The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-19
Though BrantIey Looks Care-Worn,
the Bells Seem Indifferent and
Often Laugh During
the Trial.

the rial
Washington, n. c., Jan. ts.-(Spe-
cial.) .)-The State continued its evil
dence to-day by introducing W. 4.
Bryan, who stated that one night. the
week of the murder, he started home
and saw a man under suspicious cir
cumstances. (Credle stated Sheriff.
beii was TO get Bryan on Wednesday
night.)
j. w. Flowers, Jr, corroborated
Credle as to Brantley's going in the
woods to Creole, and also as to the
nights that Creole went to Aurora. but
contradicted himself as to who toel
Creole to Aurora Wednesday night of
the murder. He was corroborated as
to eli other times. He also corrobo-
rated Credle rs to Drantley and wife
being at his fathers Sunday night af-
ter the murder. Brantley said, 'SXVell.
Boss, If they get blood hounds down /
would be afraid of them if / had done
anything, it is rainy" He also corro-
borated II. b. Thompson as to Credle
and Brantley going up stairs and talk
ing low, and being together at other
times
NJ. j. Fowler, chief of police of Wash
ington, n. c., and detective, stated that
he went to Aurora Sunday after the
murder, and that he examined the two
sets OF tracks leading from the BODY.
and coTroborated Cherry as to the
tracks. He exhibited the shoes Credle
and Brantley had on at the time OF
arrest, the brass knucks, the pistol
Brantley had on his person, and the
one found in Brantley's house. He re-
lated about the arrest as has been
stated, and said that Credle and Brant-
ley were taken to his room in the hotel
separately and questioned as TO their
whereabouts on Saturday night OF the
murder. Said that no threats or
promises were made to them, and that
their statements differed as to where
they were. He corroborated the other
witness as to- what took place that
night. and corroboFated Creole as to
what ne said in the confession; said
Brantley said the pistol he had on his
person was UI'iah Bells, and Che one
taken from his house was his own.
Said he was in the grand jury room
each time Creole was there, that the
grand jury sent for him. He stated
that he expected pay for his services
i'm the case, that he went to Aurora
three times to work up the case.
7. y. Bonner. Jr.. said he was in
aurora the night of the murder; that
between and o'clock he saw Sheriff.
Bell going by Lee Thompson's store,
and that there was a man little ahead
of Bell; that at another time he saw
Credle and another man pass VIII
Thompson's store
r. L. Jones corroborated Credle as
10 his asking him about blood hounds
Sunday evening, and said he was on
his guard Tuesday morning, and that
Credle sent for John Flower and
Brantley sent for Lee Thompson. CThis
is the time Credle made his first con
fession) Said he borrowed the Jesse
James book from Brantley, and that
Brantley's left leg was broken last
spring
Robert Best said that lie and Bell
roomed together. He corTOborated
Mrs. Mary Best as to Brantley's being
there to see the Bells, and said both
had 32-calibre pistols. On one occasion,
week before the murder, Brantle
and Uriah Bell were in the barn. Bell
was lying ON a bale of cotton and
Brantley was on his knees by him;
they were talking low and stopped
when | entered. Some days before
this Brantley came, and Brantley and
Bell were on the back of the lot sitting
on log talking / came up and asked
what they were talking about, and
the said, it was no harm to get horse
out of ditch, was it?T had seen the
Bells and Brantley go into the woods
back of the house. They practiced
and Brantley and Uriah Bell
were together often and were intimate.
Bell said he had read Jesse James
book. There is an oath in the book
and it is very binding"
Wyatt Best corroborated Mrs. Mary
Best, his wife, as to what was said and
done by the Bells and Brantley before
and after the murder, and also Robert
Best,and as TO the Jesse James book,
and said it contained an oath. Said
Brantley has broken leg which
causes him to turn his left toe in. Said
on the night of the murder both the
Bells ate supper and left. That Brant-
ley was there in the afternoon and that
he met Creole going toward Aurora
about dark. He said that on Monday
afternoon after the murder, Uriah Bell
came and touched him ON the arm.
They walked off and he said: HAS
been arrested?"
81 said Yes and he made no reply,
seemed surprised and looked up to-
wards the sky" Said the Bells and
3rantley were intimidated.
The State has examined fifty-four
witnesses and will continue next week.
There are about 120 in all, for both
sides, and it will take all of next week,
t not longer, to end the case.
Brantley looked tired this morning,
,ut the Bells are bright,