The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-22
IN BONNER MURDER TRIAL
They Continue Their Efforts to
Prove an Alibi.
COURT ROOM WAS CROWDED
The Principal Witness Was Hugh Bell,
the Brother of the Defendants,
Who Was in Bonner's
Employ.


ants Bell continues. There were a
number of ladies in the court room
to-day. The interest i'm the trial con
tinues undated, the court room being
The trial began this morning by the
recall of w. A. Thompson, who stated
that Geo. Williamson could have seen
him go to Cherry's on the night of the
murder.
c. G. Sparrow testified that he was
in Aurora the night of the murder He
said he was in DIR. Smithwick's Office
and that Uriah Bell was passing and
he hailed him, that Bell came about
O'Clock and was there about an hour.
and III about ten minutes w A.
Thompson came in He did not re-
member whether Bell went out or not.
John Matthews, Urah Bell and
went into the country about o'clock
He said Bell did not seem excited when
he came into the office. On cross
examination he stated that he was
not associated with Bell in a lyncbing
some months ago.
John Matthews stated about the
same facts as to Bells going into
SmithWick's S office and said they went
in the country.
W. 4. ThompsOn's and that Bell came
into the Office after Thompson came.
John Taylor. colored, said that be
tween and o'clock he went To
Thompson's store and bought pair
OF socks and Bell was in there at the
time.
Wallace Guilford said about dark
Sunday night, after the murder. he and
Aurora. They overlook Uriah Bell
and took him up and that he was with
him all night, except few minutes
when Bell went off with his brother
Hugh, and that they guarded Bon
ner's store that night Said that Bell
did not leave himself and Harry Bon
ner, except the time he went off with
Hugh Bell. This was the night Credle
stated that Bell gave him the store
key. (Hugh Bells wife is the witness
sister, Said he saw two men under
Whitehurst's stOop. (This is when
Creole stated he and Paul were there
and Uriah Bell beckoned him across
the street and gave him the lley.)
Henry Bonner, Jr., stated about the
same facts as Guilford except that he
saw Credle and Paul under White
hurst's stoOp He stated that he saw
Sheriff. Bell in Bonner's store the
night of the murder.
Guilford and Bonner were sure Uriah
Bell did not leave. but could not say
as to other parties who were there.
They both stated that Hugh and Uriah
Bell said when they went off that they
got q gun and carried it into Bonner's
store; that when they went in the
store 10 watch, they found gun.
c. S. Dixon was here put on the
stand, and said they borrowed his gun.
Hugh Bell, brother of the defendants
Bell, testified that he and Uriah went
for the gun and carried it in the store.
II left and went home and saw him no
more until next morning" Witness
said he saw Sheriff. in the Bonner
store the night of the murder. 81
asked him to stay with me, and he said
he did not know, as he was going TO
take medicine. Bonner came IA while
ne was there"
On cross-eXamination he SAID When
he first saw Sheriff. after he was ar
,'asted, it was in the hall, and he did
not sav .he could not prove where he.
was the night o. the murder. Il might
have said, why did yC''!! not accept my
invitation to stay with me tha'
night"
In answer TO further questions, wit
ness said that the night of the murder
he went home just after eleven o'clock,
took his shoes off, and was sitting in
front of the fire; that he heard
n noise at the window, like the blinds
turning; he went out. looked around,
saw no one, came back and got Ian
tern and went TO the stables, cleaned
them out. put saw-dust in there and
returned and found his wife asleep.
He said he did not see Uriah or Sheriff.
Bell out there, if he had he would tell
it. Said he had never been out TO the
stables at that hour before. but he
kept the keys to the barn and stables
and always went to lock them when he
came home. When asked If he was
swearing falsely to save his brothers,
he said, II don't think | would, but if
/ were placed in such circumstances /
might think differently. Bonner did
not tell me he did not want Uriah in
the store. but said | could do the
work without help. The night of the
murder l paid Bonner SIS or S22. /
think ne put it in the safe. | did not
have the combination"
Mary Crawford and ". J, Boyd tes-
titled that Uriah Bell was at the dance
the week before the murder.
Adam Holmes, Wiley Hunter and
Mary Eliza Eason, all colored, testified |
that Dave Watson said he was near the |
Bells just before they were arrested,
but he could not hear what they said |
The defendants Bell will go on the |
stand tomorrow.