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

SutHllous Dlu GU not Iell MT. Os-
ter, few days after the killing, that
when Thomas first approached Coo
frey, that Godfrey struck at Thomas
with his cane. in his left hand, and went
after his pistol with his right hand, but
that Thomas got his pistol out quicker
than any man you ever saw?
Answer: Me tell him that?
Question: Yes. did you moi tell him
that or words to that effect?
Answer: Do he say tole him that?
Question: Never mind what he says,
did you or did you not tell him that?
Answer: II ever told him that,
hope | never speak another word; hope
never will. IL be say that-wel.
Question: Do you know Tom jack
son, negro preacher?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Did you not make a state.
ment TO him in substance the same as to
Mr.. Foster?
Answer; No, sir; and if he say l did,
he's mighty pore preacher.
You may stand aside, said Mr.
VOORHEES,, "All right said the witness,
but if these men come here and eay |
toe them that, | want you gentlemen to
call me back again and let me tell 'em
what / said"
Sam Harlan, Colored,
who vas carrying the rear end of the
surveyors chain, was the next witness
called. He was an eye witness to the
tragedy, and corroborated the testimony
given by the other eye witnesses, Messrs.
Howell, Woods and Lee Harlan. He
testified that he said to Mr.. Thomas as
he, Thomas, passed him the witnessl
"Mr. Thomas please don't do that" He
had heard of the feeling between, and
saw a knife in Thomas hand, was why
he said that. lie also heard his brother
Lee ask Thomas to stop, and also saw
and heard Mr. Wood try to stop him,
but he paid no heed to any of them but
Tessed ra, idly on and commenced fir
| ing and Godfrey commenced retreating
After the third shot, this witness
said, Godfrey stopped running, and was
standing bent over with his hands hold
ing his stomach, looking back over his
shoulder at Thomas, and Thomas
walked up nearly to him and shot him
the fourth time, and he staggered and
fell, saying, 'now you have killed me. -
The witness said that he said twice tc
Mr.. Thomas, just before the shooting
began, "please don't do that" "please
don't do that" Thomas made no reply
but pressed on.
Cross Examined: You and Thomas
don't speak, do you?
Answer: Yes, Sir, we do.
Question: You are not on good terms
are you?
Answer: I've got nothing againstshim.
Question: Do you know Mr.. Jno. NJ
Burns?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question; Did you tell Mr.. Burns that
when Thomas accosted Godfrey, God
frey threw one hand up and the othe
one behind him?
Answer: Yes, sir. He kept on after
me tn tell him something, and | tolt
him that much, and told him to come tC
the trial and hear me tell it all.
Miss Grace Smith
was the mex. witness called, and be-
sweet face and modest demeanor, wor
for her at once the sympathy of the larg,
crowd present. Her testimony was no
very important. She saw a man sh,
took to be Thomas, gong in the direc
ton of the difficulty, and just before thu
firing began, heard some one say, 'gi
way from here, go away" When the
shooting began she ran into the hous
and buried her head in the bed clothes.
Mrs. w. H. Oakley
was next called. Her home was abou
800 yards from the place of the diff
nd oh oil
porch in full view, but could not tel
much because because of the distance
The important part of her testimony re
lated to threats made by Tnoma
against Godfrey. 10 answer to ques
ton she said, SAT my home, in tn,
presence of my husband, | heard Nh
Thomas say that If Mr.. Godfrey eve
came on the place while he was in pos
session, he would have to be haule'
away"
Cross Examined: Didn't Thomas te
you and your husband that Godfrey ha.
been raising difficulties with him AM
trying to run him off the place, and tina
if he kept on coming there for that pul
pose, they would have to haul him off
: Answer: No, he didn't say that in M
hearing.
Mrs. Geo. w. Howell
: was the next witness. Her testimon
was unimportant.
W. II. Oakley
was the next. He lives adjoining til
, Fly farm and neighbor to the defend
ant. lie, Thomas, the witness sale
told him at his residence, in the pre-.
ence of his wife, that IF Godfrey eve
came on the place again while he had i
and he saw him, they would have t
haul him away" che also told me, q
my barn." said the witness, that
would kill Godfrey if he ever caugh
him on the place again"
Cross Examined What reason di
he give?
Answer: None that remember.
Question: Didn't tell you that Goo
frey had threatened him, and was tr,
ing to run him off?
Answer: No, he did not.
Question: Just going to kill hir
without giving any reason, was he?
Answer: l was trying to think if h
ever gave me any; don think he eve
did, though 1 heard him make tn
thu eat several times.
Question: Didn't you tell Jerr
Stone and Charley Hull that Thoms
said that he would not hurt hair
e Godfrey head, if he would only sta
away from that place and let him alon,
Answer: No, | never said that; /