Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-11
STORIES DIFFER SLIGHTLY,
But Witnesses for the Defense in the
Eastman Case, Agree,
Generally, Upon the Statement
That Thompson Fired Two Shots
Before Eastman Used His Gun.
Admitted That tho Prisoner
Struck Thompson and Used Elk
tremely Offensive Language Be-
fore Hostilities Began-Some Rcd
Hot Gross denominations Indulged
Tn
Special to the Register.

Parsons, w. Va, December lO.-lt
was torturous cross-examlnatlon
which Mr.. Howard, for the state,
resumed this morning upon Allen
Hayes, the last witness on the stand Tor
the defendant yesterday, in the East
ham case, Mr.. Towards efforts to
break down the witnesses direct state
ments were vigorous in the extreme and
formed a notable chapter in the history
of this famous case.
Norman Smith, the first witness to be
examined in chief this morning, testl-
fed that he was in the rear end OF the
special car at Parsons on the fatal even
ing of the shooting and heard somebody
cry: put him out" Looking up, wit
ness saw Thompson come down the
aisle of the car, and take seat about
two-thirds of the way toward the rear,
with Eastman following about two
steps behind. AS Thompson was in the
act of sitting down, Eastman reached
his side, and witness saw his hand go
past Thompsons face, but whether it
struck him or not witness did not know.
He heard Eastman call him a Cd
d-n perjured s-n of b-h, and then
walk On down the aisle. Thompson put
his hand into his coat pocket. and drew
a pistol as he got up. and stepping
into the aisle, followed Eastman until
he came up close enough to put his
hands on him, when he placed his pis-
toll within two or three inches Of East
hams breast and fired; then he fired
a second shot, Eastman standing still
all the while, doing nothing. Then
Eastman returned the fire and the
shooting became general. Witness sta
ted, on cross-examination, that he and
Hayes and Silver had all been chummy
with the prisoner and had no good feel
ing for Thompson, and indirectly ad-
mitted that all Of them were mixed up
in the preparation of the cartoon that
did so much to provoke the trouble on
the day of the tragedy, the witness hav-
ing furnished Eastman with the colored
pencils with which the drawing was
done, and having visited the latter at
his home the day before to see how he
was coming on with the work. He also
admitted that he had been frequent
visitor upon Eastman at the Jail.
]. A. G. Allen, the next witness, was
in the rear of the car, he said, when
Eastman came up to Thompson and
said: What are you doing in here, you
Cd d-n s-n of b-h?" and made
move as if to drag him from the seat.
Witness called out Bob, you Cd
d--n fool, leave him alone East
hkm then walked down the aisle and
Thompson then came out of the seat
nth his hand in his pocket, and come
dpwn the aisle toward Eastman. Shoot
{ g then occurred and witness dropped
OWN behind a seat. He did not see
whO\ fired first nor see any pistols at
all
Charles Lambert averred that he saw
Eastman come up to Thompson and
FLAP him as he sat in his seat, and then
pass on. Thompson got up, pulled
pistol and opened fire. Eastman tried
to pull a pistol from his coat pocket,
but failed, and began shooting through
his pocket. Thompson fired the first
two shots. Mr.. Dayton fiercely cross
examined this witness and got him
somewhat mixed.
John w. Hickman said he was in
the car and saw Eastman come down
the aisle to Thompson, and exclaim:
I'VE don't want no d-n traitors on
this carr and as he got the word "car"
out, he struck Thompson. Then, with
out stopping. witness thought he con-
tinued on down the aisle, and Thomp-
son stepped out of his seat. and began
firing. This witness contradicted the
assertions of the other witnesses for the
defense, that Thompson came up close
to Eastman, and placed his pistol with
in two or three inches of his breast.
Witness said Eastman fired from his
pocket, but not until after Thompson
had shot at him twice. Hickman was
cross-examined by Mr.. Davis.
Howard ]. Wagner, one of the at
torneys for the defense, was the next
witness. He said as Eastman was get
ting on the steps of the car, some one
said to him: Bob, these fellows have
no right to go up on this car" and East
ham replied: "No, we don't want any
On traitors on this car" Eastman
then came down the aisle and witness
did not notice anything further until
he heard little noise behind him. when
he turned in time to see Eastman pass
ing on down the aisle, and Thompson
standing partly raised in his seat, with
revolver in his hand. He heard
report just thee, and saw fire flash from
Thompson's revolver, and run right in
to Eastham's clothes at the breast.
Thompson then extended his revolver
a little further and a little higher and
witness heard smother report, but did
not see that hash. After that came a