Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-12-19
THE CENTRAL CITY.
George Walker on Trial for Complicit,
IN the Land Murder.
Interesting Scenes in COmrt-An Array
of Strong Legal Talent.
The Last of the COuntcrfeiters Run in
Tic New Wooden Mill.

Special to the Gazette
Waco, December lS.-The first stem.
IN the trial of Geo. Walker, charged
WIN being accessory to the murder OF
on man Jonas Land, near Hubbard
lily, were taken yesterday morning.
me court room was crowded to an ex.
tent not witnessed during any previou,
day OF the term. A conspicuous rroIIu
was Mrs. Land, wife or the murdered
man, and the two daughters, Emma
and Mary Land, the first-named bpino
the one about whom all the trouble
arose. Ihey were quiet aud rather re-
served IN demeanor, making a
rather favorable impression up
on the spectators. Witness G
are pre- ent from Wisconsin
where the Land family formerly lived
III may be marked right here that
these witnesses gave the young ladies
good name. Many witnesses from,
lil!i county are also present, and the
array of council i, formidable both 70,
prosecution and defense. Attorne, :
divided or each shdGs. are G e6""W SSR,
the prisoner, sat an apparently un.
moved spectator of the proceedings.
lie is young man of rather pleasant
expression, somewhat bleached by the
nine months in Jail. y special venirt
OF sixty Jurors had been summoned,
and the work of empapnelinr
the jury commenced yesterday about
room. Up TO last night only seven
had been accepted. AS rule the sen
ument OF the venire seemed to be
rather against Walker, most of those
who were refused stating they had
formed an opinion. From the array
OF counsel for the defense, it would
seem that money is not lacking i'm
Walkers behalf. Some of sam Var
nell friends and relations are here as
spectators and witnesses. Narnell. ii
will be remembered, is still at large
and his alleged accessory, Walker, pot
change Of venue from Hillsboro to
Waco.
To-day jury was at last secured
and the case WAS fairly opened this
morning. The jury is rather above
the average and will weigh the evi.
dence intelligently. The testimony of !
Mrs. Beasley, nee Miss Emma Land. |
was taken, and attracted close atten-
ton. She gave her testimony in n
clear and deliberate manner, standing |
c discrimination very well. The |
gist OF her evidence is that George
Walker handed Narnell the pistol |
when the latter used to kilt her
i IL ihere are at least |
hity witnesses for prosecution |
and defence, and the case promises to |
be hard-fought one. A novel feature
OF the trial is the large number of fe-
males who are present either as wit
nesses or interested spectators. In ad-
dition to the women of the Land fam
ny, there are female relatives and |
trends OF Tom Varnell and George
walker present. The prisoners moth
or ~ Il close observer of everything that
George Walker himself appeared cool
and composed, but shows his anxiety.
The testimony of Mrs. Bsaslcy was the
most important taken to-day.
Your correspondent, "A Hancock
Democrat whose article is published
IN this mornings GAZETTE, is in error
when he says Waco eXempts the wool
en- en- mill enterprise from local taxation.
ihat proposition was discussed at the
outset, but abandoned, rs not only inn
practicable, but impolitic. Waco
simply gives the enterprise cash
bonus, of several thousand dollars and
the wool men buy their own grounds
amd phy taxes like everybody else
waco VIII encourage all enterprises.
but does not protect them-at least
aiter the fashion your cor
respondent supposes to be the
,as.. Aud about the wooden min
tseli,' the size of the building as hid
On by some of our contractors. h. first
main building 800 feet long and 40
'eet deep with m "Lp 60 feet wide
Iunning back 100 feet. An engine
house IN the rear I0x40 feet and n nick-
hr room 2oxS0 beyond. The main
will he but onestory hivh
having a ceiling OF fourteen feet.
AZ Juaepl Male, WHO owns Tho
last Waco cotton compress, has lust
purchased five acres of ground nj Ens
lis Early Ia the new wear he viii
commence the erection Of q compress
{ that iiourishlng little town. of am
ne capacity to ilatten all the coiton ,
nat may be offered there. This vii
e quite an acquisition Tor Ennis. and
IL Naiie has ample capital TO carry :
II his plans. ~ AIRY {
IN. second chapter In the uneart,,.
~ OF Tho gang of countcrfeilers ne. {
irred yesterday. The two renaining I
TENDERS OF the gang who were eorrnIi, n
\ near Troy, In Ball onnn,,, \