The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1899-04-07
THE ARMS MURDER TRIAL
Drawdy's Evidence Very Damaging
to the Defendants
THURSDAY AFTERNOON

and Mrs. Arms was put on the
stand, as were Messrs. Smith and
Elklns, but no additional testj-
mony of Importance was elic-
tied.
George Drawdy was sworn.
He is the witness of whom the
state had great expectations. r.
B. Bullock, for the defence, pro-
pounded the usual questions as to
the competency of the witness
whether or not he had ever been
convicted of any crime, and when
the witness admitted that he had
been convicted of stealing little
red bull the jury and spectators
were fully alive to the situation,
but N. M. Alfred quietly pro-
duced legal document and sub
mitted to the court full and
complete pardon from the State
Pardoning Board. The witness
was re-sworn and the state be-
gan the investigation. The de-
fence knew part of what was
coming and objected, because the
information was too remote from
the commission Of the alleged
crime. The defence proposed
that the jury retire while
the evidence was related, and ur-
til the court had passed on its
competency and heard the argu-
ments of the defence. This was
agreed to and the jury took a
walk.
Burford, for the defence, then
related what the witness would
say, which happened in the fall
of '96, and the judge ruled it
competent testimony, in that he
could not tell what was to follow.
The jury returned and the wit
ness testified that 10 the fall of
'9G the defendant, Chris Higgin-
botham, had proposed to him
that, Mr.. Arms beng such a dis
agreeable neighbor, he should be
whipped and run out of the
country as he had been in Texas.
Witness thought the days of that
kind of work had gone by. Lat
er on, in the spring of 81, the
defendant, Nick Myers, had had
a similar conversation with the
witness, and said they should get
about four good men to do the
work, and "beat the stuffin" out
of Arms and run him out of the
country; that Arms had done hi,
boy a wrong, and the boy had as
much right to remain at home as
Arms had. The matter of rails
ing $25 bv each of the four was
discussed; the money was to be
paid to Myers, who was seeming
ly the treasurer. Witness had
no money but gave an order on
@. Higginbotham, on which II j..
afterwards paid SIS. Later on,
at different periods, sometimes
with Myers and others with the
Hlgginbothams, the matter was
discussed. Witness anted to
back out but Myers wouldn't let
him; said he had to be one of
them or suspicion would fall on
him and he'd suffer; Myers dis
cuSsed the work as |'getting rid
of our pet;" clash him across a
log and beat the stuffln' out of
him." ga mighty mean man, who
has done us all the harm he can,
and we must get rid Of him.
The defer ldants and witness never
discussed the matter with more
than two present. Witness, be-
fore giving the order, had tried
hard to raise his share Of the
money. Witness and defendants,
before the deed was done, were to
arrange for proving their where
abouts. Myers was to put a nail
in certain well known tree, to
indicate when they were ready
for him. Witness went to the tree
for five or six consecutive nights,
but did not find the nail. Wit
ness said this was all of the dis