The morning times., 1896-11-19
HEDiD NOT SHOOT TO KILL
Pearson Admits He Fired 10.
Frighten Ford.
PRISONER ON THE STAND
His Testimony That the Boy He
Killed Had Threatened His Life
Contradicted by Other Witnesses.
Women Tell the Story of the
Tragedy in Georgetown.

Evidence for the prosecution OF the charge
or murder against Christopher Pearson was
completed yesterday afternoon by the testi-
mony OF elem Ford, fatner ol John L.
Ford, the dead man, and the statements
OF Henry u. Bradley, lnonas Taylor, VIII
li;im Proctor, Mrs. Baggett and Margaret
White.
Mrs. Cooper, the woman alleged to have
caused the whole trouble, was in the Wit
ness room, but Mr.. Brney declined to put
her on the sta nd
Mr.. Ford, father Of the deceased, and
Henry p. Bradley told of threats Pearson
had made against the young man who
was killed. f.Lner stated tue de-
tails of an interview had with Pearson
just before Mrs. Cooper went to live with
fearsdn. She was then staying at the
Ford house. and the elder Ford was told
by Pearson that Mrs. Cooper was a COM
panlon of the prisoner. Mr.. Ford added:
He said ii III boy did not stay away from
Mrs. Copper that he would Kill him. l
WOMEN ON THE STAND.
Mrs. Julia Baggett, who lives the second
house from Pearson in Cissel's court, testi
lied that at the tiine oil Tue SHOOTING she
was sweeping her rear yard and talking
| to Miss Margaret White. She was startled
by hearing n pistol shot and Immediately
ran in the house, she was SO "skeart.''
The sound came from the direction of
Fearson's.
Maggie White, young girl, was very
emphatic III her statements and proved the
star witness for the prosecution. She WAS
at her up stairs back window Only one
window separated her from the window
out Of which Pearson did the shooting. She
saw yound Ford enter the Pearson yard
through hole in the rear fence, and GO
ing up to the house, knock on the door.
Almost instantly there was a shot which
flashed out of Fearson's window. She
swore the old man did the shooting She
heard two shots but sa " only one, as she
ran indoors at the first report.
PLEAD JUsTIFIA BILE SHOOTING
This closed the case for the prosecution
and Attorney Taylor, in opening to the
jury, said they would not ueny That Mr..
Pearson mad fired the shots, but he did it
Justifiably Young Ford had harassed
Pearson, had threatened him and assaulted
him, and told him he would kill him. Fear
son was afraid of Ford and to protect
himself fired the shots To scare Ford with
out once dreaming they would take effect.
Pearson was the first witness called for
the defense, and as he shambled across
the room he gave the jury every indication
OF man hardly sufficiently strong to
raise a pistol In his hand. MY name is
Christopher Columbus Pearson, and I am
sixty-ftve years old today" said the prisoner
in answer 10 query from his counsel,
mrs. Cooper came 10 my house the Sun
day morning before the shooting and said
she had been turned out OF doors and wanted
me 10 let her stay at my house for few
days. j never was jealous of Ford, but
/ was afraid of him. He has frequently
threatened me and struck me with stones.
He told me once lie would kill me. /
avoided him all / could
PEARSON ON THE STAND.
Coming down to the night in question,
Pearson told the court that Ford came into
the yard and called and whistled. IT
went TO the window and told him Mrs.
Cooper was not there. A minute later
he came to the door, and when told him
Mrs. Cooper was away he said, You are
= liar and If l could get in l would
kill you He tried to get In, banged on
the door and / took the pistol in my left
hand and fired it downward just to frghten
him.
Oncross- examination by Mr. Birney, Fear
Son ackno wledged having lived unlawfully
at one time with Mrs. Cooper, but quail
fled his admission by saying it was In
Jackson City.
Mrs. Cooper was called by Mr.. Taylor
for the defense and merely asked as to her
relations with Pearson at the time of the
killing. She said they We're not improper
The government recalled Maggie White
and Julia Baggetu. who contrauiC,ed Fear
Son as 10 Ford trying to get in the house
They were both in a position to know for
fully half an hour before the shooting and
the White girl was emphatic that Ford
did not threaten Pearson or raise any
row. The case will be argued by counsel
this morning and go to the jury today.