Evening journal., 1888-09-19
A TRAGIC SCENE.
Sterling p. Taylor's Statement in Coxrt.
He Pleads Guilty of Assanlt-Pstty
Cases Disposed Of 80.

ternoon the case of the State VS.. Sterling
y. Taylor was taken up. 1t will be re-
membered that Taylor shot his father-in.
law. Eli Dickinson.
The prisoner came into the court room
| accompanied by his counsel, Levi G. Bro.
Mr.. Bird offered TO enter plea of assault
IL the state would accept it. The state
accepted the plea. The indictment was
for assault with intent to kill.
The story of the affair was told by
Dickinson who was in the court room
apparently suffering from weakness
Sergeant Tucker and Dr. G. Drum Funk
also related the circumstances Of the shoot
! ing The state objected to any statement
regarding the reasons for the shooting.
but the court overuled and Sergeant
| Tucker told that Taylor said that It was
because Dickinson had ruined his sister
| Dr. Funk testified to the same and said
that the shooting occurred while war
rant for Dickinsons arrest was being
served The warrant was issued on the
complaint Of Taylor, who said Dickinson
threatened to shoot him.
Dr. l.. H. Dravo testified as to the
character of Dickinson's wound.
Dr. Louis w. Flynn testified that he
attended Eli Dickinson on September a.
about 2 o'clock in the afternoon He
was not out Of danger for 4S hours This
was all the witnesses for the state.
Mr.. Bird now opened for the prisoner
by calling Mayor Harrington, who testi-
fed that the accused was in very ex-
hansted condition after the shooting. He
attracted the attention of every one in
the court room by his wild acting
DR.. Howard Ogle was sworn and testi-
fled that he attended Taylor the
day after the shooting, and found him ex-
ceedingly nervous, and beside himself
The next morning he was somewhat bet
ter. lie was sure that this nervous state
was not put on. He was evidently labor
ing under some great mental excite
ment.
Chief Of Police William Y. Swigoett
! testified as to Taylor's arrest to his ex
cited mental condition at the time of his
arrest and subsequently.
Special Officer Charles G. Weldon testi
fed to seeing him during the time ne was
confined at the hall and Of his condition
during that time. He thought he was
almost bordering on insanity.
| AT Mr.. Birds suggestion the statement
Of the accused was heard. Tavlor arose
| from his seat beside his counsel. stepped
toward the bench, and rested his hand on
1 the judges desk. He spoke rapidly. with
"a quick, nervous voice and seemed to be
laboring under suppressed excitement.
! lie said:
That man has been stumbling block
| for the last six years. Ii first dates from
the time he began to pay attention to nv
mother. ! discovered what kind Of a
man he was and tried To persuade her not
to marry him, but did not succeed. After
they were married, however. | tried to do
all | could for her, as she was nv
mother. They did not get along wen
together after the marriage. from
words and quarrels he struck my mother.
Il will not spend any more time over
this, but 80 at once to the present mat
ter knew nothing of my sisters trouble
until three days before the shooting. The
first ! knew was on the Sunday before
the shooting. You see, there was a breach
between us | did not visit his house
My sister had been spirited away, there
vas no way TO find out where she was.
On the Sunday before September !, had
the first positive proof OF my sistes
trouble, i was then evident what was
s,a l.a ia.ss...ar. ! sat down and reelected anC
concluded to see Dr. Cantwell. / went 10
he was on his guard at once, and did not
commit himself What he said. though.
was positive evidence TO me what was the
matter As the terrible calamity dawned
on me, | wanted TO get my other sister
away from him. She is about 49, | went
to tsse house and finally persuaded her to
leave and 60 to my house This was
Monday. You know the rest; the man
came home in terrible rage at there
being no supper provided him.
81 got up early the next morning.
About o'clock my little sister came to
the house and went upstairs to see my
older sister. She said Florence mas
the typhoid fever; mother has terrible
cold and cannct speak. I kuew this
meant death to my sister Florence
went mad, that's ALL | can't tell what
else did can say no more. am mar
ried and for the sake Of my wife, beg
OF you to make the blow no heavier. Ii
10 heavy enough, without any judicial
arm coming forward. / only ask yon to
remember my wife.
There was perfect silence in the court
room when Taylor was making this tragic
statement. Toward the close his voice
faltered and he restrained his emotions
with difficulty. The court after consul
tation deferred his sentence until this
morning. His bail was continued and he
left the room.
The grand jury came in at 4 o'clock,
presented a couple Of bills Of indictment
and retired
Nathaniel Johnson, colored, was in
dicted for burglary. He broke into the
house Of Frank Hunter on July 10, and
stole some clothing and jewelry. He
pleaded not guilty, but said that he would
not be ready for trial until he had some
witnesses summoned. He could not get
a lawyer because he had been in prison.
Whom asked il he could pay lawyer, he
said: II can pay one in a short time. II
he could get me out Willard Hall Por-
ter was assigned to him as counsel and
he was remanded for trial
Bayard Gr0ome, otherwise BayArd
Douglas, was indicted for stealing some
clothing from Thomas Morris He pleaded
guilty and was sentenced to pay the costs
and restitution money, be imprisoned
three months and be whipped with ten
lashes on next Saturday
The grand jury came in again at s. II
o'clock and after presenting their bills
were discharged until this morning
Walter w Msyne pleaded guilty t.
carrying concealed deadly weapons. Hav
ing no money TO pay his fine he was sent
up for ten days
Howard j. Woodward, indicted for lar
ceny, did not appear and his bail wa,
! forfeited. A oapias was issued for his
D 3 .Hsf