The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-08
IN THE HALLS Of JUSTICE
PROCEEDINGS IN THE TWIN DIS
TRICT AND COUNTY COURTS
ON YESTERDAY.
IN ASSAULT 70 MURDER Case TRIED
Heavy Civil Business Before Judge
Walker Yesterday - Criminal
Cases to He Taken Up Again
This Morning.

In the Twenty-sixth district court yes
terday, Judge Brooks presiding, the fol-
lowing proceedings were had:
The State VS.. Ed Martin, assault with
intent to murder.
This is the man whom it is alleged as
saulted Mr. John Rankin some time last
summer and attempted to kill him with
a knife.
Mr.. John Rankin testified that he met
defendant one evening at his livery stable.
"He came to the stable to hire horse
and buggy, to be used, he said, about an
hour. l let him have the buggy and he
did not return that night, and the next
morning heard that my horse and buggy
were down about the Montopolis bridge.
I went down there and found my mare
in a field, all tore up with barbed wire.
| The buggy was all broke no, with the
| top lying on the side. went to Mr..
Rogers place, and the defendant was
there. No one else was there at this
time. l said to him, now you have played
| the devil. He said. Il reckon not and
said you'll think so before this thing
is over with. He said: We'll, you had
better settle it now,' and he drew a
knife, saying Cd d-n you, I'll kill you
| nOw,' and he cut at me several times,
7 while | was in the buggy. The knife
seemed to have blade about five or six
inches long"
After several moments witness said he
| jumped out of the buggy, and the de-
PENDANT still kept after him. A woman
ran out of the house, screaming and cry
ing and the defendant went to her to
buggy and rode off. The woman's name
he said. was Laura Fair. He learned it
afterwards. Witness brought her to
town, at the request of Mr.. Rogers, SO
| that she could get to her father, and he
| left her at a restaurant in tOwn, where
her father got her. Again referring to
| the difficulty, and after he drove off, wit
ness said: 81 went to Mr. Rogers house,
| then, and offered my buggy and horse
for a gun, as wanted TO protect myself"
Mr.. Rogers did not see the trouble,
witness said. A Mr.. Yearkin informed
him that he believed the horse and buggy
Asked how Yearkin happened to see
the difficulty, witness said:
"Mr. Yeargin was in town and was
going home, and | asked him to get in
my buggy and ride and lead his horse
When we reached Rogers place, Mr..
Yeargin got out of the buggy, and, mount.
ing his horse. started home, and drove
up to the house, where met the defend
ant"
| Witness said he was unarmed.
MIR. Willie Yeargin testified that no
knew defendant. He was some thirty
or forty yards off when the difficulty took
place. He saw no one but the defendant
and Mr.. Rankin. He could not hear what
was said, but he saw defendant strike Of
Mr.. Rankin. A woman ran out of tho
house, screaming, and defendant went n
her. Witness, coming to town, saw Mr.
Rankin's horse and knowing the horse
he told Mr.. Rankin about him when hs
reached town. Witness said when he
lett Mr.. Rankin at Rogers, he rode n
rev steps and stopped. He thought he
neard Mr.. RANKIN call the defendant ont
Inen ne heard them talking but conld
not understand what they said. He then
saw tue defendant strike at Mr.. Rankin
anu ne jumped out of his buggy. 81 did
not see any woman. but | heard one
screaming saw Mr.. Rankin get
IN tn'o n, 'ne buggy and drive over
,so, Sir, rogers. | saw the defendant
Waih up 10 @ the buggy and strike at Mr.
tha h Snac When Mr. Rankin got back into
a"9 ON, nsss ne nailoaed at me to bring him
Hs ,bo anu l halioad back that had none.
H. s .len drove down to Mr. Rogers I
kin drove Sve IN. uf e after Mr.. Ran.
mhe state rested.
Inc attorneys for the defenso Mo-.
: cranberry and Houston. then b,d Si Es