Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-12-26
NOW THE DEFENSE.
Progress in the Hearne Trial-An At
tempt to Account for Those Bloody
Clothes Virginia Hearne
Tells Her Story.

Tells Her Story.
BOWLING GREEN, Mo-, Dec. 1S.-Ir
the Hearne-S tillwell murder trial the
defense began taking testimony this
morning and has made excellent pro-
gress up to noon. Lyman G. Munger
testified to being at the Munger card
party on the night of the murder.
Progressive euchre was played and
Mrs. Amos Stillwell won the prize.
After the card party the Stillwells and
DIR. Hearne left; also several others,
while some of the young people re-
manned to dance a reel. That done, he
took Virginia home and was met at
the door by her father, who thanked
him for his kindness. This was 1915
to 1890.
Virginia Hearne, the defendants
pretty daughter, 20 years old, said she
reached home about 1890. Her faith
er helped to %unfasten her dress at the
back, then sat down by the bedside of
her grandmother and talked for a long
time. Walker Bryant, colored, had
worked for the Stillwell Meat compa-
ny. He went to the Stiuwell mansion
after the murder. AT the request of
John T.. Stiilwell he took two buckets
of bloody clothes and water that had
been used to prepare a. J. Stillwell's
body for burial and emptied them in
the Vault.
Ed Tower testified to being on
Broadway, at Hannibal, on the night
of the murder, from l TO Ills O'Clock.
He met and talked with two police
men, and saw no M else. This was
the time Dir. Vernette claimed he saw
iIearne going along Broadway. II. c.
Graham and John hoffman testified
to DR.. Hearne's general good charac-
ter and reputation for truth and ve-
racity. Mrs. Bette Blackwell, colored,
worked for Mrs. StiIlweli several
years. She thought she and her hus-
band got along very we'll. She saw
DIR. Hearne there twice, when he
called to see Mrs. Stillwell. when she
had fainting spells. He was there
other times at parties.
The defense then read the deposit
ton of Charles Anderson, father of
Mrs. Stillwell. He reached Hannibal
on the day after the murder, and
found his daughter suffering greatly
from n r1aryynuu chooI Dr Haorna
said she must have perfect quiet, and
visitors must not be allowed to see
her. Was going away when witness
insisted that he should return and
stay all night. After strong persua-
sion, Hearne consented, and, at the
request of witness, stayed in the
house every night until Mrs. Hearne
went to Battle Creek. Then the wit
ness requested DIR. Hearne to go with
her, but he protested. He was very |
busy and had other patients who need
ed his attsution.~Anders insisted. !
and DIR. Hearne finally consented.
Before leaving for Battle Creek Mrs.
Stillwell vas very nervous, and partly |
unconscious, and often insisted on
going down stairs to see Amos. When
she was allowed to go down to see the
corpse the witness supported her on
his arm until she swooned, then DR..
Hearno took her up stairs. The wit
ness was old and feeble, could not sus-
tain her. He never saw anything in
DIR. Hearne's conduct toward Mrs.
Stillwell more than he might be ex-
pected of a physician who was inter-
ested in his patient.
TIA DIVORCE PETITION.
The State unexpectedly rested its
case yesterday afternoon after a long
and futile effort to get before the jury
the certified copy of the divorce petit
ton filed by Mrs. Hearne in San
Diego, Cal, a year ago last August.
Following this it was the intention of
Prosecutor Heather to introduce tes-
timony showing the unhappy life of
the Hearnes. 1t vas also his inten-
ton to go farther and make a point
for his case of the early remarriage of
the parties, which occurred on Sep
TENDER D, 1894, on the theory that
the conclusion they reached to live
again together was based upon fear
that Mrs. Hearne might have to tes-
tify against her husband in case he
was indicted for the murder.
But the history of the married life
of the Hearnes is ancient history;
the contention of the attorneys con-
corning its competency as evidence is
more interesting. In Prosecuting At
torney H.. Clay Heather's opening ad-
dress to the jury he tried to get in the
divorce and remarriage incident, but
Judge Roy overruled him on the
ground that the transaction was too
remote and had no connection with
the crime. Last Friday, when Dick
Stillwell went on the stand, he was