The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-06
TANKERSLEY ON TRIAL
For Stabbing Earl Evans at a
Lawn Party.
EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM
Says If Had the Knife Was
Not Aware of 1t.

George Thankersley is on trial in the
district court charged with cutting Earle
Evans a a church social August 26. 1895
The crime is known in law as an assault
with intent to kill The defendant isre-
presented by G. ". c. Jones ana he sat
in court between his facler and mother
with look Of Indifference upon his
face.
The first witness called for the state was
Col. H. W. Lewis His testimony covered
the ground in a general way ofthe social
at his home. 800 North Topeka. August
%, the disturbance by sOmeOUtside per-
sons; the factof Evans, Vincent and his
son Ralph getting cut thar he examined
the wounds.
Earle Evans testified that a disturbance
in the alley in the rear Of the Lewis resi-
dence attracted his attention and he went
out more as a. curio ity seeksr than any
thing else; that ne became mixed up with
some parties who had been disturbing the
proceedings and that in this melee hehad
received some serious cuts. His be tim
preston was that TankersIey was the
man who had done the cutting. The coat
and trousers with the cuts We're exhibited
and described d almost new and not
having cuts or rips when worn TO the
party that night
W. A Vincent testified that he went
out 10 see what was going on and that
in trying 10 assist Evans, who had called
for help. he had received a cut in the left
arm. The man he went after was down
ard ne could have hurt him had he de-
sired TO do 50. He testified that the same
man who cut Evans cut him.
James Oliver testified that Tankersley
had knife when arrested and identified
the knife.
James Cairns testified that when ar
rested Tankersley said that a number OF
persons jumped onto him and ne had
done EN- up"
Huse Moore testifedthat he knew Tank
ersley and that Tankersley had told MIN
he had done some cutting that night
Huse Moore is a logged looking fellow
and said on cross examination he had
been to the reform school and that he had
been arrested. He said while at the re-
form school hehad known Tankersley.
Ralph Harris. who is a boy of 10 years
old testified thar Tankersley came running
down from the corner after he had been
hit on the legs by someone.
This ended the states testimony and
Mr.. Jones for the defendant stated that
would prove that he had been knocked
down and that in defending himself he
had used his fists as he thought he had
a right TO do. That he had been whiting
with his knife and whether he still had
Il in his ard was not able to say. He
certainly had no intention of cutting any
one.
Ralph Lewis was called on the part Of
the defendant. He testified that he had
gone out with a broomstick for emergen-
cies. That some boys had been Jerking
thte wires and had brown tomatoes and
otherthings TO annoy the people on the
lawn. He had taken a broomstick and
gone out to persuade and II necessary to
drive them of. That he had hit two
persons at least with the broomstick
Then there was an effort to clear them
all out. Earle Evans was not then with
his. He told them they had better get
out and someone said, I'VE viii cut you
TO pieces" He was cut on the shoulder
and back.
George Tankersley took the witness
stand in his own behalf. He had not
gone far IN his testimony along the line
indicated by his attorney in the opening
statement when the court adjourned tin
. p. m. today on account Of Colonel
Birds funeral. This afternoon Tankers-
ley Will hnish his testimony and he sub
jected to a rigid cross examination.