The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-12-06
eli Hutchinson, Charged With MUIR
der, Tells His Story.
Claims He Shot George Gray While
the Latter Was Advancing with
Wrench and Knife.
DEF iNsE BEING HEARD TODAY

] Aut tniru uhy III tne ELI butcnluhOu
murder case was commenced this
morning with the court room filled
with spectators anxious to hear the ev-
idenoe.
The first witnesses today were Mrs.
Gray and her two children, who were
recalled to testify as to the where
abouts of monkey wrench that in
connection with the rusty knife, is to
play . prominent part in the defense.
Mrs. Gray was asked IL she saw any
monkey wrench about the machine or
near Gray after the shooting and she
replied that she did not. Neither did
her children testify that the wrench
was there. To tho contrary the three
witnesses swore that tine wrench was
some time, and when Gray was
searched at the house, after he had
been carried there to be treated for the
wounds, the knife was taken from his
pocket with blades closed. This, IL is
said, will Offset the statement that the
knife was in the hands Of Gray when
the shots were fired for had the knife
been opened and had Gray had il in
his hand, then in all probability 1t
would have remained so and would
not have been found in Grsy's pocket
closed.
Hutchinson, the defendant was
called to the stand. He WAS asked to
give his story which he did in an
sgitated W ay, all during his speech
his hands and fingers working ner-
vously. He stated that be had gone
to the field 10 see GRAY and "have 3
settlement about matter that they
had fallen out over"
81 passed the children so yards
away from their father" he said,
land when / arrived at where Gray
was working, informed him that had
tohne W hoNo echtio'ucnts hhNc
no settlement to make with you, you
c. d. s. of q b. he replied and |
advanced on me with monkey |
wrench and open knife. stepped back
a few feet and he still advanced ours
ing me all the time. then pulled |
my pistol and fred into his body He
dropped the wrench after the second |
shot and in attempting to pick 1t up, |
turned his back. then shot him in
the back"
He also stated that he struck Gray
with the pistol and knocked him
down thinking he still had some
fight in him. He denied that Gray
had said to his wife'I diu nothing and
he shot me down when was begging
him to spare me as had family to
support"
Hutohinson's statements relative to
the distance of the girl from her father
vary from those of the girls. The girl
swore that she was within a few feet
from the harrow while Hutchinson
said that she was so yards. Hutchin.
son also oorroborat ed the statements
Of Mrs. Gholson who testified that
Hutchinson had said that he shot GRAY
while the latter was coming on him
with knife. He also admits that
he told Mrs. Gray he had to shoot
in self-defense but denies that Gray
spoke up denying his statement. He
made a few statements denying the
position Gray was in as told by the
prosecutions witnesses.
Attorney Sam Grassland, for the
defendant, in explaining to the jury
the haste with which the affidavit of
the defendant was made, was object
ed to by by Commonwealth Attorney
Brsdshsw.
Since the defense has brought in the
wrench part of its testimony new in
terest has developed in the case. Moth
ing was at first spoken Of the wrench
and in the failure Of Hutchinson to
prove that the wrench was there, at
the time he shot Gray, caused some lit
tie comment and little weight is at
tached to this part Of the testimony.
The testimony yesterday afternoon
was principally that Of relatives who
had been at Gray's bedside during his