The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-03-15

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were there not some hot discussions be- |
tween you and your husband?
A. No, we had no hot discussions. l |
consented freely and fully.
Messrs. w. r. Galloway, ID. w. C.I
Smith, Nick Wisener and Hardin Thorn
as, testified that the name of the de-
ceased wat J q. and not j. ID, Godfrey,
and that there was no such man in this
county as j. ID. Godfrey, that they knew
of.
The Man Who Raised Him.
Mr.. w. II. Rice, of Houston county
testified that he was the uncle of the de-
ceased. That he took him at the age Of
three years, when his mother died, and
raised him, and that his name was in-
scrbed in the family Bible as James
Gillespie Godfrey.
The Defense Began.
At this juncture the state announced
that they would rest for the present, and
the defense asked permission to ask Mr..
Geo. W. Howell another question
@. Did you not state to Dr. f.. A.
Timmons, that on the morning of the
difficulty, when you reached the place to
start the survey that both you and the
surveyor Mr.. Wood, advised and urged
Mr.. Godfrey not to go on the land?
A. No, sir; never thought of such a
thing.
@. Did you tell him that when Thorn.
as drew, Godfrey went for his pistol,
but Thomas shot before he got it out,
and that then Godfrey dropped his pis
toll? And that you didn't think Godfrey
was expecting difficulty, or he would
have had his pistol in his front pocket,
instead of the back?
A. positively make no such state
ment.
John w. Thomas, the defendant,
was then sworn and took the stand. He
is weak and pale and emaciated and mad
to sit with his feet in a chair in front of
him. He said he was born and raised
on Knob creek; leased the Fly place in
1898 for three years and moved
there the first of 1899, paid his
rents promptly, though Godfrey
through his attorneys had given
him vexation and trouble. To avoid
trouble had borrowed money to pay one
of his rent notes. In regard to the con
versation he had with Mrs Godfrey
before her marriage, he said that she
invited it; asked for a private talk with
him, and wanted to know what he
knew about Godfrey. He told her roth
ing. She insisted that he tell her some
thing; but he knew nothing and told
her nothing. She SAID ''if marry that
man and make a mistake, God will hold
my friends, not me, responsible" |
told her it was not my affair.
, Q. In regard to the talk you had
with Godfrey at Concord church, was
it like Mckinney Beard told it?
A. No.
. @. How was it then?
A. met Godfrey at the gate alone
His wife had gone on in church ahead
of him. l spoke to him, "Howdy do,
Mr. Godfrey?' He replied, 81 don't care
to speak to you, or have anything to do
with you. | can't afford to condescend
to your sort" sal right" | said, and
started off. He said, Il want you tc
keep off my farm" | replied, land
don't you put your foot on my place,
either" He said, "you are only a
tenant; my head is above the wave"
That was the beginning of the trouble
between us.
@. When was the next?
I A. The next time was at my gate
' leading into the public road. Mr.. Geo
Howell came and asked me to go to the
gate to meet Godfrey and bury the
, Ratchet. said, ''you know the terms
we are on" He replied, 81 will guar
O antee there shall be no trouble" So
, went.
@. Who did you find at the gate and
what occurred?
7 A. | found Mr.. Godfrey and Mr.. Lii
Beard, sitting down talking together
| sad, "howdy do, gentlemen, how are
a you both?" Beard spoke, but Godtre,
did not at first. When be got up b,
!. said, "after hard nights struggle
+ have come over to tell you what | thinl
of you" l said, Il thought you haC
come to make peace" He said, 'yo,
are low down, base liar" I said
f. Mr.. Godfrey, | am not in the habit o
taking that" Then we got to no
n words and both passed the lie.
v @ Did any one come and interior
while you were talking?
= A. Yes, Mrs Thomas came. She tolC
+. him to get on his horse and leave there
# And she told me to go on back to m,
a. work. He started off but rode back an,
threatened to haye me arrested. H
said you can talk mighty big behinC
e your wife. told him she was not il
% the way And | told HIM Their
e. "this is twice you have come here an,
raised row; now don't you ever com
again; | forbid you"
@. Did Mr.. Howell say anything afte
Godfrey left?
A. Yes, he cried, and said he woul
not have had it happen for $500.
Q, Did he ever say anything to 20
afterwards about it?
A. Yes; he came to me afterward
and said he would give $3.50 to settle tn
trouble. And told me that Godfrey ha
made bloody threats against me.
Q. What did you tell him?
A. | told him | did not want h
money. All | asked was for him to kee
Godfrey off that place and there woul
be no trouble.
q. What did he say?
A. Said he would try, but that Coz
frey had said he would kill me or G,
possession of that place. He said Goo
frey had already stolen $500 of til
children's money, and was after til
balance of it.
Question: What other threats,