The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1884-07-10

OF APRIL, 1884.
On Monday morning, at ten o'clock,
Judge Trip ordered Van Dorm Cas-
sell to be brought into Court. E. G.
Powell asked to have John L. Jones
appointed to assist. Van Pelt &
Downey are attorneys for defense.
Cassell is a young man, perhaps
twenty-five years Of age, and perhaps
three-fourths African.
The 36 jurors were called, and all
answered. The first twelve. on the
venire were called and took their
places in the jury box, and were sworn
to answer questions. As each juror
was excused, another was called, and
Sually the following twelve were ac-
cepted accd sworn:
George H. Russell, William A.
Persons, Rufus E. Uc"lyln, Lemuel
Talbot, Charles R. Smith, Han1H~0V
Barton, Isaac Funk, Ithamar B.
Brookins, Henry W. Kessinger, Jo-
seph Mccarthy jr., William W. Pierce,
William Peters.
The Prosecuting Attorney read the
Indictment to the jury, and stated
what the State expected to prove, and
Mr.. Van Pelt stated the line Of defense.
The first witness called for the
State was DR.. Spencer. Was called
to see Philip Hunter the next day
after he had been shot. Found a
gunshot wound in the side of the
belly, and one in the thigh. Hunter
died of inflammation about forty hours
after he had been shot.
Court adjourned until Il P. M.
The first witness called in the after
noon was Seymore Lindsay, a very
black man. The dance was at the
house of William Cassell. There was
a fuss outside of the house, and the
noise could have been heard at
Thompson's house, where Hunter
then was. Hunter came up, swearing.
1 put my hands on him and spoke to
him. He said he was not armed. Van
Dorm Cassell said Cd d-n you,
l will settle you" and fired. Not a
word passed between them. Hunter
said he was as good man as was in
the crowd, and no man ought to shoot
in a crowd. Cassell stepped towards
Hunter, and Hunter rather gave back,
and Cassell advanced towards him as
he shot.
Cross-examined. There was to be a
dance that night The shooting oc-
CURED about ten or eleven o'clock.
Grant Watkins was trying to get a
revolver from Van Dorm Cassell to
shoot man named Ford, and it was
discharged-they claimed accidental.
l wanted revolver to defend myself
against Van Dorm Cassell, and this is
why 1 asked Hunter for revolver, as
he was coming up and swearing, and
he said he did not have a revolver.
Saw the revolver first in the hands of
Grant Watkins. Van Dorm Cassell
and | had fuss, and [ was told at
that time that he did not have re-
volver. When Hunter came up, swear
ing, he said he wanted to settle the
row. Hunter was very near to Cassell
when the first shot was fired. When
the first shot was fired Hunter gave
back, and the second shot was fired.
Then Cassell turned and ran, and
Hunter threw bottle at him, and
said Catch him, boys" and then fell,
and we carried him into the house.
On re-examination it came out that
there was a quarrel among the men
that night, in which witness was
mixed.
Jordan Ford called. This is a mu-
latto. When the revolver was dis
charged, man was shot in the leg,
and Phil. Hunter came up bare headed
and bare footed, and asked who that
was who had shot in a crowd, and
swore he had as good a revolver as was
in the crowd. Lindsay asked him to
loan him his revolver, when he said
he did not have a revolver Most Of
the parties had been drinking.
Cade Ford called. This is also a
black man. Was at the house when
the shooting occurred, and described
the transaction substantially as did
the other witnesses.
Fanny Lee called. Lived near where
the shooting occurred. Had gone to
bed. Phil. Hunter boarded in same
house. He had gone to bed, up stairs.
Heard a row, and Hunter came down
stairs and went out Of the door, and
soon afterwards heard three shots, the
irst two in quick succession.
w. B. Cherington called. Had a
etter said to have been written by de-
'endant to his sister. Objection was
pade to the introduction of the letter.
vas asked about having