The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-16
TORCH At JACKSON
EWen's S Hotel Burned. InCen-
diaries on Trial.
Even is the Principal Wln' IS for the Common
w1aIlh Against lstt and Whit, Night
of Terror.
lBx the Associated Press

Jackson, Ky, June 15.-Interest in the
trial of Curtis Jett and Thomas White
for the alleged murder of ]. B. Marcum
was secondary today to the preliminary
hearing OF the toamsters of Hargie broth
ers, arrested by the soldiers on the charge
of burning the hotel yesterday morning
of B. T. Bowen, principal witness of the
commonwealth, against Jett and White.
Although this place has become accustomed
to assassinations and incendary fires dur
ing the feud of the past three years, it
never had such a night Of terror as that
OF last night. Many spent a sleepess
night not as members OF any vigilance
committee patrolling the streets, but with
in their own doors as they were expect
ing the torch to be applied to their houses
next.
Joe Crawford and Ed. Thorp were
brought before Judge Redwine this morn
ing and testimony was heard on the writ
of habeas corpus sued out for their re-
lease by the Hargis people yesterday. Gray
Haddicks and Jerry Lunsford had identi-
fed Crawford as one Of the men seen
coming from the Even Hotel just before
the fire was discovered and A. II. Short
the bridge going in the direction Of the
Even Hotel an hour before the fire. The
prisoners told conflicting stories of their
whereabouts Judge Hargis and the at
torneys he employed to defend Jett and
White, represented the prisoners.
After the habeas corpus proceedings
were disposed of the trial OF Jett and
White for the assassination of Marcum
ont
about the court house and those enter
ing the court room were not only searched
but also closely watched,
Attorney Golden made the opening
statement for the defense in the assassi-
nation case this morning He outlined an
alibi which the defense will depend on
To save White and lett. as already fore
costed. According to Mr. Goden's state
ment the defense viii endeavor to place
Jett near the postoffce when the fatal
shots were fired and viii urge that White
alonc entered the side door Of the court
house prior to the shooting. Golden said
they would prove that Jett came out OF
the side door after he went to see Mar
GUMS 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 Jctt
fire the shot. Curtis lett was then called
to the stand in his own beham. He was
cool but answered questions from his at
torneys with considerable hesitation.
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 the
Even Hotel Judge Redwine was very
forceful in his charge. charging that Arson
was next to assassination and that he
wanted the grand jury to resort TO every
fair means to indict the men who were
guilty Of setting fire to the home Of Even.
He said it was doubtful if life and prop
erty was ever 80 insecure in a civilized
county as it is in Breathitu county today
Judge Redwine inumated that a special
term OF court would be held to try in
cendiary cases If indictments were found.
Meantime the overworked troops were
sent out with summons papers to bring
in witnesses for the grand jury The
murder case was then resumed. Jett was
asked what he had said 70 Mrs johnson
on meeting her after Marcum was killed
he re3hed: Il said that she could not
lay this on me: that every time man
was killed they said 7 Mrs. john
son testified that Jett said 'Hargi5
money killed him ] fired the shots He said
at the time Of the shooting his right
hand was SO badly swollen that he could
not have pulled trigger. He said ne
had had finger amputated two weeks
bfeore when c0urt adjourned for din
ner lett was still on the stand