Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-04-25
DICK LIpDLEs TESTIMONY.
Frank James Almost Certainly Iden-
tilted rs Being One of the Men Who
Robbed Paymaster Smith.
Courier Journal.

OOuI1ef JOufnal
HUNTvILLE, ALA, April 21-
When the District Attorney offered
Dick Liddle as the first witness for
the prosecution this morning. the
counsel for the defense objected his
competency, on the ground that Lid
die had been convicted of felony for
stealing horse in Vernon county,
Missouri, which, under the Alabama
statutes, disqualifes party from be-
coming a witness. The District At
torney replied that pardon had been
granted Liddle BIZ the Governor of
Missouri, which restored his csmpe-
tence. After a discussion consuming
the morning session the court ad-
ieurned.
In his evidence Liddle testified that
his true name was James a. Liddle,
and that he first met the James boys
about twelve years ago, in jackson
county, Missouri, and became engaged
with them in their raids in August,
1880. James was living in, Nashville,
and he took up his quarters in their
house in March, 1881. Jim Cum
mings, one of the gang, suddenl =
and silently disappeared, and fearin e
that he had gone to betray them they
determined to dispense. Frank
James, Jesse James and Bill Ryan
left on March 6, riding south. Liddle,
having no horse. took the train next
day for Adairville, KY. Ryan and
James going south laid plains for
capturing the train and picked out a
route back.
Finding that Cummings had not
given them away, Liddle returned to
Nashville about two weeks later,
where again he found Ryan and
James al the old headquarters. A
few days after Ryan was arrested
while on a spree. Fearing discovery
| through him, all struck out for Adair-
vile, KY. Hiding there, they sent
back a messenger to Nashville, who
brought back paper which said that
Ryan had been identified by Pay
master Smith as one OF three men
who robbed him at the Muscle Shoals
canal. Then Liddle learned that
James and Ryan had committed the
robbery while on the southern trip,
which was his first knowledge of the
robbery or of their concern in it. He
said he thought he had before heard
them speak of going down to Muscle
Shoals to see what could be done
there.
Liddle described the horses the
three rode south on March 6 exactly
as Peden had described those ridden
by the men who robbed Smith on
March 16. He also described the men
pretty much as Smith and Peden did
yesterday. HS said Frank James
rode a sorrel horse, marked with a
roam white star in forehead, ole white
fetlock with small lump on the back
behind the saddle. This was Identical
with the description given by Peden.
Liddle described Frank James as
wearing a beard about six inches
long. Smith and Peden described
the man thought to be James as
wearing a rather dark beard six
inches long. Liddle met James after
the robbery He was shaved, except
as 10 the mustache.
The defense made every effort to
weaken Liddle's evidence, showing
his own connection with the exploits
of the gang, but he stood the severe
cross -examination with great eff
frortery, frequently cross questioning
and arguing with James counsel
with considerable heat. The i'm
preston made on the jury was bad.
Mrs. Sarah Hite corroborated Liddle's
statement as to his visits to her house
in Adairville, as did also her father,
Silas Morris. Mrs. Hite is the second
wife of George B. Hite, father of
Wood Hite, one of the gang. Hite's
first wife was the aunt of Frank and
Jesse James. Mrs. Sarah Hite is the
plaintiff in the recent defamation suit
against the Courier Journal, growing
out of its account of the James gang,
ublished some time since.
It is generally thought that the
prosecution concluded its heaviest
evidence to -day