The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-05-16
PHIL THoMF,sON's 7RIAL.
A JUK4@sECUKED AND TIE CASE OPhlN
ED-THE FEELING AGAINsT
JESSIE BUCKNER.

A JURY SECURED AND THE CASE oPEN-
ED-THE FEELING AGAINsT
JESSIE BUCKNER.
On the 9th at Harrodsburg, Ky,
when the twelve jurors were accept
ed and about to be sworn, counsel
for the prosecution asked At the
Jury be sent out of the courtroom
while be made a statement. The
Jury retired, and the counsel stated
that be had ascertained since the
acceptance Of Che jury that one of
the number, Theodore Bant0, was
under indictment in this court for
shooting with intent to kill, and he
asked that he be excused from serv-
ing on the jury. After hearing the
argument the Court granted ihe re-
quest. The defense noted exception
to the ruling. Another juror was
accepted. The Hon. Phil B. Fhom-
son, jr., defendant, was arraigned,
and pleaded not guilty. The:state-
ment of the case was made by coun-
sci for the prosecution
A Harrodsburg (Ky.) dispatch
says it is astonishing to see the
deep-seated luminosity one and all
entertain against Miss Buckner.
Could she hear some ofthe threats
that many of the citizens have Civ
en- tongue to it is doubtful whether
her repose would be as serene as
that of nature on a summer morn
ing. One gentleman said yesterday,
prefacing the remark with g. great
B. g.: "If she were a man l verify
believe she would be hanged before
shutdown, for there is no doubt that
she caused all this trouble. The
only thing that saves her is her
sex, which we have all learned to
respect"
The sentiment of the community
is rapidly undergoing a change, and
the plea that Walter Davis was in.
nocent of the crime for the alleged
committal of which he was slain is
taking fast hold on the minds of
many, who, as time passes, are
growing holder in their expressions.
With his fellow townsmen, Phil
Thompson's chief mistake lies in
the fact that he killed Walter III.
Davis on the strength, Of informas
ton received from Jessie Euckner,
preferring her smoothly wolded as
sertiOns to the word of his own wife,
to whom, indeed, it is reported, he
utterly refused to listen. A few
days only before the dreadful affair
occurred Phil Thompson, ST., was
standing on the street engaged in
conversation with Mr.. James ii.
Moore, president of the Mercer coun-
ty National Bank. The tax turn
ed toward the reported scandal in
which his sons wife was implicated,
and the colonel said, with much
fervor, that there was not one word
of truth in the story, and that if it
were true little Phil would not be
necessitated to come home to kill
anybody. Mr.. Jerry r. Morton, of
Lexington, one of the brightest
criminal lawyers in the State, has
been engaged as assistant counsel
for the defense in this case. The
defendant is anxious for an immedi d
ate trial. Said q gentleman yester-
day ''Do you know the reason he's
so anxious for a trial? | think he
feels little shaky, and is anxious,
if convicted, to have sentence pass
ed on him during Blackburn's term
of Office, inasmuch as it is believed
that the governor will pardon him.
On the contrary, | think" he con-
tinued, lowering his voice, "that the
prosecution will try to get it con-
tinued until next fall, for Black
burns term you know, expires on
the 4th of September"