Huntsville gazette., 1894-02-17
SHOCKING EVIDENCE.
Adduced In the Skeiton Trial Yes
terdav.
Miss Annie Shelton in Cinciuna ati and
Looks Like q Ghost

Special to MERCURY.
SooTTs BoRo, Feb. 16 The preliminary
trial of the Skeletons was resumed this
morning at 9:30 The interest in the
trial has not abated one whit The
Shelton boys look and talk as il they were
in high spirits and felt confident Of their
success in the trial.
Judge VIM. Richardson arrived here
last evening and is taking an active part
with Capt. D. D. Shelby of Huntsville,
Virgil Bouldin and Geo. G. Hunt, of this
place for the def nse. While Col. Joe
Cliff, Of Chattanooga and Judge Richard
Walker, of Huntsville, are assisting
Solicitor Hunt in very vigorous prose-
Cution.
On the convening of court this morning
etters from R. G. Ross to Miss Annie
Shelton were read by Attorney Bouldin,
all of which were about in the same
strain and were about the nature of a
love letter from Is year old school boy.
JH GREGORY
was the first witness this morning for the
ly for about 19 years, knew r. G. Ross
and Bob Shelton previous to the trouble,
had been on intimate terms, both socially
and in business. At the request of Ross
l addressed five or ten envelopes for him
He told me he wanted them for business
purposes, but afterward admitted he
wanted to send them to Miss Shelton. I
told him as every one knew my hand-
writing it might get me into trouble, and
to destroy them which he promised to
do l addressed them, "R G. Ross,
Scottsboro, Ala" l have known John
Shelton quite while, he is said to be
| son of Andy Shelton and ilegitimate
MRS B. KIRBY.
| wish to state that previous to sending
the letters of Annie Shelton by express
to my brother R. S. Skelton, l had sent
two of her letters to my brother by regis.
tered mail.
DAVID P. SHELTON.
About the 26th of December, 1898 was
the first intimatiop lever had that undue
intimacy existed between r. G. Ross
and Annie Shelton, on that day my
brother Bob called Jim and myself to 60
to his house that he had some letters to
show US. The letters were read by US
and consultation held between US. We
decided to at once get our sister home
from Little Rock. We telegraphed her
| to come home at once that her mother
| was dangerously ill. She left Little
Rock on the evening of the 4th of JAM,
| r. c Ross left Scottsboro the same night
and returned Saturday morning. We
| heard nothing from Annie after she went
to Memphis. John Shelton is my cousin,
myself and brothers look on him as such,
have always treated him as brother.
My sister was always fond Of John as a
relative. was not here at the time of
the killing at Stevenson, had been away
probably week.
| THE above testimony caused about
two hours battle between the attorneys,
but Judge Bridges overulled the objec-
ton under conditions
s. KIRBY.
| live in Little Rock, Ark, | married
Miss DOVE Shelton about 19 years ago.
Annie skelt has visited my house fire
quentiy. She came to my house in Oc-
tober last. er runk had preceded her
several days, when carried her baggage
check, paid about 5000 storage. My
wife and I opened Annes letters, sug-
gested she send them to her broth
| ers in Scottsboro, and shei did no.
Annie received telegram from Bob
SHELTON to come home. that her mother
was i'll. She at once started, and the
| last | heard of her she was at Memphis.
l went to Memphis to trace her, and
found that she had registered at the
Gayoso hotel on Friday, paid her bill on
Sunday and departed. / engaged two
detectives, but got no trace, and did not
know where she was until last Wednes,
day. l found her in Cincinnati, at q
hotel in very bad condition, under the
care of physicians; | would not have
known her under other circumstances
had met her on the street; she was as
white as my shirt, and her eyes black
and sunken. removed her and put her