The herald., 1897-01-26

In answer to the coroner's question
Howerton said: II was walking on the
side toward the street. The men were
right onto us when / got the lick. I
did not know what they struck me
with. I suppose threw UP my hand
and busted my thumb. I might have
got q lick on my right shoulder, too"
The coroner remarked that the slight
mark on the witness right temple did
not look much like bruise from club.
but Howerton declared that was where
he was hit.
did you go into q room where there
were nigger women?" asked the cor
oEer.
mo, we did not" answered the wit
ness.
Witness was asked a great many
questions relating to what he had just
gone over, especially about the two
men who were following him and Bel
lew about the disputes Jim had been
engaged in, and especially about the
dead mans conduct In the dance house
on Main street
Then Detective Hawley asked ques-
tion which greatly upset the witness.
when you came back with Foster
and couldn't find Bellew where you left
him, didn't you go up Alameda street
to a two-story frame building and say
to Foster: Let's stop here and go up
stairs to see If we can find out about
.Jim?' Didn't you go up stairs and stay
five or ten minutes?"
The witness colored, hung his head
and replied: But didn't stay five
minutes"
"What was your object in going up
stairs? Hadn't Bellew been up there p"
HE did go up there, but he told
me not to give him away. We went up
there and we were coming down Ala
media street."
When the coroner had warned the
witness that he had sworn to tell the
truth, and yet was trying to conceal
something essential to the finding of a
murderer, the witness reluctantly told
how when he and his companion were
walking along Alameda street two COL
ored women, one dark and the other
light, stood in a doorway and invited
them to enter. The two men went in
and accompanied the light woman up
stairs to a bedroom. The two men and
the mulatto woman sat there about five
minutes when young colored man
came in and was introduced as BILLY
the Kid" The four drank whisky out
of Howerton's bottle. The two white
men stayed there fifteen or twenty min
utes, and then continued their way
down the street. Witness asserted that
there had been no quarrel. no jealousy
al the "nigger" joint. The colored man
was not the same one Jim had words
with at the dance hall. No money was
displayed at the place. and Howerton
does not remember whether he took
out his watch or not. He does not think
the colored man was one of the two
who followed him and Jim, and does not
think there were any other men in the
house at the time.
Witness explained his reluctance in
telling about the visit to the negro house
by saying that Jim was the best friend
he had in the world, and, he did not want
his folks to know he had visited such a
place. Witness felt some compunction
on his own account, for his wife has
been dead only two weeks.
DR.. Hagan, the police surgeon, testl-
fled to his treatment of the patient, Bel
lew, at the receiving hospital An au-
topsy was made at the undertaking par
lors just before the inquest, and as
result the doctor was able to say that
tn cause of death was conclusion of the
brain from hemorrhage and fracture of
the skull The doctor had asked the
young man questions as to who had hit
him. and though Bellew seemed at times
quite rational he could not, or would
not. say who hit him. The doctor gave
his opinion that Bellew did not want to
say.
Mounted officer Woodward testified.
to his finding the injured man and send
ing for the patrol wagon at l 80 a. M
Sunday, as has already been told. When
Bellew was taken up the officer gathered
up the two pieces of cane made of a
billiard cue; two hats. straw hat
which Howerton had dropped and ligh.
colored felt hat belonging to some
unknown. He found also a piece Of
cloth. In his opinion the fight had oc-
CURED in the street.
Policeman j. B. Robbins related the
part he had taken in carrying the
wounded man to the receiving hospital.
He, too, had questioned Bellew and is
of the opinion that the young man dia
mot want to tell who had, hit him.
William w. Foster. the next witness,
was companion of Howerton and Bel
lew during part of the evening. Hle
testified to the quarrel with the mu-
-sicians at the dance hall over some
cigarette buttons Jim was wearing. He
said that two men. representing them
selves as friends of the pool room man
who had had an alteration with Bel
lew. came to him and apologized for
their friends behavior. saying that Bel