The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-06-10
THE MURDER CASE.
SOME STRONG CIRCUMSTAN-
TIAL EVIDENCE FUR
NISHED BY STATE,
WHILE THE DEFENSE ATTEMPTS
TO PROVE AN ALIBI.

For two days the case of Walter Holmes,
colored, charged with the murder of Tom
Robinson, has occupied the attention of
the district court.
1t will be remembered that Robinson
was murdered in his wagon, south of the
city, about mile from the mouth of East
Avenue and that he was found few min
utes after by Mr. Monroe Sawyer, with his
body still warm and his life blood slowly
oozing from bullet wound through
THE HEART,
ana from second wound in the right
shoulder.
The evidence deducted on the trial, cir
cumstan,ial as it necessarily was, no one
having seen the shooting, all pointed to
the guilt of defendent, Walter Holmes.
1t was proven by the state that on the
day of the murder, Tom Robinson drove
up to Holmes moth ers and asked for
Holmes, saying that he (Holmes) had en-
gagged him to go over the river, south of
town, to get trunk. Holmes was not at
home, and Robinson drove off. 1t was
also proven that Robinson told some of
his friends ON the street that he had an
engagem snt to go across the river after
the trunk alluded to.
The state also proved by one witness
that Holmes was seen with Robinson in
the wagon mile
SOUTH OF THE CITY,
little while before shutdown, going in the
direction of the scene of the murder.
This witness recognized Holmes in the
court room, as the man he saw with Rob
inson on the evening of the murder. A
little girl also saw them together in the
wagon, and recognized Holmes as the
man, after his arrest.
Mr.. Monroe Sawyer, who heard the
shots and who met the murderer on a
horse he had loosed from the wagon,
few moments after the killing, and who
stopped and had few words with him,
recognized Holmes as the man. The ne
gro boy who rowed colored man. who
apparently had been running across the
river opposite East avenue, also recog
uized Holmes AFTER his arrest. In short,
ten different persons swore to having
seen Holmes with Robinson on the even
ing of the murder, and within an hour of
his
CRUEL, BLOODY
assassination. The state also showed
that the murder was committed some time
between six and half-past seven O'Clock
in the evening, or just little after sun
down on the 14th day of May.
The defense endeavored to establish an
al1bi, and proved by more than one witness
that Walter Holmes was at the residence
of Rev. W. W. Pinson some time between
Ii minutes of O'Clock and minutes
after. This was established beyond
a reasonable doubt. 1t was
also established by the defence thatHolmes
was again at DR.. Prisons little after
o'clock, or very short while after seen
down watering the flowers in the front
yard. This being established, the attor-
neys endeavored to show that it was a
physical impossibility for him to have &C.
companied Robinson to the place of muir
der,
COMMIT THE DEED
and return distance of over two miles
to DR.. Pinson's within the space of lit
tie less than pn hour and half or two
hours.
The arguments by the attorneys on
both sides were comprehensive and power
full, and at their close, at half past eight
/ O'Clock last night, Judge Walker read his
! charge, and the jury retired, and at 10
O'Clock the jury were still out.
\ CARD FROM HON. e. TAYLOR
! MOORE.
To the Statesman.
Some enemy of mine, with a view of
| exciting hostility among my country
| friends, has started the rumor that have
| combined with Mr. Maddox to deprive the
county outside of Austin OF a representa-
tive, and to secure both candidates for the
Legislature from the city.
1 desire to say that this rumor is false
in every particular. have made no such
combination. On the contrary, have
uniformly said, and will say, that believe
the country should be represented on the
ticket. have no doubt that the success
of the democratic ticket will be jeopar-
died if the country's claim is not recog-
nized. E. L. MOORE.
AUSTIN, June s, 1886.