The Indianapolis journal., 1903-09-18
Effort by Mrs. Hagins, Mother Of the
Defendant. to Save Her Son from
the Gallows.
SEVERAL CONFERENCES HELD
JETT REPORTED TO HAVE AGREED
TO MAKE A CONFESSION.
May Implicate Others i'm the Assassi-
nation of Town Marshal Cock.
rell at jackson.

CYNTdIANA. KY, Sept 17.-After Sc
curing a continuance last week and mo-
tions for a continuance were repeatedly
overruled this week by Judge Osborne. the
testimony was begun to-day in the case
against Curtis Jett for killing Town Mar
shall Cockrill at Jackson. KY, over year
ago. In the case against Jett and Whi,e
here last month Capt. e. j. Even was the
only eyewitness. that Commonwealth At
torney Byrd was able to introduce, but to-
day he introduced four eyewitnesses whose
testimony created so much comment as to
make the situation sensational tonight.
The feature of the afternoon was the
testimony of John Patrick, who was COM
PEELED to leave Breathitt county because
from his law office across the street from
the courthouse at Jackson he had witnessed
the shooting of Cockrill and saw what
happened after the shooting of Marcum.
The most sensational developments. how
ever, were outside of the courtroom. Mrs.
Hagins, the mother of Curtis Jett, made
open overtures not only to the attorneys
for the commonwealth, but also to Thomas
Cockrill. brother of the victim. After her
conferences with these parties during the
afternoon and evening with Daniel Hurst,
the father of Mrs. Marcum, Judge John
Patrick, Attorney w. w. Vaughn and
others, asking them to intercede for her
son. Another conference is to be held to-
morrow morning with these persons and
others and il is currently reported that
Curtis Jett may then make a confession.
According to the best information from
those who were in the conferences, Curtis
Jett offered through his mother already to
make confession duplicating others in
the feud murders in Breathtt county, but
he insists on saving his uncles, and for
this reason the commonwealth would not
accept his overtures. II is stated that the
commonwealth attorney would not accept
anything but a clean breast of the whole
affair and they seem TO be confident that
such a confession will be forthcoming be-
fore this trial is concluded. as the pris-
oner thinks he has been deserted by those
who We're expected TO stand by him.
Judge Blanton still continues to be the
only attorney for the defense at this trial
while there were a half dozen prominent
Marcum case. According to Mrs. Hagins
her son is especially grieved because few II
any of the witnesses that he had depended
upon are hero To testify in his defense
and his case will have to be presented tC
the jury mostly by affidavits. Mrs. Hagins
visited her son to-day and freely talked
about these conditions when she afterward
met the attorneys. witnesses and others in
terested in the prosecution.
Curtis Jett is receiving letters from for
mer companions in Breathitt county and
especially from Thomas White. who is now
In jail at Covington, KY. awaiting his ap-
peal on a life sentence for being an accom-.
plice with Jett In the killing of Marcum
These letters encourage Jett to be hopeful
and stand firm. White Is very strong in his
appeals TO Jett to hold out. but there Il