Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-13

WnareVer.'
John Wilkinson and Mary ]. Cor
don were married at my residence,
220 East Fourth street, in Ottumwa,
Oct. 8, 1900, at about 1880 a. m. by
Rev. A. Boyd, Of the African M. E.
church, in this city. Never knew
Mary ]. Gordon's father or mother,
and at this time do not know whether
either of them are alive; do not know
where the girls parents live; do not
even know what state she halls from.
1 make this statement of my own
free will and accord, without hope of
reward or fear of punishment.
Walter Davis.
Witnesses: H. G. Williams and Eli
Hardin. 4
AS will be seen this statement was
procured ON the 26th of October. The
examination of Hardin turned largely
on this document, as the defense at,
tempted to show that 1t did not con-
tain all the facts, altho Hardin testi-
| fed mat he read the document three
times to Davis before the latter sign
ed it.
Lewis Gordon Testifies.
| A great deal of interest WAS taken
! in the testimony of. Lewis Gordon, the
father of Mary Gordon, the minor
white girl who married John Wilkin-
son, the colored man, on the Sd day
of last October in this city. Mr.. Cor
don testified that he was the father of
/ Mary and that she was IL years OF
age on the list of last July. He said
that he came here after Mary's mar
rage and found the record of the mar
riage in the clerks ONCE, after which
he went to Des Moines. This was
two weeks ago last Tuesday. At Des
Moines he found his daughter with
colored woman. He did not see Will
kinson and said he did not know him.
was Wilkinson ever at your house
in Missouri" inquired Attorney Epps
of the defense. mo, sir" was the
emphatic reply. He said he had lived
at Chillicothe all his life except three
years, and he was now over fifty years
old. He said he was engaged in buy
ing stock. He said his wife died in
1885. She was Mary's mother. Her
name before marriage was Mary Bur
ris. He had been married but once,
was married in 1879. The
question as to whether there were not
a number of colored families living
around Chillicothe by the name of
Gordon was objected to and ruled out.
He said that Mary was born about five
miles east of Chlllicothe, at her
grandfather's. She was their young
est child. He had but one other child,
boy, who is dead.
Where is Mary now?"
"She is in Missouri"
cat what point?"
The objection ofsthe prosecution to
this question was sustained. The de
, Tense then inquired
What is her postoffice address in
Missouri"
Objected to and sustained.
SIS Mary with you at your homer
| queried Attorney Epps once. more,
Objected to and sustained.
| ''Is she in your custody?" continued
4 the qnestioner. Once more the objec
t ton was sustained. faa. 4
i Is the girl, MaESs Wilkinson, il
:. your custody now?Asaid Mr.. Epps
q The defense making no further objec
E ton the witness replied yes, sir"
= "Where?.f ~
! "In Missouri"
0 "Whereabout in Missouri"
r II do not know that that is any o.
Y your business, y repHsa Mr.. Gordon.
The court sustained further objec
q tions, and Mr.. Gordon then testified
7. that he did not know Walter Davis
l. The fact was then developed that Mr.
t Gordon had good deal of feeling
l. against the defendants, and he addet
|. that it would be strange Ii he did no
# have. He turned inquisitor and aske'
e Mr.. Epps if he would not have tn
i same feeling, and ME-. Epps replie
e that he did not know, as he was
n strange fellow.
d Mr. Epps then directed his question
to the birth of Mary, and the witnes
d admitted that he did not keep recor
of the birth except that he remember
ed it and knew, and had the date IT
freshed to his mind by the litigatio
OF the past nine years in breaking
r. will by which Mary secured an inner
lance, He said he could give tn
II name of the doctor who was present
n two women who were present ar
o. dead; his brother was present. TIL
y defense ascertained then that the do
y tor was located in Pennsylvania
ID Many other questions followed on th
)f point, showing that the defense wa
D. prying closely into the matter. The
v then inquired about the size of tt
IS girl, physically. Questions Of tn
character were quite numerous, fe
X the purpose of identity, as was state'
T. He said that Mary had lived with hill
re for the past three years; she had live
1t with him until she left home a yes
q, ago last August OF September.
ID Did this girl, Mary, ever go by tt
ne name of Josie Johnson?" asked M
IS Epps.
n, 81 think she did after she lie
OF home" responded Mr.. Gordon.
Ell Il will ask you whether that Is Il
'r- one that Hardin found in Kansas u
nj der that manner"
@ Eyes, sir"
is The examination then returned
the employment of a detective by M
Gordon, after which c.. Gordon,
brother, was called to the stand. H
q, testimony was largely corroborati'
~ of that given by Marys father.
Ii
T.: Glorious News.
., Comes from Dr.D .B. Cargile, of Was
OF ita. I, T. He writes: "Four bottles