The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-11-27
State; objection sustained exception by
defense.

money; he did not give me time to ex.
plain; had never taken any of Bells
money; my wife told me on Sunday, day
before killing, that Bell had insulted her
while was working for him.
Cross-eXamination.
"Was not in position to see Bell when
| fired second and third shots; ! do not
know whether first shot hit door facing
or not; went to explain to Bell about
money, and to ask him about having
written to my wife; | told him that |
had not taken his money, and that |
wanted him to stop writing TO my wife
l went to see Patterson first that morn
ing then went to where met Bell did
~ 20 to Patterson intending to kill
him or Bell; | went to see Patterson to
ask why he wanted to whip me, and al
ter | could not find Patterson, | went to
Bell, for purpose | have stated; never
saw the note written by Bell to my wife !;
my wife could not read it; it was brought
to my wife by John Gibson, who is now
in court house; he told my wife its con-
tents"
Mrs. John Berry is wife of prisoner; is
sixteen years old !; has been married about
one year; has one child two months old ;
was acquainted for two years; while
John was working for Bell went to his
shop, and John was out and BrIinsultcd
me, saying unless | submitted to him
he would prosecute John. said you
will have to prosecute him, because
will never do so;" after this Bell sent me
a note by colored boy; the boy said
that Bell told him if | could not read it
to bring it back to him; at the time Bell
insulted me he proposed to come to my
room; did not tell this to my husband
until day before the killing.
John Gibson-Bell gave me note to
take to Mrs. Bell, said if she could not
read the note to bring it back to me, and
to tell her that her husband would be
very late in coming home that night;
took note back to Bell; | do not know
contents of note.
Christopher Pickens-Was near the
scene Of killing saw Bell come to door
with weight in his right hand; Berry
said to Bell not to come at him withthat
weight; witness had never said to Mr.
Starnes, that he did not see any weight
in Bells hand.
Claud Jones was near scene ofdfliculty
saw Berry on sidewalk; Bell in door
could not see Bells right hand Bell
waved his left hand; his right hand was
hanging down.
Lee Pickens is father Of Christopher
Pickens; witness had conversation with
his son on day of killing his son said to
witness, that he had seen Bell pick up
weight, and come to the door when he
got shot; this conversation was at 2 p.
III. of day of shooting.
James Hurst--J. d. Garter said in pres
cnce of witness few days after killing,
that Bell had a weight in his hand in his
house.
Wiley ]. Zachary-Talking to Garter
on day of shooting about II o'clock
asked Carter to say whether Bell had
anything in his hand; Carter replied that
Bell had a weight in his hand, while be-
hind the counter; witness knows Bell S
character for violence he was said to be
very violent man; Bell weighed about
17S pounds; was much larger man than
Berry; witness knows Berry's general
character; it was good.
F. S. Howcll-Reported conversation
between himself and J. d. Carter, before
the shooting; Carter asked witness to
stop and see fight; witness looked in
direction OF Berry and Bell; and replied
they are not going to fight; Carter re-
Piled "it John bothers George, he will
clean him out"
Watt Hil-Knew Bells general char
acter tor violence; it was bad Berry had
asked witness to go to Bell for his, Bcr-
rvs, pistol; witness asked Berry why he
did not go himself; he replied, because
am afraid of Bell; witness went to Bell,
and he refused to give up pistol, saying
that he had borrowed it, and intended
to keep it because Berry had stolen his
money; that if Berry did not let him, Bell
alone he, Bell, would cut Berrys throat
witness told this threat to Berry. At
some previous occasion Bell said, 81 will
kill Berry" when witness called a police
man; at time Bell made this threat
Berry had knocked him down with a
sling shot, and had run off. The provo
cation for this was very great.
Mrs. T. J. Peak-Knows Berry, talked
with Mrs. Berry before homicide; John
said he had left Bell: Mrs. Berry told
witness she was glad, because Bell had
insulted her; that she was afraid to tell
her husband lest there would be fracas.
Mr.. Ball-A States witness was re-
called; knows Bells character for vio-
lence; it was that of fighting man.
Col. T. B. Long-Knows general char
acter of John Gibson to be good; has
known him well, for five years.
Mark Allison-Knows George Bell;
one evening Bell told him that he was
making money and would have more
money now, but for that - thief Berry,
and if he did not mind he would cut his
- throat; knew Bells character to be
violent.
Geo. w. Page-Knew Bell for ten or
twelve years; his character was that OF