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


frequently during the day to see her.
w. p. Howell.
Witness lived about two miles from
the place OF the difficulty lie did not
see the killing. Had known Thomas
quite a while.
q, Did YOU have a conversation with
Thomas previous to the din Guilty, dur
ing which Godfrey was mentioned9
A. Yes. The Sunday before the
difficulty took dinner with him.
After dinner the subject of dividing
the land came up, and Thomas said he
had heard they had an order from court
and were going to survey the land, aud
expected godfrey out that week IN sur
vey II. Thomas said he wouldn't let
Godfrey come on the place, that il he
did he would kill him. lie had known
Godfrey as Professor Godfrey, and ].
q, Godfrey, but not as J, d. Godfrey.
Cross-eXamined by Mr.. Voorhies-Q.
You and Godfrey were not friends, were
you?
A. Well, we were not on intimate
q. Where did this conversation take
place?
A. In the barn.
@. Was any body else there?
y, No, we were by ourselves.
q Asa matter of fact, didn't Jet
Lellner go after your horse and bring it
To you, and you did not 20 to the barn
at all?
A. No, sir. went to the barn.
q. You are an infdel are you not?
A. There are some pafls of the
Scriptures | do not believe.
W. j. Guest
was the next witness. He had known
Thomas several years. Before his diff
y ~ ha hat
ton with him on the Farmers a Mer-
chants Bank corner. That was tn e first
Monday in October. lie had been fur
nishing Thomas with ice for his sick
wife, aud meeting him on the corner
asked him how she was. Thomas re-
piled that she was worse; that she had
| mad a back set; that he hadn't slep any
for three weeks and was greatly wor-
ried, 81 wouldn't worry so much a bout
/ it," SAID, I'VE all have sickness" 1t
is not that that is worrying me-" replied
| Thomas. THAT fellow Godfrey has
been down interfering with my hands"
| Thomas told witne SIS that if Godfrey
came on his place again or interfered
with his hands, he would kill him.
Crosse deXamined by Mr.. Figuers-
Thomas said Godfrey had been inter-
| fering with his business, and also said
something about some corn or wheat.
mTS. II. W. NOsS,
| Witness testified that she lived about
| two miles from Columbia on the Hamp-
shire pike ana her husband conducts a
store. She knew the defendant, and
previous to the killing heard a CONVEX
sation he had in the store, in which
Godfrey's name was mentioned. That
was on Wednesday or Thursday before
the killing. Thomas spoke about God
frey levying on his wheat, and said that
if Godfrey came on his place he would
kali him. Previous to that she heard
another conversation, in which refer
ence WAS made to a quarrel which
Thomas a nd Godfrey had had. Thomas
called Godfrey a low-down scoundrel,
and said he (IhOmas) had made him
| Godfrey drop his hat and run.
Thomas was mad at him because he had
| levied on bis wheat. Previous to this
she had heard Thomas, make another
threat against Godfrey. He said that if
Godfrey came on his place he would
kill him.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Whitthorne-
@. Didn't Thomas say that Godfrey
had been interfering with the posses.
sion of his place?
A. did not hear him.
Witness said she saw Godfrey the
same day of the difficulty. She didn't
see him have gun, nor hear him say
that he was going to the house
to get one. She didn't tell Mr.. May
berry that Godfrey mad a pistol. God
frey mentioned the difficulty Thomas
had had with him, and seemed to be
ashamed over the matter, and said he
thought it was low. down for men to be
! getting in difficulties and fighting.
J. w. Dawson
Was called to the stand. Witness said
he ho1 70 Ihnn :
about three months before the killing,
The conversation took place on Thomas
J place, Thomas said if Godfrey ever put
his foot on his place he would kill him.
That was all the witness remembered
G. A. Parker,
Cashier of the Maury National Bank,
stated that Godfrey had an account st
his bank, and signed his name j. q.
Godfrey.
of the Tenth district, said he had con-
versation with Thomas the last of July
or the first of August, in which Thomas
said he had met Godfrey on the pike.
and that he (Thomas) Jumped off his
wagon and hit him Godfrey with hi
whip, calling him vile name. Thomas
said he wasn't satisfied, and intended tn
Ikill him, saving, ~ wouldn't any more
dog" aud that "he would do it II Ii
hoped into hell the next minute
That night at the threshing camp he
heard Thomas talking again, makirg
the same threats, and using very
offensive language in referring to God
, frey. Thomas said Godfrey was stop
: ping him from selling his wheat.
r The witness was cross-examiDed by
Mr.. VOORHEES,, but nothing of import
, ance was brought out.
{ L. W. Voss
g who conducts a store on the Hampshire
t pike, said he heard Thomas speaking OF
Godfrey several months before the
4 killing. He threatened'to kill Godfrey
if he ever came on his place, saying
that Godfrey hadn't treated him right,
Afterwards, he heard Thomas talking
: about the wheat matter. He made
another threat then to kin Godfrey.
Cross-examined by Mr.. VOORHEES,
@. Wasn't Godfrey at your store ONT
, day waiting for Thomas with gun?
A. No, sir. l didn't see him with n
q gun.
W. M. Beard
stated that he had a conversation with
9 Thomas at the latter's house during the
last of July or the first of August
y Thomas referred to the difficulty on th'
3 pike, saving that he "had given Cor
q frey the devil that day Thomas said
!, ltI'll kill him yet, if God will be good 1,
: me-" and added that sit would he u.
more harm to kill him than a shepher
9 dopu He said Godfrey ran like aturke =