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


Answer: | did; they had not.
Question: When did Thomas draw
his pistol?
Answer: | don't know. didn't see
him draw. After he passed me a. few
steps, he halted just moment and then
fired.
Lee Harlan, Colored,
Another eye witness to the killing,
was next called. He is a cropper on the
Russell Estes farm. Mr.. Godfrey, he
said, had employed him to take the sur
veyor's instruments to the Fly place that
morning, ana he was carrying the chain
in front and sticking the pins. The
pins had run out and they we're all at a
stand still, and he had turned and was
facing the others, when he saw Mr..
/ Thomas ride up, dismount, hitch his
horse to the fence, hang his coat on the
fence, and start in his direction. He,
homas, came up behind the other
members of the surveying party. Heard
him speak TO Mr.. Howell, as he passed
him. Came on to where Mr.. Godfrey
was, and when he, Thomas got nearly
there, he the Witness) heard Mr.. Wood
say, stop, John, there's no need of
this"
Question: What did Thomas say and
do then?
Answer: lie pressed on towards Mr..
| Godfrey, with knife in his hand, and
said, Godfrey, didn't tell you never
to put your foot on this place again."
Questions: Which way was Godfrey
facing at that time?
Answer: He was looking at Mr..
Thomas.
Question: We'll, what occurred then?
Answer: MIR. Godfrey threw up his
left hand like this, and his right hand
like this, and began to back and say,
Ego way, go way, | don't want any
trouble with YOU"
Question: Well, GO on, what oc.
Cured then?
Answer: Mr.. Thomas he pressed on
and he say, ''if that's your game well
play it," and he put his right hand il
his pants pocket and drew his pistol
Question; What was Godfrey doing
then?
He bad his left hand up like | showed
you, and his right hand down. and was
backing away; but when Mr.. Thomas
drew his pistol, Mr.. Godfrey sorter turf
like he was gwine TO run.
Question: Well, what occurred right
then?
Answer: Right then Mr.. Thoma:
commenced shooting, and at the last
shot, Mr.. Godfrey fell down and said
NOW you have killed me-"
Question: Well, what else was done
or said there?
Answer: | went and turned Mr.. God
frey over on his back, and Strengthened
him out. Mr.. Thomas was standing
close by, and l said to him, "Mr
Thomas, | told you not to shoot thai
man no more; now you have KILLED
him."
Question What reply did Thoma.
make to that?
Answer: He said, "What have yor
got to do with it; do You take it up?'
And ! said, "no, sir, but | hate to Sc,
an innocent man butchered up tina
way"
Question: Well, had you told Thoma.
not to shoot Godfrey, and if so, when
Answer: When he first startet
towards him, | told him not to shoe
him.
Question; What did Godfrey have il
his hands?
Answer: Nothing.
Question: Could you see both hands
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question; And he had nothing il
either hand?
: Answer No, sir.
) Question: What did he do?
Answer: Didn't do nothing but throy
up his hand and turn to run.
Question; Do you know anythin
about pistol being found thore, an
who found it, and what became of it
Answer: Yes, sir, | found loade'
pistol there, and gave it to Mr.. Bill
Wood.
Cross EXAMINED: You say Godfre
had nothing in his hand; didn't he hav
a stick?
Answer: He did have stick at first
/ Question: Didn't he have it whel
he raised his hand?
? Answer: No, sir,
Question: What had he done with it
{ Answer: don't know; he must e
? draplt.
Question: When did he drap it?
? Answer: When did be drap it?
Question: Yes, when did he drap it
! Answer: think it must er bin til
fust time?
Question; What first time?
? Answer; The fist time he Thomas
approached him, Godfrey
: Question: Oh, there were two time
more, were there?
! Answer: Yes, sir. He pressed o
, him twice.
! Question: Did he? Why, 70
, didn't tell the Acknowledgement that.
! Answer: He didn't Ak me.
Question: Well, tell me about i
a What occurred the first time?
Answer: The first time Mr.. Godfre
a just run between Mr.. Wood and m
brother.
q Question: Was that before Thoma
e drew his pistol?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Before he spoke to Coz
5 frey?
Answer: Yes, sir.
: Question: He just got scared at th
sight of Thomas, and ran between NJ
y Wood and your brother?
Answer: Yes, sir.
. Question: When was it he threw u
his hand with nothing in it?
Answer: That was the second tim
: Question: What second time?
Answer: The second time NJ
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