Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-12-20
TRIAL OF DR.. EGERTON
DETAIL. OF PL ATO LEES rEs0-
TIMONY.
A Jamaca Ginger Drunk-A $4,000
bond In The Case-Hidden I'm a
WOOdpile-TOdav Testim Ony
M to The Insurance.

trial yesterday was substantially as
follows:
Plato Lee said that DR.. Egerton's S
plan for firing the building they were in
was pressed upon him almost every day,
and finally Lee was told that unless he
would agree to do the burning Egerton
would make an assignment. put in as
assets $1,000 bond Lee had given to
become partner which was to be used
to pay for outst anding debt on stock.
and Lee would lose everything. If he
would become the incendiary he was to
have $500 and his bond was to be re-
turned to him. No inventory of stock
had been taken, but the books of the firm
were to be fixed to show $1,000 stock
before the fire was started. Bills were
out for $50 or $50 and Egerton said If
that amount didn't come the store must
burn. Witness asked Egerton what
was to become of the families living in
the block and was told in reply that
self preservation was the first law OF
nature and every tub must stand on its
own bottom
Lee testified that he once got drunk on
Jamaica ginger and couple Of drinks of
whiskey, but was not crazy drunk.
When he got back to the store after the
drunk he found Inn McMinn in as clerk
and Lee objected, but Egerton said he
would keep McMinn. Lee then went
with his fire story to Mr.. w. A. Smith
two hours after he found McMinn was
in the store as clerk. Witness never
promised to shield a negro and take him
away if he would tell story on Eyer
ton.
Egerton said an extra barrel of oil
should be got from Ashevlle, leaks
started i'll kerosene and turpentine bar
rels, paper led to back door and a match
would then start fire that all the wa
ter in Hendersonvile couldn't put out
Egerton would give 81 900 Of insurance
to his father and keep the rest for him
self. Plans were laid at suggestion of
WA Smith to entrap Eger,on by hiding
man in the drug store to hear conver-
sation and Egeri on was to be induced to
go to a room in the bank where Capt
Toms, Dr. Cole, Mr. Smith and others
would give defendant d chance to get out
the of scrape if he could. Witness ne, er
got liquor on checks of firm. Lee had
SAID to his wife that he believed defend
ant intended to swindle him. Witness
said he wanted to hold his own in the
trial and his father had employed Mr..
Ewart to assist in the prosecution.
Town Marshal A. Bryson stated
that he was hidden under wood and
boxes in Egerton's store two nights bv
Lee to overhear conversation of Lee and
Egerton, and Egerton asked Lee if he
had made up his mind about the busi-
| ness; that all he had was in it and some
thing had to be done; if anything did
happen he would have time to get some
of his books out. Portions of the talk
witness could not hear. In the bank de
fendant said he was to do the insuring
and Lee the burning. Witness was ad-
vised by w. A. Smith to be hidden in the
woodpile and to do all he had done
because he was an officer, but he would
not have managed the case so il he had
been in charge of it, as he thought it was
taking an advantage of DR.. Egerton
that was not exactly right. He had not
been compensated for the work he had
done, which included watching defend
ant portions OF several days and nights,
but Captain Toms had given him $40,
received a hat. These things were re-
ceived as presents. On Lees statement
Mont Egerton and Jim McMinn we're
suspected as the parties referred to by
| defendant who woulu do the burning, if
Lee refused. Mont's action had been
very unusual. He had looked in the oil
tank, and McMinn had been put in as
clerk while Lee was drunk. Lee said he
had no use TOR McMinn. Mr.. Smith. at
the bank consultation, asked DR.. Eyer
ton whether he would give up Lees
bond. and defendant said he would ifLee
would make good what he had taken
from the store. Bryson understood
that no agreement about the burning
had been reached between Egerton and
| Lee.
Nj. c. Toms testified that he and de.
tendant had been warmest friends for
years and when he first heard the
charges he would not believe them. He
atterward assisted in getting out the
warrant, but was sorry to have to do
80. The agreement between interested
parties was that nothing should be said
to defendant about the matter, but the y
were to get him in the back room of the
bank and if he could clear himself then
although the warrant had been issued
Saou.u C us ne.u up. MI JORDAN ~as
nt S:.i', To- an! ls'ueu the warrant III MT
on,.,n s.d o.nes Le s,atehent unsup
po.'eu was not eonslueIeu enough &c
n E. enaise aRa'nsl man vi Ut
i.!2;i Lsrlt top p,oinlnelSs anu the pian o
lhins Seon was auoPleu 10 get eVl
uenee ~ was ueeuea pest 10 nave 9
st;pns a'iay aeainst ueiehuanl 10 star
Ti.n anu Tue o'ner prosecutors Signeo
'nS Ma'i iSnl. T
NApt. ionls was on Tue stand wher
coult au!oulneu "esnay eVening'
IN Lne t'idi iouay ~ " H. +: Soe
PiesIuenl oi tne o'ate pank OF Som-
meIce. anu owner OF tne Dank olock
tesilleu tiIie tnat p Us nau solu tne urug store
Dunu'nE " Lsel'on On ~ years tirne