The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-22
BROWN ON THE STAND
The Murderer of Lawyer Wesner
Tells his Story at Lebanon.
Five Burned in Marion Gas Explosion
-Terre Haute Society Belle Elopes
LWratten Murder Suspect.
special to the Indianapolis journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
LEBANON, Ind, Oct. 21.-This being Sat
urday, the country people of Boone county
came in town early to attend the murder
trial. The defendant Brown was put on the
stand, being the thirty-frst witness in the
case. He was perfectly cool and collected.
but somewhat pale. his confinement having
proved trying on him. Mr. Brown was ex-
anined by Mr.. Duncan and testified as fol-
lows:
II am forty-six years old. 1 was in bust
ness here nineteen years; have wife and
four children; my parents are living. was
president of the Lebanon Light, Heat and
Power Company. 1 spoke with Mr.. Wesner
in front of the First National Bank after
the suit was brought by Hull. Wesner
asked me what we were going to do about
the compromise. 1 said: We cannot ac-
cept your proposition Wesner then said:
I'll make it cost you $4,000 before 1 get
through I said: That's all right Then
he whirled toward me suddenly and said:
Cooley Brown, damn you, if you open your
mouth I'll kill YOU. / knew he went armed,
and have heard him brag about his skill in
the use of a knife. L have seen him throw
1t at q mark. He was man over six feet
tall and weighed 30 pounds or more.
i started for Danville on Tuesday, May
16. 1893. and stopped over night in Indian
apolis. l had from $500 to $3.50 in my pock-
ct. About half of it was mine and the other
half belonged to the gas company. / took
my pistol with me: the pistol is one 1 have
owned for eight years. L always carried
It, when L had it at all, in my right trou-
Sers pocket. Mr. Wesner was friendly to-
ward me that day. / had some tobacco
that he liked, and he asked me for to-
Gil n llxy IIa In r0r1f
of the hotel and called me out and asked
me for q chew OF that tobacco. l told him
which he did. 1 started home Friday night,
but Yves persuaded to stay. On the day the
trial was finished L tarted for dinner, going
toward the south door, as usual. j said to
ton is as good as Wesner's. Then said
TO Wesner, Sam, my reputation is as good
Cooley Brown, you damned coward. YOU
have a gun; pull II and shoot. He
repeated this and !erk k.sl a. knit, knife
stuck on the knife. 1 then drew my
pistol, and as he rushed toward me L shot.
AS he struck at me / retreated few steps,
ond time, and he still pursuing me.
stumbled and fell, and he fell on me. l was
so scared L don't know how l got up.
1 did not draw my pistol till he drew his
knife. ! had no thought of Difficulty at the
time I started out, but l saw Mr. W ,sdne
trouble. and often walk with my hands on
my back. 1 did not have the pistol in my
hip pocket, but in my right trousers
pocket
In the cross-examination the prosecution
endeavored to show that Mr.. Brown had
carried a revolver about Lebanon, but the
ceJrt ruled it out Mr.. Brown was on the
stand about one hour, and delivered his
testimony slowly, but without hesitation.
One or two of the grand jurors that in
dicted Brown were examined as to state
ments the prosecutor of Hendricks or his
assistant had made in the grand jury room
TO the effect that he wanted to indict Brown
for murder in the first degree, so that he
could not get bond, but would have to re-
main in jail Louis Marsh, druggist, of
Danville, testified that Wesner came to his
store an hour or two before the shooting
and got drink of whisky. Court adjourned
at noon until noon Monday.