The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-18
The Bond Case-Importance of a Toe-Nail
PAIRING.

HILL BoRO, Dec. 17.-Court opened late this
morning. Samuel MOser was the first witness
He testified that he was present when the piece
of toe-nail was fitted on John c. Montgomery
toe. There ridge the tOe-nail and one
on the pairing which correspouded. On cross
examination he gave the names Of the people
present. He remarked at the time: cat one
place it fits, and at another place it doesn't"
Charlie Dickson testified that he was in the
school-house loft, after the outrage; he found
the toe-nail pairing and handed IL to Ed. Mont
gomery, who give it to Ellsworth. On cross.
examination he said he found the pairing six feet
from the platform where the outrage was COM
mitted.
William Fl. Kaup testified that he saw the par
ing tried on Montgomery's left toe-nail. His
testimony was the same as Moser's
At the afternoon session, VIM, Armstrong tes-
titled that he saw John c. Montgomery and Lee
Pettus at the schoOhouse the day after the out
rage. VIM. Montgomery, who is now dead, said
John, ST, and John, jr, were at the schoal-hOuse
about p NJ. the day before; both denied this
William said, I'm bet $40 you both were there"
John, jf., said he was not there over fifteen or
twenty minutes; that is ali that was said be-
tween them.
Charles Jacobs testified that John Mont gomery
said, in his presence, that he and his father
stood near the sehOOl-hOuse during the middle of
The afternoon of the day OF the outrage.
the outrage. Burge sad "John, that's
devil of scrape you got into last night" He
stopped his horses and replied: "How did you
find it outl Who told you2" Burge said: "Eigel
told me-" Montgomery said: Father and L
stood between the sehool-house and the coal
house and talked till o'clock-ta!ked about an
hour"
The coal-house is down the road from the
schooho On cross-examination the wit
ness said when he charged Montgomery with
the deed he spoke humorously. and Montgomery
also was in jocuar vein.
S. ]. Snider testified that John G. Montgomery
was eft-handed, his right hand WAS crippled and
he whitfield with his left
The reuOrgs that mob had been organized at
Taylo.Ville for the purpose of lyncling the de-
PENDANT, and that Mr.. Bond, father of the out
ragged GIRL had sent threatening letter to Judge
Thornton, of defendants counsel, are emphat-
cally and authoritatively denied. The town is
very quiet tonight, and there no evidences
whatever of a disposition to commit violence
The authorities are very vlgilant aud the slight
est indication of lawlessmess will be- put down
promptly and with strong hands.
THE DRIFT OF OPINION.
1t is the general opinion here that the State is
making pretty strong case against the defend
ants, especially John c. Montgomery. The best
lawyers here say they do not see how the de-
Tense can hope to save Montgomery with Miss
Bonds positive Identification of him as one of
the men who assaulted her, and if he is guilty
there seems to be little doubt of the guilt of
Pettus and Clement, the three were con
stantly together The prosecution claim they
will be able to fasten such strong chain of
circumstantial evidence around Pettus and
Clement as will convict them. The testimony
of the witness, Lawrence Heinlein is consd-
cred damaging to the defense, though he left
the impression that he knew a great deal more
than he dare to tell. The fact is that he and
others have been SO badly frightened by threats
of personal violence and damage to their prop
erty that they are not willing To be explicit,
clear and fOrcihle as they promised to he when
they made their first statements 20 the prose-
cutting attorney. Still the crcumstantIal evil
dence brought out now is very strong against
the accused.