The Magnolia gazette., 1899-09-06
GARNER MURDER TRIAL.
SECOND TRIAL OF THOMAS V. GAR,
NER, FOR THE MURDER OF
Mrs. Maggie Causey. Synopsis
of the State Evidence.

0dTHeT was lIiSO anu cOuNlCheu
was the most atrocious ever COM
mitted in this county. On Sun
day, August 81, 1898, Mr.. W. s,
Causey was shot to death while
sitting in a room reading a news
paper at his home in the suburbs
of McComb City. His wife, Mrs.
Maggie Causey, was in the kitch-
enpreparing the midday meal, and
ran out, and around the house
toward the front gate, and was
shot down in the front yard i.
Thomas v. Garner was arrested
by Frank M. Lee, marshal of
McComb City, about two hours
after the awful deed was commit
ted and carried to jackson for safe
keeping. The jury Of inquest
charged him with the crime. Cir
cult court convened here the next
day and the grand jury in sepa-
rate indictments chargedhim with
both murders.
On August %, 1893. Garner was
brought here from jackson and
arraigned on the Indictment
charging him with the murder of
Mrs. Causey, and entered a plea
of not guilty. He stated to the
court that he could not make ar
rangements to employ counsel,
and Judge Cassidy appointed
Messrs. Nixon g. Lotterhos to de-
fend him. Hon. W. A. Parsons
volunteered his services, and dur.
ing the progress of the trial Hon.
E. a.. Mcdowell was called TO
assist in the defense because of
the illness Of Senator Nixon.
And so it happened that the de-
fendant had four able lawyers to
represent him.
The state was represented by
Hon. e. H. Ratcliff, district at
torney, and Hon. F.. a. McLain,
who was employed by Mr.. Cau-
sey's brothers to assist in the
prosecution.
The trial began Monday, Sep.
tember 5. and continued ali the
week. The jury was composed
Of the following named gentle
men: A. j. Raiborn, John /.
Ellzey, s.. G. Boyd, E. T. Page,
j. ID. Brabham, Wade Magee,
w. w. Boyd, Z. G. Tisdale, Nell
son Harvey, w. L. Rhodus, Geo.
p. Walker and julius G.. Afford.
The evidence closed at 3.45
Thursday afternoon, and the ar
gument of counsel at 500 p. m.
the next day. At 1850 o'clock
Saturday morning the jury re-
turned an unqualified verdict of
guilty as charged, and Judge
Cassidy sentenced him to be
hung on October 26, 1898.
The case was taken to the SUI
preme court and was reversed for
new trial, March 81, 1899, be-
cause of incompetent jurors and
admission ofimproper evidence. "
When the case was called for
trial at this term, counsel for de-
fendant asked for a continuance
till then term of court, because
of the absence of two important
witnesses. The motion was over
ruled and a special venire of fifty
was drawn and the case set for
trial Friday.
Before calling the case Friday
morning Judge Truly stated that
he did not want the audience to
make any demonstration of ap-
proval or disapproval Of anything
that was said or done in the trial,
and announced that any violation
of this rule would be promptly
punished
After examining ITO men the
jury was completed at 1880 Fri
day night, and court adjourned
till 8 . O'Clock Saturday morning.
The following is q list of the
jury Fl. NJ. Kinnebrew, r. !.
Walters. >. n, Badon, H. E.
Cothern, Joseph Thompson, Y.
Il. Holmes, b. X. Knight, J. H. |
Stallings. E. ", Ashley, a. w. |
Moore, Calvin Beard and P. III. |
Enoohs.
Tns jury was placed ii charge
at al r. .1Ahnnf1Y1 ard W N Ua1