The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-12-19
Ninth Day.


PA. wEAsT.
First met Thos. Is. Parks in the year 1882
ut Benson. Don't know where he lived
never was at his house. Had just returned
from California, and went there in reference
to some matter concerning my brother. in
law. Some time in June, 81. My wife
and daughter Maudie were with me- Don't
know when next saw him. He came up
frequently to see me at my place Of business
up to the time went to Europe. Saw him
about three times. Saw him at my house in
september, 1884. My sister Barbara was
stopping at my house, and he went down 10
see her. My sister was expecting him. He
wrote to her. The business he had with her
was in relation to q note of some $40 held.
My sister some time after went to Benson,
and wrote me hat she had borrowed $500 of
Thos. Parks, and to meet him at the Pekin
depot and pay it back to him that he was
coming through Streator on a certain day
She delivered property to my wife as secur-
ity for payment. often saw him at Strea-
tor came two or three times to see me. That
was after paid him the money. John
Weast said, when he learned that was 60
ing to Europe, that he would like to have
me so fix the property that he might sell.
That he could not do so while was away
In pursuance Of this my wife and made a
deed Of this property to MIR. Parks. Started
for Europe May 4th, this year, and returned
Sept. last. Next saw Parks at my house
the week after came home. Next saw him
on Sept. %, the week of the reunion. on the
grounds. had a stand there, and he came
there to see me. He stayed at my house
until the following Saturday. We were to-
gether good deal of the time The first
evening we walked around town. The next
night Parks and my wife went to the thea
tire. The next night he went to boxing
match. Friday night he and my wife and
Mr.. and Mrs. Jos. Weast went to the thea
tire. Saturday night he said he had to VIZ te
a letter to friend Of his named Marsh, OF
Joliet. told him that he had better come
up to Dicus' office. He sat down at the ia
BILE and wrote it. He said that he would
mail the letter on the train. Came down
stairs and walked around town awhile. He
said it was near train time and he wanted to
bid the folks goodbye. said that l would
meet him at the depot. The next time saw
him was at the Wenona fair. He came
back to my house and stayed all night.
Went 10 the depot, and said 10 him that ]
didn't know why it WAS, but that every time
you come to my house my wife acts kind Of
more He said sll right. The next time ]
shook hands. and l asked him when he
came up and he said last night. ASKED
him where he stayed and he told me at the
American house, and that he did not see the
folks. He acted 30 that when he said he
had not seen the folks that thought he had
not told the truth. Just got aoquain ted
with Hannah Johnson when she worked for
my sister six years ago She worked for
family year When | got to Minonk
went with her TO the house where she said
she hat worked. Went back to the depot TO
see if her trunk had come. Made arrange
ments that | should see her and my sister
Barbara on the train for California. ! told
Parks on the train that ] WAS going to
Bloomington, and he told me that could not
90 for some hours. l stayed at the Weber
house that night. From the way Parks
acted took the first train home for Streator.
Sent Joe Weast, my brother, to see to her as
was going to California. Wrote her
few lines which gave to him to give to her.
did not say in the note "my dear baby.
wrote "my dear lady" She is with my
sister in California. After going home from
Minonk, went to the house and sat down
to the table to dinner. l asked my wife if
Parks was there yesterday and she said that
he was there few hours. went to the post
office and got a letter addressed to p. A.
Weast. This was on the afternoon Of the
8th day of October. Read the note and
vent to Reeves office and showed it to him.
Here the letter was shown defendant and
identified by him as the one received) AZ
ter the talk with Reeves l went back to the
post office. | called Baker, the post Office
clerk, and asked him if there was letter
for Miss Nellie and he said Nellie what.
told him that it WAS received on the Pekin
road that day, and he asked me if it was for
Miss Nellie Moyne, and | said yes. (This
letter was shown defendant and identified as
he one he got.l Went back to Reeves of
Gee. Never knew of anyone by the name of
Nellie Moyne. told MIR. Reeves that the
man who wrote this letter had some proper
ty of mine in his hands, and we concluded
to- get it out of his hands. | dispatched 20
him to come up from Benson. He answered
il WAS impossible for him TO come that day.
Wanted Reeves to 20 down to Benson.
Reeves said that he could not 60. then
Murdoch to 60 with me. Lett
home at about clock. Had no breakfast.
Mrs. " east was at home when left. When
returned | asked Jennie where she was.
She said she did not know. MIR. Baker said
At the post Office that Jennie had got letter
for Nellie Moyne, and Jennie said it be-
onaed to some one in the house. | asked
Jennie if she had received letter for Nellie
Noyne. She studied for u second and asked
me how knew. told her that Baker had
old me and told me that the letter was from
rhos. Parks. She said that while l was
away she carried good many letters from
Annie to Parks and from Parks to Annie,
and tina, Parks was there half dozen
lines while was gone. She told me where
he letters were. found number OF them
lnder a marble slab On the dressing case.
Found three letters under the carpet. |
placed the letters in my inside vest pocket.
" ent up to the engine house, locked the
ioor and read them over as much as could
The letters offered TO the jury here are the
me POUNDS. As was about TO 60 to Ben
,on some one told me that Mrs. Weast want
ed to see me. spoke to her and she said
hat the parties wanted 10 see were at the
Plumb House. Went to the hotel with
Reeves and Murdoch about three O'Clock.
Met Mrs. Weast outside the hotel. Found