The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-01-02
NIGHT SESSION or STEVENS TRIAL.
The Defendant and His Wife Were
the Stuud.

Palestine. Texas. January 3 - Al the
NIGHT session NJ court counsel for tho de-
fendant took every one by surprise In put
ting tho defendant on the stand. Mrs. str
vcus. wife of the defendant preceded her
hvstsnd, testifyng that on the might of the
lynchirg she was at John Cams, sitting up
with sick child; returning at daylight Ga
wednesday morning. she found defendant az
home asleep remembered. witness said that
she noticed defendants mare In the wooda
near the house, Witness stated that her
husband had shaved OH Saturday prior 70
tho night OF the murder, leaving only mus
tache he wore mustache usually, but on
the sunday following tho lynchinH he shaved
IL of The woman made an excellent wit
ness,
Bob stevens, the defendant testified that
he knew James HumpbTIes; WIS NOT aequnnt-
ed with John or George Humphres had
nothing but tho kindest feeling toward de-
ceased. Tuesday night Of the murder he was
at home; during the day he worked IN tho
shop and in the garden; at that timc ho
owned mare and u colt Tuesday night In
question he saw his brother az has defend
ants mothers home, went there that morn
ing Tor u sack OF meals told his brother
about his cousin escaping from Terrell asy-
hun and being at defendants al that tlmo.
Defendant asked his brother TO coine over
I
uc5s said. he was at home. sam Hail. Cad
dis and Jim Stevens came about dark, eX
pectcd Ed Blythe. who was to receive In
| structions in lodge work; Blythe did not
come. About II or ~ O'Clock Jim Stevens
aud sam Hall left. Gadds remained short
! tine longer; defendant then went TO bed.
! Between daylight aud sunrise Mrs stevens
returned. Remembered Mr.. Crook coming
carly in the morning for his blows. First
| heard Of tho murder when at Mr. Onddla.
home, this was on Thursday Was arrested
I IA L. H.. -trsdr rnf al
have anything 10 do with the murder; knew
nothing about the mob. never hunted Tor
Jim Patterson; no one approached him TO as
sst In hanging tho HUMPHREYS. Knew Joe
lWilkerson. who was at his house once and at
his shop on another occasion. Cross exam :
ined by state counsel. defendant stated that
I II gully OF hanging the Hnmphries he coolh
not be induced 10 20 on the witness STAND.
Was not guilty Of the crime accused. Heard
Weeks John and Arthur Gresnhaw TESTIFY
at Athens and Palestine. Admitted that he
had shaved his mustachc since the iynching
occurred and used pocket-knife for shaving
while az tho Athens jail prior 10 tho habens
corpus trial The last time he shod his mare
was about ten days prior to the night OF the
murder, his brother was present. put ON now
shoes Defendant denied trying to borrow
either gun or pistol from Payne or Nelson.
The reason no shaved on his muslaehe was
that no took a notion to do so; believed that
he shaved Gadds, did not shave sam Hall
was intimate with Hall and Gaddis aud
friendly 10 Joe Milkergon; had no special
reason for shaving muataqhe: did not renenI-
her telling Bob Cain that the reason ne
shaved WAS because OF bee sting. Don't
know why Gaddis Weeks and Hall shaved
| OF their mustaches Gaddls had face die
ease but there was nothing the matter with
sam Halls face. No one rode his mare the
right Of tho lynehinE. Did not and does not
now indorse the crime: believed the guilty
men ought 10 be punished according 70 the
| law Knew nothing OF a law ard order
league. Al no time entered into hunt for
! Patterson. The night the iIuniphriea we're
hung he was al home aud retired between
| II and " o'clock.
/ Several witnesfes expected IN tho night
train falling 10 put IN an appearance, court
adjourned until morning.