Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-03-23
FIVE YEARS FOR RAY.
Evidence In Detail In the Case Of
Joe Ray Found Guilty Of
Manslaughter Only
the Verdict.

Knight, at cabin on the j. r. Nc
Knight place., near Meningitis mill
in the Scales Mill precinct about Is
or 20 miles northwest of Hopkins
vile, near the Hopkins county line.
The men were brothers-in-law and
there were only three witnesses to
the killing, viz: Mrs. Eliza Ray,
mother of the accused, Mrs. Idella
Knight, wife of the deceased and sis
ter of the prisoner and Mrs. Fora Sell
lers, cousin of Joe Ray. The kill
ing occurred about 4 o'clock Friday
evening, in cabin of one room &C.
cupied by w. A. Ray, father of Joe
Ray. The trial was called last Friday
and the following testimony was ad-
duced:
BY THE PROSECUTION.
ED. KNIGHT: Knew nothing of
the facts. Saw his brother Sam 60
ing to Rays, where he was killed.
JAS. KNIGHT: Joe. Ray came
and told me that he had killed Sam.
That he had shot out his brains at
old man Rays. went down there
and examined the corpse. 1t had a
bullet hole behind the left ear and a
bloodshot place over the right eye
showed where the ball lodged.
Cross examined: A spot of blood
on the floor in front of the Fireplace
had been washed up. Bette Good
loe, who had parted from her hus-
band, Bill Goodloe, had been living
at Sam Knights. Knight and Joe
Ray had started in to crop together,
but Joe Ray had left some time be-
fore and went to his fathers half q
mile off. l went to my house from
the field and Joe Ray and Bette
Goodloe were at the gate talking. A
little boy was sent after me. They
had been talking while the boy was
gone after me. When got 10 w. A,
Rays the body was still lying on the
floor, with the feet towards the fire
and the head towards the door in the
west side.
JOHN BENNETT: Lived one
mile from Rays, at Meningitis mill.
Old man Ray came to the mill about
the middle of the afternoon and told
me about the killing. l fed my stock
and then went over there. Found
Ray and wife, Knights wife and Fora
Sellers there. Body was lying on
the floor.on the back, stretched out
straight. There was a little blood
on the floor close TO his head. Had
on jeans pants and coat. Hands
folded across the breast. Didn't ex.
anime for the wound. Staid about
an hour. Nobody came. 1 helped
move the corpse to the bed. Saw nc
arrangements for burial. The head
was towardsSthe west door and feet
two feet from fireplace when 1 first
saw the body.
JOuN LADD: Live in Hopkins
Co. Knew Knight but did not know
Ray. married Knights sister. /
was told of the killing by my wife's
half-brother. Lived miles distant.
Heard it at supper time. l went
next morning 10 Bud Rays. Found
Knights body on the bed. My wife
and Lincoln Knight also went. There
were some women there. Knight
had been shot a little above the left
ear, behind it. The face and neck
were pOwder-bupned. The right eye
was blood shot, and blood was ooziug
out of the eye, nose and mouth. He
had on all his clothes. That was
Saturday. He had pistol in his hip
pocket. All the barrels were load
ed. Knight was young man about
27 years old, l reckon. Didn't know
of contract Knight and Ray had
made 10 work together. Cross-ex-
animation was substantially the same.
MRS. MARGARET KNIGHT /:
Lived mile from place of killing.
Learned of it from Bette Goodloe
and little Ray boy. Found Jack Ray
and Bud Rays family there when l
went over next morning. There was
bullet hole behind Knights left ear
and the right eye was blood-shot.
Blood and brains on the coat collar
and shoulder. Face and neck were
powder-burned. Saw Joe Ray pass
through our yard Friday evening be-
fore quitting time, riding mule.
My husband, VIM. Knight, a cousin
of Sam Knight, worked for T. T. Nc
Knight. Several women were at
Rays house. Mrs. Lucinda Whit,
her daughter, Mrs. Fora Sellers, Mrs.
Eliza Ray and her daughters, Mrs.
Sam Knight and Nettie Ray. Cross
examination same as above.
OMAR KNIGHT: Third cousin
to Sam Knight. Had known Joe
Ray about 5 months before the kill
ing. Jim Knight told me of the kill
ing. l went over after dark. Found
Joe Rays mother, 3 sisters, 2 little
brothers and his aunt and cousin
there. The corpse was ON the bed.
Bullet hole behind the left ear and
right eye bloodshot. Face and neck
powder-burned. l staid there Fri
day and Saturday nights. The body
was buried Sunday. ] talked with
Joe Ray in prison when / was before
the grand jury, He asked me if
there were many witnesses against
him and if the boys were going to
try to hang him. l told him didn't