The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-20
Progress of the Bond Case.

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 1S.-rhe Post-Djspatch's
special from Hillsboro says aftert two or three
witnesses had testified in the Bond trial, y.
Burrell, a convict from the Chester, Ill, peni-
tentiary, serving a term for burglary, testified
that he was in jail at Taylorsvllle in the spring
OF 1889, and there got acquainted with Mont
g0mery, PettuS and Clement. all being in the
cell together. Heard a conversation between
them i'll which Clement said he had let his toe
nail grow long but had lost it while shucking
c9rn in June. Montgomery said, You could
not lose it shucking corn in June" Some one
read from paper that Miss Bonds under
clothes were torn. Clement said it was a
damned lie, they were not torn. Montgomery
said, "Shut up, what do you know about itP"
At this point Judge Thornton, attorney for the
defense, said to the, prosecuting attorneys:
You may Just as Well rake hell Tor witnesses
as to take them from the )enitentiary. The
introduction Of witnesses convicted OF the
highest crimes to testify against men Of good
stand ng is infamous; such testimony Is
the whole testimony.
After an hour and half argument the court
oyerruled the motion. Cross examination OF
witness elected nothing important,
Charles Myer, a life convict for murder from
the same prison, was the next witness. he
was in Taylorville Jail fourteen months; was
there when defendants were brought in; after
the officers left them they had a private con-
verSation, a part of which he heard MOntgom-
cry say, 1--WE must all tell the same story we
have understood one another nOw." Mont
gomery laughed over Drennon's fitting piece
of COW horn to his toe-nail; Clement said he
has lost toe pairing. "YeS," said MOntgOm
cry, az suppose you lost it husking coru in
june Clement read from . paper the ac
count of Miss Rond's clothing being torn, and
Pettus said it was a lie. CrOss-examined, wit
ness said he first told this story to Judge Van
dever. his counsel, when tried for murder
lie did not tell Joseph Patton, smother prison
er that Judge Nandcvsr promised me mercy i
learned something that would fasten gull
upon defendanIs; Judge Vandeyer did no
| pro Mise, but intimated that he would get II l
he obtained evidence against Montgomery ant
/ others.
A recess was taken to allow counsel for th,
state to consult concerning further action, al
| ter which, at D. M, the prosecution close
| the case. The examination of Meyer was con
| tinued. Judge Nandever had approached hin
| but once, and then said II he, the witness
| ants say it would be of great use to the prose
| cutlOn; il would do him no harm, but de hin
/ good. He denied that during the trial he hal
/ said the prosecution was pushing him too har
1 and was sorry he and Barrett had made up
! story on the defendants; he never said he ha
put up 4 job on the defendants.
| Jerry Ferguson testified he was member O
/ the grand Jury that indicted the defendants
that before the jury met he had a conversatio
| with John Montgomery. in which the latte
| asked him for Miss Bonds statement in wri
ing in con liberation of a sum of money.
Cross examined: Witness said he never n
| ceived any money from Montgomery: also ths
Montgomery used his right hand more than hi
! lett.
say during the preliminary examination tbs
he was not guilty, hut he knew who was.
Isaac Ward said John Montgomery told hii
he was at the school house the day OF the on
rage. He and his father stood there.
After the prosecution elessa, Judge Ihsri