The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-10
THE THIRD DAY OF THE LIFE
AND DEATH STRUGGLE IN THE
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE.

The case was resumed at nine o.
clock yesterday morning by calling d.
II. Palmer to the stand. He said; 81
was in l.. g. Pucket's store at the time |
of the first shot. l was in Puckets |
when the first third or fourth shots |
were fired. l then went to the |
street. 1t is ITO or perhaps 120 feet to |
to the northeast corner of Betting's. |
The first shot saw fired was by En-
win, just before Covington reached |
the southeast door. Covington step |
ped slightly inside the door, but l |
could see him. He staggered off the
platform. He had pistol in his hand.
Just as he staggered on the platform
Erwin went down on the platform and
around the house. He soon returned |
with a Winchester and in simple !
walk. He stopped even with the body
OF CoviNgton facing the body, with
the gun on his arm. Col. Rainey
spoke to Erwin and then he went to
the n. f. door of Betting's and there
he unloaded his pistol.
The cross examination brought out
nothing new except that Erwin said
to Jim. Cameron: 81 shot him, and
would do it again if he was to chase
me like he did"
Col. j. E. Rainey: 1 was on Bet
ting's sidewalk just south of the S. E.
side of his store door, talking to gen
tlenen. Covington came up. 1 spoke
to him about some cotton seed.
This was about two minutes
before the shooting. Covington left
the crowd. The first l saw of the
shooting was smoke coming out of
the northeast door, then [ heard the
backing out. When | heard the shot
the door was clear. My looking and
the smoke was simultaneous. l saw
his right boot and his back as he was
turning facing the north. Then a
pistol was thrust out after him
and fired at Covington. Coving-
ton reeled back with great force
and started very, very fast, but got
southeast over on his left SIDE When
he got up saw pistol in his hand.
When Covington turned and started
to run down the platform l saw a
man come out of the northeast door
who started after him firing, while on
the platform two more shots, making
three in all. / saw Covington all the
time except when he fell. When Gov
ington raised up he began trying
, to cock his pistol with both hands.
He went off the platform and fell, and
his pistol went off. He got up no
, more. l saw Erwin in the north door
of Bitting's store with a Winchester
in his hands. He said, "Where is he ?"
l said "Why did you do it?" aud he
replied, 81 was obliged to do it." He
held his gun in a present arms and L
told him he is dead or will be in a
!; moment. Harrington was a single
man, 5 feet IL inches high and weighed
about 200 pounds.
Nothing new on croSS-eXrmination
JIG Ditto: 81 was at the southeast
door of Billings store, in company
J with Billie and Col. Rainey. 1 was on
the platform just out side the door.
About the time of the two shots l
stepped back on the door sill and bent
forward to look up to where the shoot
!; ing was. The first thing 1 saw was
Covington turning out Of the north
east door. His right hand was
on his hip, and his left hang
ing down. He came in a peart
walk after the shooting. Three or four
shots had been fired. l saw Erwin
, shoot him in the back. There was
about two shots fired in the house.
l saw Covington'S pistol and only one
chamber was fired. If Covington had
pistol when he came out 1 did not
see it. He didn't bring it in sight if
he had one.
Cross examination developed moth
ing new.
Henry House: I was in town the
day Covington was killed; heard the
first shot; was watching my horse
! north of butcher shop; at southeast
door l stopped and saw Col. Rainey
and Billy House; think Covington
came up. had seen him before in
| front Of Betting's Office, on the plat
t form, say two minutes before; Deputy
Sheriff Pucket was also there Gov
/ ington had been to the postoffice /;
: L preceded Ccovington to the
southeast door went up
: the platform by the northeast door
saw Erwin standing leaning against
the north facing of the east door with
| his face out. Swain was standing in
, side facing Erwin. l heard some re-
marks about corn. I made no halt
and was in an ordinary walk. went
: to the end of the platform then an
| Cling across the street twenty-five
} steps to where went to watch my
/ horse. Heard the second shot.
Saw CoyiDgton with his
| right hand on the door
, l saw no weapon in his left hand. l
} saw the defendant almost instantly
, fire and Erwin follow him. l saw
four shots and heard six. 1 did not
/ intend to go down, but heard Billy
, House was shot and l went to see
him.
/ Nothing new on cross examination.
Mizpah.