The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-16
HELD FOR ARSON.
Evidence That Crawford and ThOrD
burned II.


Jackson, KY, June l5.-Interest in
the trial of Curtis Jett and Thomas
White, for the alleged murder of j.
B. Marcum, was secondary to-day to
the preliminary hearing of the team
sters of Hargis brothers, arrested by
the soldiers on the charge of burning
the hotel yesterday morning of Il. l..
Even, the principal witness of the
commonwealth, against Jett and
White.
Although this place has become ac-
customed to assassinations and inCen-
diary fires during the feud of the past
three years. it never felt such terror
as that of last night. Many spent
sleepless night, not as members of any
vigilance committee patrolling the
streets. but within their own doors. as
they were expecting the torch to be
applied to their houses next.
Joe Crawford and Ed. Thorp were
brought before Judge Redwine this
morning, and testimony was heard on
the writ of habeas corpus, sued out
for their release by the Hargis people
yesterday. Gray Haddicks and Jerry
Lunsford identified Crawford as one
of the men seen coming from the
Even Hotel just before the fire was
discovered, and A. H Short said he
saw Crawford and Thorp crossing the
bridge going in the direction of Ewen's
Hotel an hour before the fire.
gfNI-. 49, -
OF their whereabouts. Judge Hargis
and the attorneys he employed to de-
fend Jet and White. represented the
prisoners. Judge Redwine decided to
hold them to the grand jury, which
was reconvened this morning.
Trial Then Proceeded.
After the habeas corpus proceedings
were disposed of the trials of Jett and
White for the assassination of Mar
cum were called. There was much ex-
element about the Court House, and
those entering the court room were
not only searched, but also closely
watched.
Attorney Golden made the opening
argument for defense in the assassina-
ton case this morning. He outlined
an alibi, which the defense will de-
pend on to save White and Jett, as all
ready forecasted According to Mr..
Golden's statement the defendants Will
endeavor to place Jett near the post
office when the fatal shots were fired,
and will urge that White alone en-
tered the side door of the Court House
prior to the shooting. Golden said
they would prove that Jett came cut
of the side door after he went to see
Marcums PROSTATE form in the door,
way and that he was there only to
learn what had happened.
Golden charged that Even lied when
he testified that he saw Jett fire the
shot.
Curtis Jett was then called ON the
stand is his own behalf. He was cool,
but answered questions of the attor-
neys with considerable hesitation.
Charged the Grand Jury.
The jury was excused for a few min
utes, and the grand jury filed into the
court, when Judge Redwine charged IL
to investigate the burning of Ewen's
hotel. Judge Redwine was very force
full in his charge, saying that arson
was next to assassination, and that he
wanted the grand jury to resort to ev-
cry fair means to indict the men who
were guilty of setting fire to the home
of Even. He said 1t was doubtful If
life and property was ever so insecure
in a civilized county as 1t Is in Breath
lit county.
Judge Redwine intimated that a spe-
cial term of court would be held to
try the incendiary cases IL indictments
were found. Meantime the overworked
troops were sent out with summons
papers to bring in witnesses for the
grand jury.
Couldn't Lay 1t On Him.
The murder case was then resumed.
Jett was asked what he had said to
Mrs. johnson on meeting her after
Marcum was killed. He replied:
IT said that she could not lay this
on me, that every time a man was
killed they said / did It,"
Mrs. Johnson testified that Jet said
''Hargis money killed him; l fired the
shots" He said at the time of the
shots his right hand was so badly
swollen that he could not have pulled
a trigger. He said he had had a fin-
ger amputated two weeks before.
When court adjourned for dinner
Jett was still on the stand.