The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-11-03
THE TRIAL.

The trial began in earnest on the
of Thursday, Feb, 5th,
1891, Judge Rylsnd presiding. The
state was represented by Prosecuting
Attorney George Longan and Assist
ant Attorney Prigmore, while the
defendants cause was in the hands of
Messrs. E. j. smith and John Cash
man.
THE TESTIMONY.
The most important testimony, con-
is as follows:
DIR. ". C. OvERsTREEr
was the fret witness on the stand.
He gave in detail the time and cir
cumstances of being called as coroner
to view the remains of Jefferson
Moore and his son, Charles Moore.
Lee Chambers Knew Jefferson
Moore. Lived q mile southwest of
of their farm. First time ! suspected
anything, was when / went there ie
day, saw Williamson there. He and
/ took q walk over the place. Could
see where the dirt had been hauled
away. I went over to the farm
again, Williamson and / went to the
house. He showed me cellar. l saw
where dirt had been thrown. He
said that be was going to clean cellar
out. I asked him where jeff Moore
was. He said he had gone to some
springs. He said Moore might be
back in q week or q month. Sunday
l met Williamson going to town. l
was at farm shortly after JEFF MOOre's
body was found. 1t was found in
cellar, face downward. I had seen
JEFF Moore alive week before. saw
defendant last on Sunday, coming to
town.
HENRY BENEKE.
knew JEFF Moore. He lived 200
yards from my fathers. l remember
c -cumstances of the killing OF the
Moores. Last time l saw JEFF Moore
he was sitting out in the yard under q
tree. It began to rain and he went
into the house. l was there on Mon
day when the body was found.
recognized the dead man. He wa
living with his face down. Had blan'
ket thrown over him. Had on shirt
l saw Williamson haul the dirt to thu
cellar. 1t was about daylight. Q weeh
before the bodies were found. Tn
bed was taken apart and lying on the
, floor. The bedclothing was bloody
AsBURY GOODNIGHT.
Have known Thomas Williamson
since last March. Last May, Charlie
Moore came down into my field wher
we were planting corn. A few day
afterward he and Williamson wer
cutting wood down in the timber nea
nv house. The next time l say
Charlie Moore was when We dug u
his dead body. saw Jefferson Moor
and Williamson at Noore's house
Nv father and went there to Dor
row q harrow. Williamson wa
present. We asked JEFF Moore wher
Chlrlie Moore was, but Jeferso
Moore could not tell where he wa
, JEFF Moore was in poor health. W.
not able to do any work. Had bee
| in this condition FIVE or six year
: That was the last time 1 saw hil
slive. I saw Williamson then out
+ the Geld. The next time / saw Je
8 ferson Moore he was lying dead sn
, partly buried in the cellar at his hou,
. This was on Monday. l took show
!. and dug away the loose dirt frol
, over the body. / first found his heat
D 1t was naked. He was
bald headed man. We had sent f
g the coroner and when he came v
!, took the rest of the Dirt of the bod
! The body was face downward. III
legs were in the deepest part of q
dirt. Perhaps two feet deep. ~
arms were thrown out. The und
4 Jaw was broken, back part Of ski
d broken in. 1t looked like it had be-
t done by . hatchet or club. The
- was Ratchet, an axe and q bicxo
o club ihree feet long on the pore
J, Jefferson Mo re was about Sc yes
It old. Two hours after We found I
d old man we found the body of Char
M ore Old man Moore had q silv
l. watch. [Watch given witness q
a partially identified. Never saw W
IS hanson with . watch, have lived
Is the neighborhood 81 years.
q MRS. REBECCA N. ARNOLD.
- Born and raised in Morgan count
= Work IN Sedalia. Did not know j.
8 ferson Moore. Got acquainted vi
- Williamson;been acquainted with b
- since last July year sgo. He of
cou,o IN 400 ma We talked 8hC