The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1884-04-23
FRANK JAMES TRIAL
=. p,oore,s st Huntsville Alabama.
far ,he Mussel shoals Robbery.
The Case to Close Today and After
Argument 20 10 the Jury.
HIS PROBABLE AC2O/IAL.

HuntSvillc, hiA., ]Ab''i r. ~
risl of Frank James began IN the
Federal court this morning. James
;s accompanied by his wife and lit
ri. son. Thomas Peden was the
first witness for the prosecution. He
testified that he thought James was
one OF the three we'll dressed, well
mounted men who stopped III his
saloon, near Mussel Shoals, two
hours before the robbery; loltered
about the place till Smith, carrying
money to pay off the employees OF
the works. passed by, and then went
offtellowins in the direction OF which
Smith had taken. Witness would
not, however, positively identify
lanes as one OF the men.
Alexander Smith testified that
when he was four miles out from
Florence about p M. on March
II, 1881, three men, who had been
riding behind him half mile, halt
ed him, presenting pistols, searched
him, taking $1,000 OF government
funds and $500 OF his own money.
They. took him with them nortli~zrd
into the woods, and about dark let
him 90, near the Alabama and Ten
nessee line. He identified James AS
one OF the men, but would not swear
positively to him. Both Peden and
Smith described the man they think
to be James as wearing a dark beard
and mustache. lanes is now close.
ly shaved,' except as to mustache,
which is of q light color.
Another witness, from whom the
men inquired the way TO Mussel
Shoals the day before the robbery,
thought James was one OF the men.
but would not be certain.
After taking the testimony of these
witnesses, the court adjourned.
The indictment against Frank
James also includes cssc lanes,
James Hill. Dick Liddl and Bill
Ryan.
April IS.--Dicl< Liddil's testimo-
ny occupied most of the session OF
the cour, in Frank James tiial to-
day. Tie evidence was objected to
BY the defense on the ground that
Liddil was convicted of horse steal
ing IN Vernon county, Mo-, IN 1874.
The governors pardon only renitted
his imprisonment, without resterin.
competency. The argument on this
point consumed the morning session,
the court finally overruling objection,
admitting the evidence. Lidd,l stat
ed his true name was lanes Liddll,
at present resident of Kansas City
In 1881, he, Bill X van and Jim Cum
nins lived with Frank and Jesse
James families in Nashville. where
the James brothers had their home
from 1877 to April, 1881, Frank 60
mg under the name OF Woodson and
Jesse that of Howard. Early IN
March, Jim Cunmlns suddenly dis
appeared. Fearing he had gone to
give away the others it was decided
TO disperse. Frank aud Jesse James
aud Ryan mounted their horses and
rode south intending 10 work up u
plan TO Capture a train as soon ~>
the weather became good Lidiil
having no horse took the cars for
Adairville. XIV, the home OF the
iiites, kinsmen OF
THE JAMES BOYS.
where the gang sometimes hide cut
Returning to Nashville after learn
'ns nothing Of Cummings. L,ddi
found James and RYAN at the oil.
place. Shortly after they returned
NNAn MAJ arrested on a drunken
irollc; the rest cleared out to Adair-
Vile to lllte'> to avoid being con
nected with RYAN. Here it Wal
learned hy newspaper. that Ryar
as one ot the three men who rob