The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-01-23
THE BONNER TRIAL.
GUILTY Or NOT GUILTY?
Did Uriah Bell, Sheriff. Bell David Gre
die and Will Brantley Murder
I. B. Bonner?
THIS THE JURY SHALL ANSWER
(Editorinl Correspondence.1

(Edit0rinl C0rrespondencel
WAsHISGToN, n c., Jan. %, 1896.
This correspondence closed in last
issue with the evidence Of William
West, which closed the examination
for the second day Of trial.
THIRD AY-wEDNEsDAY JAN. 18th.
On the third day the prisoners were
all in their seats just before court was
opened Urlah Bell smiled in CONVEX
sation with some friend near him.
Sheriff. Bell was not seen to speak to
any one Brantley's father and mother
were sitting near HIM and Rrantley and
wife talked in an undertOne together
while members of the bar and officers
of the court were coming IN and get
ting seats.
Judge Hoke was prompt In having
the court opened just at half past 8
O'Clock After the minutes OF the pre-
ceding day were read and some new
subponas were issued for witnesses, the
court said, Call the next witness Tor
the State
Z. 7. Bonner, the seventh witness,
who had been examined the day before,
was recalled. He gave evidence about
certain distances in the town Of Aurora.
He said distance from the place where
the BODY was found to Brantlev' : house
by the way tracks led from the body is
G05 wards. and around by way Of the
street II is G33 yards.
This witness made various other cal
culatlons OF distance from the map of
the town Of Aurora as he was requested
by counsel.
Nh c. S Dixon was the next witness.
He saw Bonner in his (Bonner's)
store the night OF Nov 23rd and heard
Bonner speak to Hugh Bell. He testi-
store to Nhitehurst and Hudnell's
store and that Bonner soon came IN,
presented draft to Hudnell who paid
It. Bonner spoke about going to
church and some one told him 1t was
too late 10 90 to church.
Here counsel for defense objected to
witness telling what Bonner said to
anv one else Judge Hoke sad he was
inclined to think it competent. Wit
ness then said Bonner babe them good
night and went out to 60 nome.
He had traced the tracks from the
place the bCdy was found to Brantley i
house and It took him :, little less than
five minutes.
Counsel for the Bell boys and Brantly
asked the witness some questions and
he was dismissed.
Mr.. Shaw Bonner was the next wit
ness. The examination was conducted
bv Mr.. Small. Witness is third cousin
10 the murdered man. He said he
cerked for Mr.. Cherry on Saturdays
ard WAS at Mr.. Cherry store the night
OF the murder. He saw Bonner pass IN
front Of the store In which be (Witnessl
was clerking going from towards Wit
ThompSon's store towards home-he
was sure II was Bonner, Tor it was q
moonlight night and 1T was about
O'Clock About thirty minutes later
he saw Uriah Bell at Cherry's store
with a buggy whip in his hand He
left the whip with Fred Alfred, another
clerk in the store, and told him he for
got to bring 1t back before.
Whose buggy had Uriah Bell used 2
asked Mr. Small. Counsel for defense oh
jected to witness telling anything about
the horse and buggy which Bell haC
used The court sustained the States
counsel and allowed the witness t6
answer Witness said that Uriah Bel
had used Mr.. Gaskln's buggy. Bel
remained IN store only few minute:
and seemed in hurry.
Witness was asked by States counse
if he had ever seen Uriah Bell reading
book known as Jesse James Coun
sci for defense objected to this question
Court said that this evidence bv itsel
alone would not be competent, but i
connected with other evidence it nigh
be competent.
Counsel for defense said they die
not care for the jury to hear VIII,
the States counsel desire this eyi
dence about the Jesse JAIME.
book. The States counsel said the,
expected to prove that the defendant.
had read the Jesse James book anf
that the oath in the book was admin
istered to the gang in Brantley's house
and that later they expected to prove
that fragments Of the Jesse James book