The Forrest City times., 1899-03-24
FOUR HELD WITHOUT BAIL.
Resuit of the Coroner's Inquest Over ihoss
slain In the Riot at Hot springs-Dam-
aging Evidence Against sherin
Williams and His Brother.


jury without bail.
1t seems the meeting of the two rae
lions was accidental. Spear and HIM
kle got into difficulty, Hinkle using .
knife, cutting Spear about the neck.
The latter drew his pistol and shot
Hinkle dead. Chief Toler and Sar'
geant Goslee heard the shots and rushed
to the scene. Just about this time
young Williams and his uncle arrived,
and thinking It was an encounter be-
tween Spear on the one side and Tolar
and Goslee on the other, they opened
fire.
All the evidence before the coroDer's
jury seems to prove beyond doubt
that Sheriff Williams shot Detective
Hart. Those held to the grand jury
without bail are Sheriff Williams, Will
Watt, nephew of the sheriff, Coffee
Williams and Ed Spear.
Everything is quiet, and no further
trouble is looked for.
Below is given the evidence before
the coroner's jury:
VIM. Smith testified that he was in
his restaurant about p. m, saw John
Williams and Tom Goslee talking and
shaking hands. About five minutes
later he heard some shots, and about
same time Ed Spear came running into
his place with his throat cut.
d. w. Caliborn saw Spear shoot
Hinkle and both fall; heard more shoot
ing and John Williams and Tom Cos.
lee fell. Williams fell first. Coffee
Williams was holding John Williams
head up and Sheriff Williams stood by
with pistol in his hand. Thinks vii.
liams picked the pistol up. Toler fell
in the same fire shortly after Goslae
went down.
Judge Carr (colored) saw and heard
the shooting, but could remember moth.
ing.
Charles Webb arrived at the scene Of
bloodshed after Goslee, Toler, Hinkle
and John Williams were down. Saw
Bob Williams and Will Watt looking at
the body of John Williams. Detective
Hart was near by, and Sheriff Williams
took him by the coat collar with his
left hand and shot Hart in the face
with his right. At the same time Will
Watt stuck his pistol over the sheriff's
shoulder and also shot Hart.
j. Fl. Freeman saw Sheriff Williams
shoot Hart.
Ed Hardin heard several shots and
ran to the scene of the shooting. Saw
Ed Spear bleeding profusely and Cos
lee raise on his elbow and shoot, and
fall back.
Mrs. Toler saw Goslee in front of a
saloon, heard a shot and Goslee fell.
She ran to the scene, then more shoot
ing occurred, and her husband fell. De.
tective Hart came along. She grabbed
him by the arm and asked If Tom Cher
husband) was dead. They walked to
Toms body and were looking at it.
Saw Sheriff Williams take Hart by the
collar, saying: Here is another Of the
-" placed the pistol in his face
and fred twice. After Hart went down
Williams shot him twice more. Hart
fell about 10 feet from her. Williams
rushed at her, and said with an oath,
"yes, we got Toler, and wish we had
you where we've got him."
G. Fl. Weaver heard several shots in
rapid succession. Saw Goslee lying
gasping on his back. John Williams
was also lying there. Coffee Williams
was standing in doorway with pis-
toll in each hand. In the meantime Bob
Williams came up. He asked for his
son, all the while swearing. Witness
asked Bob to stop. He pointed two
pistols in witness face, saying, you're
one OF those -" Some one jumped
between them. Then Constable Tate
rushed witness away.
Ben Reaves saw Williams shoot Hart
several times.
VIM. Durham saw Spear and Goslee
shooting at each other; saw John VIII
liams lying on sidewalk. Saw Sheriff
Williams, who asked about his boy. and
was told he was dead. Coffee Williams
said, "he is dead, and killed the -
who killed him." Witness was near
Detective Hart. Hart had no weapon
in sight as he was crowding his way
toward the center Of activity. Witness
said Spear shot Goslee.
Ben Woodman saw Spear shooting;
also saw Sheriff Williams shoot Hart
twice in the face and twice after he fell
G. M. French heard three shots and
saw Goslee fall; heard Sheriff Williams
saying, they've killed my boy" he
then saw Hart pushing through the
crowd. Then Williams continued
Where is Hart? He was in it, Hart
had stopped to look at Toler's BODY
Witness walked awav and thar -,