The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-27
THE TAYLORS THREAT
damaging Testimony Against
the Alleged Murderers.
They Would Get Meeks Out of
the Way.
NELLIE MEEKS THERE.
The Little Girl Appears in the
Court Room.

CARRoLLToN, Mo-, July 27.-There
was a good attendance of spectators
when the Taylor case was again called
yesterday morning, although it was
not so large as on the previous days
Prominent among the audience were a
number of handsomely dressed ladies'
The first witness was M. S. Bennett
He said that William Taylor told him
that he knew what Meeks came back
from the penitentiary for, and that he
(Taylor) would get even with him.
L, b. Phillips also testified that Will
lam Taylor told him that they (the
Taylors) would have to get Meeks out
Of the way; that they would get him
out of the way if they had to kill him.
Mrs. Sallie Carter was the principal
witness for the state. AS she took the
stand Nellie Meeks, Hastily attired in a
white dress, wendell her way through
the crowded bar and took her seat on
the lap of P. B. Pierce, prosecuting at
tOrney for Sullivan county. A murmur
ran through the court room and Bill
Taylor threw an unsteady glance in
the direction of the child. She seemed
to possess an irresistible attraction for
Bill, who stole numerous stealthy looks
in her direction during her presence in
the court room, but George was absO-
lutely Indifferent and ignored her
presence.
Mrs. Carter said that on the morning
of the 18th of May, little Nellie Meeks
came to her house all covered with
blood and straw. A big cash was in
the top of her head. She sent Jimmie
Carter out to the straw stack, and he
went up to a man who was narrowing
in the field, and in a minute they both
started for George Taylor's barn.
I IL -. Il
Afterwards Jimmie and the little girl
went over to the straw stack. She
did not want to tell who the man was
that was narrowing, but had to. 1t
was George Taylor. Mrs. Carter said
she went over to the straw stack and
saw the dead bodies
Jimmie Carter said he told the man
narrowing in the field that the little
girl had said her little sister was
under the straw and was dead, and
asked him to come to help find her.
He said: 'Let some one else find her.
and took Jimmie to the house with
him. GOoch and Gibson then testified
as to the wagon and harrow tracks,
describing the direction in which they
ran.
The 4 ST. witness after dinner was
Jerry South, and his testimony was
strong and to the point He described
in detail the capture and return of he
Taylor brothers to Missouri. The de-
Tense was unable to shake his testi-
mOny in the least. In the cross ex-
animation Colonel Hale asked him if
he guarded the prisoners the three
days he had them in Little Rock Mr.
South said one night he was away and
left them in charge of another man.
Colonel Hale wanted to know where
he went that night, and South finally
said he went to see his sweetheart
Colonel Hale asked if she was white or
colored, and this almost precipitated a
row. South was very indignant. and
insisted that if the court did not pro-
tect him from insult he would protect
himself, and made a move as if to leave
the stand to resent it. Colonel Hale
asked him if he was armed, and South
said he was. Colonel Hale said he
would not be inundated by a witness,
and witness said he would not be in
Inundated by an attorney. The court
interfered, and peace was restored.
South told in detail of the sever al
conversations he had had with the
Taylors on the trains coming up. They
admitted that they had written the let
ter to Meeks and that they had offered
him 81, 900 to leave the country. They
said that they would prove an alibi,
that they had taken the Meeks family
as far as StOner's corner and sent them
on their way and that they must have
been murdered by some one for the
money.
Colonel Hale conducted the cross
examination. South said that Bill
told him that they were at the Meeks
house on the night of May 10, but that
they were not recognized, as old Mrs.
Meeks did not know George and
George had gone to the house to re-
move the family, while Bill remained
outside in the dark. He went to
Buffalo City without gun to arrest
the Taylors, relying on his ability to
get a gun when he got there.
You went to arrest those two des-
perate men without gun?" said Col
onel Hale. ''YOu are a brave young
man"
Il knew I could get gun when
got there" said South.
How did you know you could get a
gun?"
Il can get meal or a gun any
and it took some minutes for the
laughter to subdue.
Attorney Conkling moved over to
where Hale sat and the colonel asked:
''Where were you that night?'
II prefer not to say"
Then COnkling made another supges-
ton and South hared up and said:
I on had better be careful, Colonel
Hale" Conkling asked his famous
question once more, Are you armed,
Mr. South?"
Its none of your business said
South, ''but know my rights in this
court and if the court cannot protect
me 1 am capable of protecting myself"
There was moment of excitement
and smiling faces sObered down.
The court raped for order, and said
to Colonel Hale: ''Such language is
not permissible in this court. I will
not allow the witness to be insulted.
Mr.. Conkling, I want you to keep out
of this cross examination and stop
these side remarks"