Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-24
TRIAL or A PASTOR.
REV. MR.. BENsRoOK HAS PRELlM-
lNARN AT BEATRICE.

out the day while the court was en-.
gagged in hearing the testimony In the
preliminary hearing of the case OF the
state VS.. Benbrook, the Wymore
preacher, who fired five shots at DIR,
johnson in the latter's Office In wy
more, May IA last. Improved TO he one
OF the most sensational cases ever
brought In this court.
There were about a hundred people
present from Wymore, many OF them
women, On many Of the essential
points In the case, the witnesses for
both sides agreed The testimony OF
DR. Johnson, his wife and daughter,
who were present when the shooting
occurred, did not differ from the pub
lished statements at the time of the
occurrence. While DR.. johnson was
testifying he was asked by the defense
where the revolver was which he
was supposed to be going after when
he ran into another room at the
time Of the shooting He replied
that he had 1t with him. W. II.
Glenn, who, Benhrook referred TO
frequently today as Brother Glen, -
testified that he met Benbrook
while the latter was on his way up
to Johnson's Office, and that Ben
brook asked him to accompany him
there, as there was likely TO be
trouble.
Tony HirmOn and others testified
that after the shooting, Benbrook
appeared at the door Of Hirmons
business house and inquired OF
those there II they bad loaded gun.
He still held the empty revolver In
his hand, and Frank Fulton, a wit
ness, says he asked BenbIook what
was the matter with the one he had,
when he replied that 1t was empty.
Fulton was with the defendant
when he was arrested, heard him
tell Grant O'OoDner, a boy, to go to
Sister RObertson's and Sister Sum
mers' and tell them he had done as
he had agreed.
Constable Nose Allen, who ar
rested Bedrock, corTobOrated tbs
statement about sending word to
the sisters, and said Benbrook after
his arrest, said he didn't know
whether he had killed his man or
not; thai he had been showing,
them how they do things down In
Mississippi.
Frank Fulton In his testimony
said he asked BenbIook why, as he
was yonng man, and Johnson an
old man, he didn't go after him
with his fists, to which he replied.
"From where l came from we don't
fight with our fists" and that de-
PENDANT also said: Mississippi is in
prominence tonight. While on
their way to the Jail they were
about to pass JohDsOn's Office, when
Fulton says Benbrook said: Don't
go past there; that old villain may
come out and take shot at me. "
They turned around about.
George Leland, another witness,
testified TO about the same.
Or. Moses testified that, Ben
brook called at his Office after the
shooting and told hm he had be tier
GO 10 Johnson, as he might need
his services
Grant O'Conner, the boy who
carried the message. testified, cor
roborating this part OF the story.
The defense attempted TO intro
duce testimony derogatoTy to John
sons character, and j. w. BrideD-
tnal, chairman OF the church board,
Of which BenbrOok is pastor and
j hnson was member, testified
that Johnson had charged Ben
brook with being intimate with ono
Of his sister members. He said that
Johnson told at a church meeting
that he had been gambler, etc,
and was well qualified to detect
crime In Others.
Rev j. Il. Roberts OF De Witt,
formerly of University place, and
MI FlJcme, now living at Uni
versity Place, but doing real estate
business in Lincoln, testified that
Johnson's reputation while living
there six years ago was not good.
Other evidence Of this nature was
ruled ont.
Mrs Summers testified that it
was through her and her husband
that BenbroOk learned OF the charg-
es Johnson had made against him.
The defendant was the last wit
nss called. He was on the stand
about an hour, He began by telling
Of his experience IN the ministry
at points in Tennessee, Texas. Ken
tucky and elsewhere, coming to
Nebraska last December.
He said didn't object to him
vilifying me, but / did object to
his vilify ing innocent women"
On cross-cxaminatiOn defendant
| \ Il \