Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-13
THE THOMAS CASE.
Important Testimony of Witnesses
Relative TO the Assault.

The trial of Policeman Thomas was
continued in the District Court this morn
ing. Counsel for the defense opened by
stating that the defense proposed to prove
that the negro Harvey had made des-
perate struggle, and had wounded officer
Wilckens after killing Marshal Burt, and
that when taken to the CT y Hall he still
continued to struggle fiercelyin the hands
of the officers; also while being searched,
he resisted Thomas, who had done moth
ing further than any officer had right to
do under the circumstances. Is.
DIR. JETER CLINTON
Was then called, and testified that when
the negro was brought in a crowd en-
| tered the Office with him. The doors
were closed, and Thomas proceeded to
search the prisoner. He found some
cartridges and money in his pocket; after
demonstration as, if to seize what
had been been taken from him,
when Thomas struck him on the side of
the head; it was a light blow; just then
some one reached out of the crowd and
threw Harvey down; l saw Thomas
reach down to pick him up; the only re-
mark l heard Thomas make was eff you
have killed Burt you ought to die" there
did not seem to be any wounds on Har
vey except the two inflicted by Wilckens
while trying to arrest him on Main street;
when Harvey went out he was still
struggling; Officer Hilton remained at
the door of the Jail, and Thomas went in
with the prisoner; Hilton stood at the
front door trying to keep the crowd back;
the crowd seized the door and pulled it
open; the negro then made an
effort to get out, when Hilton struck
him with club and knocked him down,
Thomas then went to the door, and,
drawing pistol, told the crowd to stand
back, and tried to close the door; at this
the negro bounded out and plunged into
the midst of the crowd; Thomas tried to
capture him, but was prevented by the
crowd; the negro fell as he entered the
crowd, but regained his feet and knocked
those near him right and left; he was
thrown down three times, but regained
his feet each time, and it was not until
the fourth time that the crowd was able
to keep him down; the mob then got
rope around his neck and hung him to a
beam.
Cross-examined-The door of the office
was closed; none of the lynching crowd
were in the office at the time of the
search; Harvey was not very violent
when being searched, but used some
abusive language; l think he called
Thomas thief and liar; there was no
demonstration on the part of any in the
office; could not see into the Jail CORR
dor from where l was; the door of the
jail opens out.
MR.. GLEN HoRSLEY
Was then called and testified substan-
TALLY as follows: There were about
twenty persons in the Office when Harvey
was being searched; Thomas was search
ing him; he found some money and car
tridges on him; while Harvey was being
searched he put his hands down; Thomas
said g Hold up your hands you black son
of a gun," and struck him on the side of
the head; | did not see club or any
weapon in the hands of Thomas: /
pushed my way through the crowd and
went back to the Theatre.
Crosse was about the last
man in the room; | had some difficulty
IN getting in, as the room was full; [ can
not name anyone who was in the room
at the time; the negro had not been
thoroughly searched when he put his
hands down; Thomas said "Hold up
your hands twice; the first time the
negro did hold them up, and the second
time he did not, and Thomas said "Hold
up your hands, you damned cuss," and
struck him on the side of the head I |
don't know whether he struck him for
calling him liar or not; heard Thomas
say. IF you have killed Burt YOU ought
to de-" don't think he said twill die"
l saw hand reach out and grab Harvey.
but did not see the body to which if be-
longed; did not hear anv officer saw
Let him Alone" or any words to that |
Ell gnect; as Harvey was being picked up by
Thomas crowded out and went over to
the Theatre.
JOHN ARD
Was then sworn and testified: Twas in
the room when the negro was brought in:
Ihomas SAID, stand back and mind your |
own business" and l at once stepped |
back; L saw Thomas strike the negro
with his fist, and saw the negro fall. but
l did not see club or any other weapon
IN the room; there were quite a number
OF persons in the room SO that l could
not see all that went on; when we went
out to the jail l found the keyhole of the
cell door filled up and was going out to
get another key to unlock another cell:
VIM: Hilton held the front door; I saw
no blows struck in the jail; Harvey went
put voluntarily, not being thrown out as
Tar as | could see; Thomas tried to pre-
vent the crowd from opening the door but
could not do so; Harvey escaped past
llm and dived into the crowd.
The taking of Ards testimony occu-
ped the remainder of the morning SEES
Ison. In the afternoon DIR. Benedict
Dr.. King and Officer Salmon were ex,
mined, but nothing of Importance was
earned from their testimony. The ex-