Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-25
FRANK JAMES TRIAL.
Belief that the jury is Favorable to
the Prisoner.

GALLATIN, Mo-, August 24.-The inter.
est in the Frank James trial, which had
lessened slightly during Thursday. was
fully revived yesterday. The time for
convening the court had been appointed
at /: 40 O'Clock, but the attorneys at that
time had not completed the work of pre-
pairing the jury challenges. When this
was finished the court met at 4:30
O'Clock
The prisoner entered in charge
of two officers, and his counsel
announced that the challenges had
been completed. The Sheriff then Dro-
ceeded to call the jurymen as selected to
try the prisoner on the charge of train
robbery at Winston, and the murder of
Conductor Wesfall. The names of the
witnesses were then called, 80 being for
the State and 80 for the defense. of the
states witnesses 90 responded and were
sworn. Among the absent ones
were Mrs. Sarah Hite, Mrs.
Bolton, Dick Liddell, 'Jim" Cummings
and the Ford brothers. The prosecution
is positive, however, that they will ap-
pear when wanted. About third of the
defendants witnesses answered, and
were sworn. After the charge to the Jury
ana the witnesses, the court adjourned
until O'Clock this morning. The general
impression is that the defense have won
hall the fight in getting the jury. The
prosecution, however, expresses itself as
confident.
The excitement attending the James
trial was increased to-day. when Judge
Irving and Hartield Davis, the gentlemen
warned day or two ago TO be careful in
giving testimony against Frank James.
each received the following letter:
ST. LOUIS, August %, 1888.
10 HdrHetd Smith and Aler htiRg, CAT
latin:
GENTs-Your evidence against Frank
James will be watched by tried and true
friends of the hero. No one but the
writer and one other know how near Gov.
Crittenden came to biting the dust, On
April Is, 1882, on the Sunday afternoon
that he rode in chair car from Jefferson
City to st. Louis, pistol was cooked
twice, and only policy prevented it's use
Frank James has hundreds of friends that
VIII never see him sacrificed, and will
come to his aid at the proper time. If
you are wise, you will be careful.
Signed ARK.
The letter addressed to Mr.. Davis was
written in red ink in a free bold hand and
enclosed in an envelope of hotel at San
Antonio, Texas. The postmark is
Wabash Postal Car, and the letter was
evidently mailed at Union depot. The
letter to Mr.. Irving was written with
black ink and enclosed in a plain envelope
James attorneys denOunce the author of
the letter.
ST. LOUIS, August PA special dis
patch to the Post Dispatch from GaIIatin.
Mo-, says that the jury that is trying the
case of the State VS.. Frank James spent
the night in charge of the Sheriff. The
case was much discussed at the hotels,
and the opinion is generally expressed
that verdict of guilty is out of the ques-
ton. a hung jury is probable, and an
acquIttal possible. The solid Democracy
OF the jury, the youth and associates of
four of the number and the eX-COnfed-
crate record Of six of the number.
give rise to this belief. Last
night Dick Liddell and Mrs. Hite arrived.
This morning he showed up on the streets
WIN TWO long navy reVOlVers clasped to
his waist. Promptly at O'Clock the
court convened, the witnesses being eX-
cluded from the court room. The attend
ance was not so large as yesterday. A
number of ladies occupied seats ON the
stage. Judge Goodman announced that
the counsel would be allowed an hour in
which to present the case to the Jury.
Mr.. Wallace, for the State, read the in
dlctment, and told the story of the Win
st0n robbery, and the manner of the death
of w. c. MILAN, who was shot through
the head as he looked into the door of the
smoking car. He saw there Frank and
Jesse James and Wood Hite
The two men who took
possession of the engine were Dick Liddell
and Clarence Hite. Mr.. Wallace then
went into the history of the conspiracy to
rob the train at Winston, and life OF the
James boys in Tennessee, giving the or
ganization of the band, etc. Testimony
will be introduced to show that the
gang, before leaving Kentucky, ship
ped some implements of robbery
to John Ford, a brother OF Bob Ford. Mr..
Wallace then foreshadowed the testimony
OF the state, locating the gang in Clay
ana Kay counties, and establishing their
presence in the vicinity of Winston Oh
the day of the robbery.
The defense waived it's right to the pre-
sentation Of its case, and the taking of
testimony commenced
The witnesses to-day were al! employees
or passengers on the robbed train