The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-19

State Against Feudists
Jackson, KY, June 15.-Interest in the
trial of Curtis Jet and Thomas White |
for the alleged murder of J. B. Marcum,
was secondary today to the preliminary |
hearing of the teamsterS of Hargis
Brothers, arrested by the soldiers on
the charge of burning the hotel yester-
day morning of B. L. Even the princi- |
pal witness of the commonwealth
against Jet and White. Although this
place has become accustomed to assas-
nations and ~incendiary fires during the
feuds of the past three years, it never
had such a night of terror as hat of
last night. Many spent a ~sleepless
night, not as members Of any vigilance
committee patroling 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 yes
terday. Gray Haddicks and Jerry
Lunsford identified Crawford as one of
the men seen coming from the Even
hotel just before the fire was discover
ed, and A. H. Short said he saw Craw-
ford and Thorp crossing the bridge
going. in the direction of the Even hotel
an hour before fire. The prisoners told
conflicting stories of their whereabouts.
Judge Hargis and the attorneys he en-
ployed to defend Jet and White rep
resented the prisoners. Judge. Redwine
decided to hold them to the grand jury,
which was reconvened this morning.
After the habeas corpus proceedings
| were disposed of the trial of Jet and
White for the assassination of Marcum,
was called. There was much excite
ment about the court house and those
entering the court room were not only
searched but closely watched.
Attorney Golden made the opening
statement for the defense in the assas-
sinatiOn case this morning. He outlin-
ed an alibi which the defense will de-
pend on to save White and Jett, as al
ready forecasted. According to Nh
Golden'S statement the defense will en-
deavOr to place Jet near the postoffice
when the fatal shots were fired, and
will urge that White alone entered he.
side door of the court house prior to the
shooting. Golden said they would prove.
that Jet came out of the side door at
ter he went to see Marcum's PROSTATE
form in the doorway, and that he was
there only to learn what had happened.
Golden charged that Even lied when.
he testified that he saw Jet fire the
shot. Curtis Jet was called to the
stand in his own behalf. He was called
but answered questions through his at
torneys.
The jury was excused for a few min
utes and the grand jury filed into the
court room, when Judge Redwine
charged them to investigate the burning
of Ewen's hotel. Judge Redwine was
very f~orceful in his charge. saying that
arson was next TO assassination, and
that he wanted the grand jury TO re-
sort TO every fair means to indiet, the
men who were guilty of setting fire to
the home of Even. He said It was
doubtful if life and property was ever
so insecure in a civilized county as it
is in Breathitt unit today. Judge
Redwine intimated that 4 special term
of cour would be held to try ~faoendiary
cases if Indictments were found. Mean
while the Overworked troop We're sent
out with summons papers 20 bring in
| witnesses for the. grand iu-y
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:
Il said that she could not lay this on
they said 1 lid it."
Mrs. Johnson testified that Jet said
"Hargis' money killed him. 1 fired the
shots" He said at the time If the
shooting his hand was SO badly swollen
that he could not have pulled a
trigger. He said he had had a finger
amputated two weeks before. When
court adjourned for dinner Jett was
still IN the stand.
Lexington. Ky, June IA subscrip-
ton list for the benefit of Captain B L.
Even, whose hotel at Jackson was
burned by i~ncendiaries yesterday. has
been started by local and
has met with a liberal response already.
A call has been made on the people of
Kentucky to make good the loss which
it is said Even suffered in payment for
his attempt to assist in aiding the law
in feud-ridden Breathitt county.
Clarence Hadden said he saw Jet on
the courthouse square corner a few
minutes after the shooting. Mrs. Lulu
Smith, Hargis' sister made the same
statement. She is Jett's aunt.