The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-30
ARGUMENTS NOW ON.
Trial Of Rhodes Cornell for Muir
der Nearing an End.
THE TESTIMONY ALL HEARD.
Defendants Counsel Says State Must
Provo Its Aliegations-D Discrepancies
In the Evidence. Especially Relating
to the Weapon Used.
ESPECIAL TO THE SEws.I

ing her testimony, Mrs. Reynolds said
"Mrs. Cornell sat down with us at t.e
table. Rhodes was drunk. He was a
very profane and abusive man. He got
up and came TO the end of the table where
was sitting, struck me and threw me
upon the floor. He said he wouldn't sup
port me any longer / did not answer
aud he struck me while / was on the
hoor. After he had struck me several
times he went down street and came back
more drunk than before. He abused his
wife and was on my knees when Gaddis
came in. Gaddis spoke to Mrs. Cornell
and then to me and asked me about the
scratches on my face told him that
Rhodes had struck me. Rhodes was in
| an adjoining room and when be heard
his name mentioned he came into the
kitchen where we were. He had n few
words with Gaddis and the latter threw
him To the fioor. Rhodes got up, III muttered
] a few words, went into the bedroom, and
reappeared with a gun and shot Gaddis.
lie then went back into the bedroom
| Gaddis staggered into the pantry and
| asked Mrs: Cornell to 20 for doctor
which she did. Gaddis then walked into
the sitting room without any assistance
and then fell helpless on the floor. /
asked him II he was dying, he said. "I
guess not" 1 was present when Lemais
and Gibney came ip. The latter spoke to
Gaddis who said: This will fix me-"
threats about shooting John Gaddis. lie
said that he WAS going to shoot Gaddis
to.prove tnat was bad character,
Deputy Sheriff Lynch and George S.
Bennett were examined and at 2:45
O'Clock the attorney general said that the
states case was all in.
James Harris Greene, pastor OF a church
at Kingston was the defendants first
witness. He said: Rhodes Cornell was
at work for me on Oct. 81 lie left me at
ll:OO and he was not intoxicated.
Helen z. Reynolds was called to the
stand and told not to Immediately an
swer the question to be put her.
Col. Stiness asked, "did you ever or not
hear Rhodes Cornell warn John Gaddis
not to come to his housei"
Yes, sir" the witness said before Col.
Stiness could saw anything more
The testimony Was decided not admis-
sable. Col. Stiness took exception and |
the witness stepped down
Rhodes Cornell was called to the stand
He said that he had never laid hands on |
Eliza Reynolds in his life He was not |
lntoxcated on the day of the shooting |
and he took that at O'Clock la the morn
ing. He had stopped working at 1880 |
AM gone home aud went to bed
Gaddis came into the house, gave Mrs.
reynolds bottle aud she put il in her
bosom. / said: John Gaddis. | thought
forbade you last Sunday TO bring anv
more liquor to this house" He said:
hos brought any iquor?" | told
him he had, aud went to Mrs. REYNOLDS
and attempted To take the bottle. Gaddis
knocked me down by blow with his
fist and pounded my head four or 1--WE |
times against the floor, cutting my head
against Che door casing. When | got
away L went To the bedroom and Jonn
Gaddis followed me saying, &C d.
you, haven't got through with you yet."
lie came TO the threshold with the stove
poker in his hand, raised as il to strike.
and said, ID you, I'll split your head
open believed he would kill me aud |
stopped him. went to the corner of the
bedroom, got my gun and fired at him.
lie staggered backward | set my gun
down la the corner and lay down on the
bed.
When cross examined Cornell said that
jaddis was probably two and half or
,hree feet from the muzzle of the gun.
lie did not intend to kill Gaddis.
Cornell was on the witness stand at
:45 L. NJ, when the court adjourned till
ms morning at 10 o'clock.
To-day's Proceedings.
The court came in this morning at 1912
rhodes Cornell was recalled to the stand
nu MS cross-ex tmlnation was continued
Cornell said: After killed Gaddjs
vent back to bed. / don't remember
nything from the time 1 went to bed
utll some time the next day when I |
ound myself in the East Greenwich isil.
Mrs. Ellen q. Smith, keeper of the iail.
estited: There were no signs of liquor {
n him when she first saw him. III.
cad was not tied up until two DAYS after
Q was brought to the jail. He com
lained or both side and Dackache. She I
ldn't notice whether his head was !
yollen. ;
Col. Stiness offered as evidence tho
nf al
ie coroner at the inquest.
Deputy Sheriff Lynch testified as to
Measurements in the room
Col. Stiness closed his case by Offering n
he poker and the clothing worn by Cad :,
Is as evidence.
Mrs Reynolds was again called to ,.s p
fy. She said: | saw Rhodes Cornell S
! the bed after the snoo ing and his face h
"s not bleeding" "
Col stiness' Speech. ,
At 1O;45 O'Clock Col. Siiness began 10 r
idress the jury. The state must prove
'yond REASONABLE doubt that the defend- Il
IT 10 guilty. 81
Col. Stiness showed tnat there was , al
screpancy In the figures as given by the N
ate, Inc gun was four feet long aud. "
cording TO the measurements given out In
ID the statement as To the place where
'hn uaddls was standing, Ii must have II
en held within a foot of, aud a liberal Il
easurement would make it thtt the 81
eapon was held up to. the BODY OF Cad d,
;. The jury could examine the cloth. "a
Z Gaddis wore aud see how much it was bS
Irned by the powder.
The evidence presented by the State
~ carefully reviewed and the flaws
IRE picked out. The evidence of the
Tense was then reviewed. 3,
The coat and vest worn by Glddis when pi
OF were SHOWN the jury, and attention ~ ~
Is called TO the fact that there was "a u
le through the extreme edge of thu ad
mt OF the jacket and that in the vest ~.
Is through the pocket. Col Stiness ~
yued that this fact showed that Gaddi.' w
N was raised, and that no was adyanc- Tn
{ on Cornell with weapon, raised over Al
head, when shot. y
yol. Stiness closed his argument nj 10 ho
lock when Attorney General Burbank "a
rau his address on benalf OF the Jai
tie. ma
Attorney General Burbank disputed Ch
allegation that Eliza Reynolds had 81
sified In her testimony. ia
Z Cornell did not intend TO kill Caddia "a,
rOuld layo defanHad htu...fF A.. -