Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-03-31
there. 1 told him 1 had told the
truth and would still do so.
TIE STATEMENT REITERATED.

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truth and would still do so.
THE STATEMENT REITERATED.
This statement was also made be-
fore the late grand jury that return
ed the indictment. Believing that
it was ouly necessary to find evidence
to corroborate this, the prosecution
went into trial Friday confident of
convicting Lee. A large number of
witnesses were introduced to prove
that Lee had told connicted stories,
that his conduct was suspicious be-
fore and after the killing and that he
refused to go about the body after it
was found. The bloody axe which
was found near by with hair on its
blade, was brought into court and
identified by Mr.. Jno. Boxley as his
axe, stolen the night of the killing.
Witnesses testified that the wOman's
head was split open with the axe and
it was also shown that Lee had told
two stories about his whereabouts
and that he could not prove an abb
when he was arrested. All this evil
dence was considered strong enough
to corroborate Taylor's and hang the
prisoner. The court house was
packed, gallery and all, and every
ear was bent forward to catch Tay-
lor's words as he was brought in as
The last witness for the common
wealth. He was given 10 understand
that the truth was what was wanted,
and that nothing he might say could
help his case. Being sworn he testi-
fed as follows, in reply TO questions
asked:
TAYLoR's SECOND CONFESSION.
"My name is Jordan Taylor. killed
Sally Saunders by myself. killed
her with an axe. Got the axe at
widow Bronaughs. got with Sally
at the gate and went with her down
the path and made her believe l hal
to go by the barn. got the axe at
the crib, where it had been left by Mr..
Bronaugh and myself the day before.
Sally had a lamp. l hit her on the
head three times. Never hit her
with the blade of the axe. The axe
was stuck in the ground so that !
could find it. dragged her to the
willows feet foremost, with face
down. | went back to the cabin al
ter l had dragged her to the willows.
The door was fastened with piece
of plank which was proppcd against
it, which shook down. got blood
off the axe by dragging it through
the weeds first on Que side and then
on the other. There was Ito blood
on the axe the next morning. !
know Jno. Lee. lie did not advise
me to kill Sally and he knew nothing
about my purpose to kill her. l
previously stated under oath that Lee
had killed her with the axe. The
reason ! made that statement was be-
cause Lee had told two lies on me.
lie had said that he prevented me
from killing Sally the night before
and that had threatened to shoot
her through the window. l carried
the lantern on my arm, by the ring.
l walked backwards and dragged
the body about 70 yards. There was
nobody with me. l am now telling
the truth. John Lee is an innocent
man."
Such was the condemned mans
sworn testimony; he spoke in low
voice with his head hung down, but
so intense was the silence that all in
the room heard his statements.
Some believed and others did not.
1t is true the stories about the owner.
ship ofthe axe and the cash In the wo-
mans head do not consist with the
facts as proven, but in the light of
this unexpected statement the cir
evidence amounted to
naught and the case was submitted
without argument. The jury returned
in five minutes with a verdict of
"not guilty." There is no question
but that Lee would have been hung
but for Taylor's retraction. He is now
at liberty, but many people believe yet
that he was equally guilty and that
by some means he induced Taylor to
spare his life. Be that as it may, one
thing is very sure: he made a very
narrow escape. Lee is an old man,
probably 65 years of age, and will
doubtless be lionized by his own race,
who believe his magic rabbits
foot got HIM out of his trouble.