The Russellville Democrat., 1893-06-15
TURNED STATES EVIDENCE.
William Gilmore Caves AWAY the Con
spiracy to Assassinate
Harrison.
Grimmet and johnson Held for the
Grand Jury.

lAR AtitNl VI - ~ 49,
met, Tom johnson, Will Allen, /. j.
Ledford and Will Gilmore for com
plieity in the shooting of R.W. Har-
rison, the Jasper merchant, in Bull
Frog Valley, May %, came up be-
fore Magistrate Steltz, at the court
house, last Monday morning. The
large crowd present showed the in
terest Of the public in the proceed
ings. The case was pending IN the
court of Esq. Meade, but the defend
ants took a change of venue, and as
Esq. Vance had been summoned as a
witness for the defense, the case was
sent before Esq. Steltz.
The announcement by the Prose
cutting Attorney in his opening
statement that win Gilmore, one Of
the accused, would be witness for
the State, and give away the horri-
bic conspiracy to assassinate Harri.
son, was complete surprise and
created profound sensation in
court. The defense evidently was
not looking for this turn IN affairs
and showed discontinue very per
ceptibly. In fact, while Gilmore
was giving his testimony implicit
inc the other defendants in the trag
edy, viii Grimmet with a threat on
his lips sprang upon the witness
and would have done him bodily
harm but foi the prompt interference
of officers. The unexpected attack
did not disconcert the witness in the
least however, and he continued his
confession to the close in such a
straightforward and apparently
truthful manner that it carried
weight with every disinterested lis
tener. The prevailing opinion is
that Mr.. Davis has made strong
case for the State. Mr. Horace Brad
ley, for the defense, with character
istic skill and energy, exerted every
resource at his command to shake
the testimony of the witness on
cross examination, but he failed to
weaken a single material point.
Sheriff johnson and Deputy Sheriff
Young were placed on the stand and
corroborated Gilmore as to finding
the guns, the ammunition and the
wadding used.
At the conclusion of the States
testimony the defense waived fur
Their examination as to the accused
Grimmet and Johnson, and the court
held them without bail for the grand
jury. VIII Allen was turned over
to Sheriff Johnson, who had war
rant for him from the federal court |
for connection with illicit distilling. |
Ledford was released ON his own |
recognizance for appearance at the
next term of circuit court. Gilmore
is still in the hands of the officers.
He was promised that if he would
tell the whole truth all the way
through he would not Represented.
Below is appended synopsis of
Mr.. Harrison sworn statement tax
en- at Dover, and review of Gil
more's confession duplicating Grim
met and johnson:
HARRIsoN's STATEMENT
r. w. Harrison's statement as given at
Dover recently is substantially as fol-
lows:
On Saturday, the 9th of May he was
enroute from Jasper, Newton county, TO
Forth Smith, with a guard and three
prisoners. The prisoners were charged
with false swearing in making a home
stead proof. They were being conveyed
f0Ft. Smith for trial. On Adams noun
tain Saturday afternoon Harrison en-
quired for a good place 10 stay all night.
He was advised not To go any further
down in Bull Frog valley than j. 4.
Ledfords. The party arrived at Led
fords late in the afternoon and asked to
stay all night, Ledford said he could
not keep them, but a man standing near
who afterwards proved TO be William
spoke up and said let them
stay. Ledford then consented. Har-
rson noticed I.edford and Grimmet con-
yersIng and their actions caused him
watch them. Once when ne approach
ed them at the well-house Grimmet
seemed scared and excited and looked as
If he wanted 10 run. Grimmet went
away shortly after riding Ledfords
horse. Next morning after breakfast
he journey was resumed, Harrison lead
ng the way OH horseback, the other
Of the party walking close be-
hind. About 800 yards from LedfOrds
house they came to a creek swollen by
'ecent rains. just before reaching the
water Harrison heard the snap Of gun
zap and asked what that meant. In
family a shot was fired striking him on
he upper lip and passing through his
ongue into his neck. Another followed
breaking his right arm and
passed into his body. He fell from his
lorse and the guard i'm charge of the
prisoners mounted him and together
With the prisoners retreated from the
Gene and made their escape. Harrison
aised his head and looked in the direc-
ion from whence the shots came and on
he opposite bank Of the creek looking i
oward him he says he saw distinctly !
he man who stood at Ledford's gate the !,
vening before and advised that his !
arty be allowed 10 stay all night, name +
Y William Grimmet. He described the !.
oat and hat the man wore. After re-
laining where he fell an hour or more :
itizens came and moved him back To !
.edfords and Drs. kirkscey and Ruiz J
we're summoned 10 attend him. Later :
e was removed to Dover. !
WILLIAM GILMoRE's STATEMENT. h
VIM. Gilmore, one 81 the accused, wit j
ess for the state, in substance, made
his statement before the examining !,
curt ).
He said he lived on the Grimmct place !,
be house he lived in being near that Of !,
irimmets lie said that on Saturday Y
light, May 3fth, VIM. Grimmet came to
is house and told him that the valley y
as fun o. marshals, and told him "a (
o TO certain neighbors across tile creek, n
nd il he couldn't er0ss the creek to 70
) certain other neighbors on this side q
the creek and put the news ont and 81
iat he would 20 down and notify Tom Be-
ohnson and they would get the news ri