The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-11-26
HEDRICK CONVICTED.
Murder in First Degree.

The jury in the Hedrick case, after
being out one hour, ratur ed verdict
this afternoon Of guilty of murder 1,
the first degree.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The taking OF testimony In the Head
rick case was COM luded on 18th inst. at
jackson. After Shc conclusion Of thv
Testimony on behalf of the State. The
testimony on the part of the defendant
vas Begun.
The State, ~ their attorneys, si1Gs-
ply proved the details of the shocking
tragedy without any apparent effort,
showing a motive of the murder.
It seemed TO be the theory of the de-
fense that there was ct love q fair
carried on clandestineIs between the
defendant and the daHghter of tbs
murdered man. Il Was attempted to
prove that she had written .one or
more lette~s TO the liefendarL to this
effect.
The defendant tt=.oiz5.G thai tsft..l. ;re
had been discharged by Mr. Lail ne
was fOrh, dden the premises end wGr n
ed 10 keep away. There we-e nc .ac-
tual ey2; witnesses 20 the first shot
fired by Hcadrick at Mr.. Lail.Ehile
they were inside Of the 50arn. We
give below the version of the defend
ant, as detailed by him or the pst ness
stand.
The youthful mu-elerert.stitisd, That
he was - yeas's OF age.~. ihe.ijh of
May last. aEd ts-ut he s-.s> IiGc party
charged with the 14urde1- uf-J;izzcs VI.
Lail. He was 2sked ho.. long g.e had
been upon tie premises prize 10 the
date the al I.a-G. w.ii1h occs-:r,C On
Friday. Judy Jst: AID he replied:
Ever since Wednesla: nigh: before
that. He has asked If YOU had
warted t, murder anybody. did you
have an opportunity 10 do - during
the lime .s"H Wednesday until the
first of JU.E2 He replied: ..-as. sir.
How maIg days was that:
One day and Two nights.
What caused you "a go to i.se prem
.ises OF lIr. LguI on N-ednesd> : uIeht:
Te see hi daughter
Hos eiu ,n9 live from Wednesday
i-nt uutn Friday morning how did
ycJ get ~; tiag tc .eat:
Is aau--a.r fetched me focd.
Enere a. "ou sleep:
N I'm .-lLL.5 hay loft.
Day or Il "a:
In .he d4y and palt OF the sti--,.
Did Mis- all meet you.morc raan
once durin. the time yuu ver" there?
Yes. sir.
Now, to u back I wlll ,.,k you if
yen and Miss LatI .yere swssthearts:
Yrz. siv.
How long lal yor been smsothear:-:
Since feU days before I42eHt there
iir IIarch about a week.
When dil that attraction. shat mn
tua. attraction between you J"gin:
a. Charles loves dance.
How long ago was that dane:
The last part of January o. the first
of February.
Hcw did you come to seeF emp ,oy-
ment from Mr.. Lail?
His daughter wrote me a letter and
told me to ask her father COR Il Job
and he would give it TO me.
Did you go:
Not until he came S1fter NE.
Did you begin work for Mr.. Lail:
Yes, sir.
How long did you work for him:
/ worked a few days over three
l believe.
About when were yog discharged?
Along about the 18th of June.
Was the relations between you and
his daughter unusually friendly in
that time
Yes, sir.
State if you heard from the daugh-
ter of Mr.. Lail after yoB Were dis
charged and before you went there on
Wednesday before the tragedy
l did, yes.
How did you hear from her? L
got a letter from her. {
What did that letter ask you to do? |
1t asked me to come down to see her
and l went. {
Where were you very early Friday
of the tragedy?
was around the premises OF Mr..
Lail there. II
Was any one else with you that {
very early or the latter part
ofthe night-before daylight?
Yes, sir, Jessie Lail. Is
Where did she 60 when she left you:
She went to the house, l suppose.
When did you next see Jessie Lail: C
That morning out milking.
Who was with her at that time?
Her father and mother.
How close were you to the barn !