: "For Gods sake. don't" Couldn't tell
J from whom 1t came. or from which END of the
VI,
something about Davis debauchlng his wife. /
was lighting cigarette when the parties came in.
was in the front end of the car when the trouble
The third witness called was Mr.. John
Wilmore. He was examined by Judge
Denny. He said:
went out on the train to Herrodsburg on the
| nc orning of the killing. MI Thompson was on the
train. and got out al the junction and stood on
the platform, waiting for the Cincinnati Southern
train. When next saw him he was about to ia Ike
~ nj In nf ri SnFrth
Chinn came in after him, and they both took seats.
think Davis came In from the platform and bad
MS, nls nana on h me se bd was
say, How are you, Phil" Thompson answered,
"Do you offer me fellowship" and uttered an
oath, but 1 couldn't hear distinctly; then there
was scuffie, Thompson trying to draw his revOl.
yer, Davis trying to slam the door. Then Davis
started on the Car platform toward the east end,
stoOpiug some as he went, and Thompson fired.
1t is my impression that Mr.. Chinn kept his seat
| while this was going on.
Cross examined by Colonel Bell was not ex-
pecting any trouble and TT my distance could
not hear distiT city, Mr.. onpson and Others, Ok.
, struc cd the view part OF the time; there was Z
scufiie at the door, Davis trying to close it, My
eyesght is not very strong.
The opening statement of the defense was
! made by Colonel r. P. JACOBS, Thursday
: afternoon. Colonel Jacobs said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY-It was remarked TO
you by the counsel for the prosecution that this
was a thing of awful importance. | say with
equal posiiveness that the facts which LED to this
importance. They of terrible character.
and while shall state the facts, 1t is not In nal
, Ice, for there is no man who sympaihizes more
, than do with the family OF the deceased, and
/ who would be further from saying one word that
would wound. Yet, in the case of family chas-
tity, and the marriage bed: in the cause of an
: outraged husband; In the cause of an innocent
daughter, and of q manly son, am required to
t make plain and unVarnisbed statement of the
facts in Language appropriate an and give
: acterize it as 1t deserves. Nothing more
nothing less That you may have full history
: you have before you on the trial for his life A
( youns man born of honorable and noble extrac
!, tion born in your County, and who, by brilliant
talents and assiduity to his profession has risen
to high rank, not only as a lawyer but as states
e man This young msn Is known not only Al
home, but throughout the broad limits of the
United States. He began as young man. after
service in the armies I'm the study of law in your
midst. He practio ed with honor and distinction
life, and Tor three times, under remarkable cir
Z cumstsnces when old men had opposed him, he
S He Before nss rrad
: monwealth's Attorney and had made ~
l himself a character for prudence. honesty aud
: manhood he had married the daughter of q
Z neiehbor. A lovely, beautiful aud pure woman
= she was the jewel of the household Just at that
period in his history with these bright prospects
4 before him. with lovely wife ana noble child
I rem when there appears upon the scene and
blighted that lie and biighted it for all time he
was q young man, born in your community, oi
the best of parentage and ancestry, and who
moved in the same circle of society with the de
PENDANT He had been the closest personal
friend, and the closest political supporter. No
words of angry feeling had passed between them
before this unfortunate matter. There was rso
friend to whom he could look with greater conf
dence.
' INCIDENTS.
/ Aunt Mile Bottoms, an old colored
n woman weighing $50 pounds, has stood al
q the Court House door for two days listening
intently to the testimony.
The Cincinnati witnesses, from the st.
e Clair Hotel, arrived to-day. Mrs. Roth, the
: hotel proprietor's wife, is beautiful,
r French-looking lady, about thirty years old,
and clad in deep mourning. One of the
proprietors of the Gibson House, Mr.. Schuy-
: Ter, and the porter of the Burnett House, are
! among the witnesses.
= During the presentation of the defense by
! Colonel Jacobs to the Jury, Little Phil"
, sat beside Hon. Joe Blackburn, Immediately
E in front of the Jury, with sad face and
| bowed head. 1t was brilliant young man
hood upon which an awful pail had fallen.
E During the proceeding the interest mani
tested by the little Congressman was Marked.
He drank ia every word of the testimony
nothing escaped him, and he made numer-
Gus Suggestions to his counsel.
, DurlDg the morning Joe Blackburn re-
ceived the following disratch:
GUTHKIE. KY, May 10 Twenty thousand men