Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1895-11-29
sFARKE, FLORIDA, FRIDAY. SovEMBER 20, 1895.
so SAYS THE JURY OF THE
KILLING OF BOWLING.

4
Spectators from ssals County Rres-
emit aS the Trial.
The trial of 81. n. Driggers for the
murder of Tax Collector R. T. Bowling
began in the circuit court in Jacksonville
Tuesday morning. About thirty wit
nesses were summoned from this county
by the defense and prosecution. and a
number Of the relatives and frIends of
Driggers and the murdered man were In
attendance upon the trial.
During Tuesday the testimony Of the
witnesses for the prosecution was taken
and Is very similar to the recount of the
murder published by the TELEGRAPH
shortly after its occurrence.
Justice E. F. Chase was the frst wit.
ness called and testified in substance that
be was present during the COMPENSATION
between Dnggers and Bowling with ref
erence 10 the latter having gone on the
bond Of John Simpson, whose arrest
Driggers caused for having euticed his
son away from. home, He heard Orig
gers say to Bowling. II think it is d-n
poor business for a county officer to 20
on mans bond Ia justice court" and
heard him make the remark that "a coun-
ty officer could go on mans bond; that
he made money that he did not have 10
work for" To this Bowling replied:
you have said enough, Mr. Driggers;
that is none Of your business" The viii
ness next saw Driggers between 8 and 4
O'Clock in the afternoon Of the same day
He was driving along the road and saw
Dnggers with his gun. Driggers stopped
hir and wanted Bowling arrested for
bull DOING" He was told that no war
rant could be issued unless Bowling had
abused him. and wen. on his way. The
witness next Saw Bowling On the follow
ing morning when he held an inquest
over his body.
]. ID. Gsiney was then sworn. He
stated that lie saw Driggers on the morn
ing of July %, last, at his house about IL
o'clock. He met bin later near Dekles
mil, between and o'clock the same
afternoon. They went to the mill to-
gether. Witness then accompanied Orig
gers home. DrIggers asked witness to
carry note TO Downing. The witness
agreed, and WAS to go first 20 Dowlings
house, and afterward to the mill. He
found Bowling at the mil. He was out
on the pond near the mill, fishing with
Thomas J. Dekle, owner of tine mill,
The witness called them, and went
down TO the pond 10 meet them. He
handed the 1Ote to Dekle, who gave IL
to Bowling. He said, tell him all right,
l will call in day or two and make Q
settlement" The witness returned to
Driggers store. and told him sll that had
occurred In reference 10 the delivery OF
the note. He seemed to be very angry
and said: He has got to settle it at
once: nc has got 20 come 70 Z settlement,
but If be fools with me III be id il
cont empty my old gun into him. "
Driggers thea reached behind the counter
IN the store. and took the gun, and laid
1t ON the counter. This was about two
hours before sunset on the day Of July
"a.
T. ]. DekIe testified that he was with
Bowling fishing in the Deklc mill pond
when he OOwling) received the note from
Drggers from the hands of Carney.
Later in the afternoon he went With
Downing to Driggers' store. Bowling
told Driggers that he had come to settle
the account. Driggers took some time to
look up the account. and durng the time
repeatedly remarked that be did not thiuk
Bowling had treated bin right To this
Bowling paid very little attention, only
saying that they would settle the account
first and the other matter aftcrwaId.
When the account was settled the witness
went home with Bowling. who soon af-
lerward left the house.
Here the statement of Mrs Downing
enters the chain Of evidence aud shows
that her husband left home soon after his
arrival with Dekle. at her request, TO get
the weeks washing. She saw Driggers
standing by the road talking with Justice
Chase. Her husband passed them and
Driggers soOn sfIeEwsrd turned and
walked away in the direction Of his store,
that being the same direction that her
husband had gone. She. then walked over
to the house of a near Deighbor. She had
been there only few minutes when she
heard the report of q gun, and, looking
out, saw the mule that her husband had
ridden running down the road. She
caught the mule and tied 1t to fence.
She saw blood on the saddle and on the
mules shoulder. and repaired with all
possible speed in the direction of Orig
gers store Arriving there she found her
husband lying on the ground dead. She