The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-16
JoNATHAN lane,

Jonathan Lane--t know Captain Duna
vanl and am well acquainted with Eldrldge:
have had business relations with both. In
June, 1890 was employed by them 70
prepare an amended charter and prosecute
the development Of the Cane Belt road
have continued TO represent them since
Dunovant and EldrIdEe were then alone
Interested In the road when | nrst be.
came associated with them they were ex-
ceedlngly friendly, 1t was In June Of 1909
when the read was completed to Glen Flora
that l first knew OF an open rupture.
was in La Grange at the time and Eldrldge
wired me to come 10 Wharton, The
trouble grew out of an Interview that Np.
peared Ia The Houston Post Wnen Elurldge
was quoted as speaking 81 the roads
progress and giving the credit therefor to
two plain farmers himself aud Captain
Dunoyant The latter objected to the term
the Goals about Il. II Is impossible for me
TO recall the lnnumerable things that oc-
cured thereafter between themrIhey belug
of almost daily occurrence. Later captain
Dunovant apologiZed, but the trouble was
soon renewed aud matters became SO bad
tAat was sent Tor and my adNlce asked
| suggested that both Dunovunt and
/ Eldridge be discharged from their posi-
| lions, II was left TO me Captain Dunno
want said II Edridgc was retained Ae
would kill him. Eldridge said he would
! ovant became abusive to llirdgc, calling
| him n thief liar traitor. coward, etc, and
| often threatened his life. captain Duuu.
| want offered TO fight 4 duel locked w IN
/ room. Eldridge did not respond rhls
! was In my presence. J'he captain Insisted
aud Eldrldge finally made the proposition
] TO TIT nsfcr the insurance. | told them tuvy
were talking Ike children aud they finally
/ let the natter drop.
Counsel for the defense here asked u
| question relative to remark or statement
] a
want, who said II came from the defendant.
This statement reelected upon the charuc.
! ter OF defendants Wife. Objection was
made by the state but after consulting
/ the statute and upon defendants counsel
htating that they would Introduce testl
moiy TO disprove the charge the question
/ was ALLOW ed. The witness then repeated
the statement alleged to have been told by
/ Dunoyant.
Wiluess declared that when Captain Dun
oVant made this statement TO him he re
marked by - that will make uim ngl
II anything will After bearing this / t1l,
Eldrdge there was no longer any use " at
tempting to hold In prospect a nutuI
Dunovsnt. He asked me why, but / re
fused to tell him. After Eldridge toil m
that Dunovant had tried to shoot him II
! Eagle Lake he Insisted that | tell hin
what Dunovant had told me. Finally toll,
lin. He cried when told the story. Thi
was IN Houston two or three days nf'e
Cross-examlned-Capt Dunovant ha
threatened Eldridge's life and had oppol
tunity to carry out the threats, but he d
not do so, The story about Edrldge's VII
was told me a year or more ago Don
know that DunovHnt told anybody else.
! thought story was told me for the doub
purpose of prejudiclng me against Eldrdg
and to make him fight. He said he guesse
that would mike Eldrdge fight. He though
would tell Eldridge and rib up a fight
Captain Dunovant never asked me II | toll
Eldridge and never talked about II again
l thought It right after Dunovant had trie
to shoot him that ! should tell him. Mr.
Russell here asked II Eldridge needed an
rubbing up to Kill Dunovnnt. Objected I
and sustained
! have never been unfriendiy to Capital
Dunovant. Have had no talk with Dune
want since the time he quit speaking TO me
n year ago. II was caused by my refusal (
crush Eldrdge | have not always bee
against Dunovant | have decided ngalns
Eldrdge two or three times TO once agains
Dunovant, | am president OF the road an
lsldrldge is under me.
A. NJ Waugh--Live Mt Eagle Lake RI
member the attempt Of Captain Dunovan
to Kill Eldridge on July 49,
]. p FELL.
j. r. Fell--Am auditor OF the Cane Bel
road, Captain Dunovant made remark
derogatory to Eldridge almost every tim
met him. Never told Eldridge hecaus