The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-04-13

nlCl6. Next Gay Lle places where INC
blood stains had been were burned and
charred.
Jerry South, who arrested the Tay-
lors at Buffalo City, Ark, testified that
they were going under assumed names
there and made an attempt to resist,
he having to bring a shotgun to bear
on them.
A strange feature of the states case
was that little Nellie Meeks was not
placed on the stand. There has been
no satisfactory explanation why she
"a not, and it is supposed that she
was probably unable to identify the
Taylors as the murderers.
THE DEFENSE.
Bill Taylor testified that he worked
at the bank the night of the murder
until 10 o'clock and then went home.
He also said that George vas in town
that day to see him, but left for home
after taking supper with him. George
claimed that he went home direct from
his brothers house a%ndspent the night
at home. Their wives corroborated
their stories. Witnesses also claimed
to have seen William Taylor working
in his bank at 10 o'clock that night.
The father of the Taylors stated that
the charred spots in the wagon bed
where it vas alleged there had beer
blood stains were the result of fire
caused by the kettle while they were
killing hogs.
The Taylors explained their flight
after the crime by stating that they
knew hat they had bitter enemies
who would try to fix the crime or
them, and hat in the excitement
which would be worked up they feared
mob violence. Nearly all the strong.
est evidence in their behalf was giver
by relatives. They also produced wit
nesses to show the bad reputation O..
some of the states witnesses.
There was nothing marked about
the proceedings yesterday. The CROWD
was, perhaps, a little larger than usu.
al. d. NJ. Fields, who first spoke fol-
the state, occupied his time with the
states view of the two wagon tracks
in George Taylor's barn yard, and the
wonderful coincidence of his harrow
track so nearly covering those of the
wagon. He spoke for about an hour.
V. NJ. Conkling, one of the most
active of the attorneys for the defense.
spoke for nearly two hours, working
upon the sympathies of the jury in be.
half of his clients, and dealing largely
with the personnel of the witnesses.
assuring the jury that, contrary to the
statement of the state, it took nerve tc
acquit rather than to convict, and call.
ing attention to the fact hat eight OF
the twelve jurymen had sworn to hav.
ing an opinion which they could lay
aside to render a verdict according to
the evidence, and appealing to 'them
that they do it.
Maj. Mullins followed for the state,
characterizing this as "a ease of re.
markable character, nor was there ever
n more startling in character OF
more cruel in its nature that ever tool
place within the bounds of this coun.
try of ours. 1t is not the outcome of
Christian teaching. but it comes along
down the annals of time, an exhibition
of ~barbarism, cruelty that will linger
in all the history of the past"
The major spoke for nearly three
hours, the loon recess dividing his
time.
EX-Congressman J. 3. Hale made the
closing speech for the defense, using
about three hours summing up the
evidence for the defense, and culling
that for the state, throwing aside
which he characterized as unnatural
and contrary to human nature, dis
carding that of impeached witnesses,
and asking a verdict of acquittal on
the grounds that the states case had
lost many links to complete the chain
of circumstantial evidence necessary
to convict, not failing to appeal for an
acquittal on account of the wives of
the defendants and their children.
AT the night session Prosecuting At
torney Bresnehan closed the ease for
the state, going over the instructions
for the state, explaining the duties of
the jury, and appealing for justic e,
which the counties of Linn, Sullivan
and Carroll and the state of Missouri
demands at the hands of the jury. He
touched principally on circumstantial
evidence, its character and prevalence,
showing that the murderer sought not
the light of day, but the darkness of
night, and well surrounded by hone. He
then impressed the jury that a verdict
of guilty vas not all there was in the
case, and that no more responsibility
rested upon them for a verdict of this
kind than on the grand jury in finding
the indictment, or on the prosecuting
attorney for drawing the papers.
The instructions were then given to
the jury, and Deputy Sheriff Cum
mings took the oath to take charge of
them and allow no communication
with them until they should be dis
charged. They were informed by the
court that they were in the hands of
the deputy sheriff. whereupon they
retired.
A NOBLE RESCUE