The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-02-10
Old Man Williamson Proves a
Drawing Card in the Grim
inal Court Room.
Several Witnesses Examined
and the Case Now i'm Full
Blast the Testimony
as far as Taken.


seBta tives and spectators when the
trial of Thomas Williamson, charged
with the murder If the Moores, wa
begun at 8 o'clock this morning
Judge j. E. RylaAd, presiding with
his accustomed dignity. To star
With, this case is one Of the most nvta
bic In the criminal annals of Missouri
and this fact coupled with the fact
that the public curiosity and interest
are invariably enlisted when deed OF
blood has been done, has served to
attract unusual interest to this case,
for it is bloody one.
Notwithstanding the great crowd
present, Sheriff Smith and his efficient
deputies found no trouble in The way
of disorder. The people were intent
upon catching every word of the evil
dence, though The testimony thus far
has been but repetiti n of the same
old story of a horrible crime of blood.
Prosecuting Attorney George Lon
gan, and Assistant Prosecuting Attor-
nev Prigmore, occupied one side OF
the long table. Opposite them sat
the lawyers for the defense -
Messrs. f. ]. Smith and
John eastman. Immediately in t.
rear of these latter gentlemen sat the
defendant, the features Of his face
thin and pale and drawn, partly from
long imprisonment and largely from
anxiety as to the outcome of his case.
His eyes were always eager to note
every movement, and his ears we e
strained to catch every syllable of the
testimony. At his side sat a pleasant
appearing gentleman, well dressed and
having the manner of quiet, sober,
kind of an individual. HIS re-
semalarce to the notorious prisoner
is quite striking. The cut
of the beard is the same, the deep
sunken eyes are the same; and the
prominent cheek bones, the nose, the
mouth, the tall, slim body and tie
general expression and manner. This
stranger was haps the most inter
ested spectator in the house, fer he is
a brother of the prisoner. His home
is in Kansas, and he hes been here
since Tuesday. Official S;enograrhnr
glastonbury, with his instrument, sat
close UP to the witness stand.
In the jury box were twelve of
the most highly respectable men of
Pettis county. In their keeping tests
the fate of the defendant, and if ne
does not get fair hearing and an im-
partial verdict, certain it is that these
peers of the realm will not be to blame.
Their names are Francis A. White,
Louis Lower, Peter Dump, Jacob j.
Farmer, Cord Lujin, Albert P. Hyatt,
Richard III. Smith, Arson Dulmage,
Andrew j. Patton, Stephen HirOny-
mus, Francis M. jackson, John I.
Greer.
DR.. W. C. OvERsTREET
was the first witness on the stand. He
gave in detail the time and circum
stances of being called as coroner to
view the remains of Jefferson Moore
and of bis son, Charles Moore. No
testimony other than that which has
already become familiar 10 the public,
was elected from the gentleman.
LEE CHAMBERS.
Knew jefferson Moore. Lived
mile southwest of their farm. First
time | suspected anything, ives when
[ went down there one day, saw VIII
hanson there. He and | took a walk
over the place. Could see where dirt
had been hauled away. | went over
to the farm again, Williamson and IL
went to the house. He showed me
cellar. | saw. where dirt had been
thrown. He said that he was going
10 clean cellar out. asked him where
Jeff. Moore was He said h had gone
o some springs. He wanted to hire
ne to work for him. He wanted me
% stay all night with him. He said /
Moore might be back in a week or a !
month. Sunday | met Williamson I
,oing to town. was at farm shortly I
lfter JEFF. Moore's body was found. 1t @
vas found in cellar, face downward. a
had seen jeff Moore alive a week !
,efore. Saw defendant last on Sun \
lay, coming to town. e
The stock on farm was ; head of d
mules, one horse, two cows, one calf v
nd some hogs. Supposed they be. J
onged to Jefferson Moore. The bed &
vas taken out of Moore's room, with !,
his exception the room appeared as a
sual, was working for a nan d
AIMED Stephens. The Moore house Il
ad three rooms. The room where n
he bed was taken out was the middle d
DOM. Williamson, when | met him b
oming to town Sunday, said he was Ii
DING to have the men who searched "
is house in his absence, arrested. W