Semi-weekly interior journal., 1883-05-11
pbH THOMPSON on THai.

NN-NN
son for the murder Of Walter II. Dav-
is was called at Hsrrodsburg Tuesday
and the trial Immediately begun. AT
ter his display Of sympathy and other
irregularities, it was hoped that Judge
Hardin would have enough respect
for his position to have retired from
the bench, buthe didntand "his placid
and honest face, as the Courier-Jour-
nal hireling has IL, still ornaments
it. A list Of the attorneys for Thomp.
son was given in our last issue. Those
for the prosecution are: Gov. ]. E.
Cantrill, Capt. j. N. Morton, Hon.
w. G. Owens and Judge Geo. Denny.
The first effort on the part Of the
prosecution was to have the accused
placed in the custody of the jailer, but
Judge Hardin wouldn't hear to il;
then the examination for jurors began,
and strange as it may appear, three
were found in the regular panel. An
order for 100 additional men was
made, and thus ended the proceedings
of the first day.
The sheriff had his men promptly
on hand and by 2:45 p. NJ. on We'd
nesday the 18th juror was obtained.
A scene followed, however, when one
OF the number got up and asked to be
excused as he had made up his mind.
After discussion, he was permitted to
20. Then Commonwealth Attorney
Shuck asked that Theodore Bonita be
discharged from the jury, because there
was an indictment against him for un'
lawful shooting. After prolonged
arguments pro and con, Bonita was al
SO ordered to stand aside. New men
were examined and by APO the requ-
site dozen was obtained. On behalf Of
the prosecution. Maj. Jerry Morton
stated the case for the Commonwealth
in q manly manner, asking the jury to
lay aside all personal feelings for the
accused and invoking them in the
name of the griefstricken widow and
fatherless children of the deceased that
their verdict would be a vindication Of
the chastity of the outcast wife, how
ever disagreeable the duty. 1t is al
ready claimed that the jury is in
Thompson's favor. One was in Capt.
Phil. Thompsou's regiment in the
Mexican war; one is cooper in
Thompson's shop and two or three
Others are staunch friends and sup.
portes of the family.
The case was rushed rapidly
through yesterday, the prosecution
resting in chief and the defense getting
into the examination of its witnesses.
To Mr.. B. H. Ridgely, special repre-.
sentative of the Louisville Commercial,
we are indebted for the following re-
ceived last night:
Especial iOhe Interior J0wnaLl
HARRoDsBURo, KY, May 10, 1880 p. NJ.
The court room was crowded with spec.
tators to-day to hear the opening Of the
testimony against Phil. Thompson, and
great interest was manifested. 1t was in
augurated by the introduction Of witnesses
to the killing on the morning CT the 9th.
This was done successfully and the story OF
the tragedy was graphically given in It's
awful detail. Davis extending his hand To
Thompson, turning when repulsed to strug-
gle with the door to escape his fate, then
falling dead with bullet through hisb brain,
were portrayed in all their horror.
At 3.l2 p. NJ. the prosecution rested its
case. The defense upon the cross exam
ination attempted TO prove but unsuccess'
fully that Davis had made exertions to
draw weapon upon entering the smoking
car. A negro named Felix Thompson
swore that he did but his testimony was
not corroborated. At 3.l5 Judge X. p. Ja-
cob presented the case for the defense. He
spoke nearly an hour and although his
essay was by no means eloquent, il was
clear presentation Of what the defense eI-
poets 70 prove. The defense then intro
duced several unimportant witnesses and
the Court adjourned until tomorrow.
., nosm,,D 5amoc,s, ,elIs tho