The Cairo bulletin., 1904-03-01

janitor OF the court house; was here
September 80; saw ONeal on October
/; brought him up here to the cor
oners jury; his eyes were blood sho
and had scar on his nose; shirt was
torn and scar on his shoulder.
Henry Hickson.
Questions by Attorney Leek: An
% years old; have been in county jail
about six months charged with CON
nection with the Thebes mob; saw
O'Neal the night he was brought in
he was talking to another prisoner
and stood in the light so | could see
his face; one eye was blood shot, neck
was red and shoulder scratched /;
shirt was torn; saw him next morn,
ing; his eyes were black and cheeks
iwollen.
Mrs. Grimes,
Questions by Attorney Leek; Know
4 0'Neal; saw him in Jail; his left eye
vas black; right eye blood shot il
looked as though some one had
scratched his face; his shirt was torn
o'Neal, the Defendant.
After several character witnesses
had been placed on the stand, includ.
ing Frank Moore, Joe Porter, Louiss
Porter. Edwin Halliday and Frank Nc
Critic, all of whom testified TO the
reputation of deceased for peace Oh
I luarrelsomeness the defendant him
self was placed on the witness stand
and in reply to questions by Attorney
Leeh, he made substantially the fol
| lowing statement,
My name is Thos. O'Neal, am "a
years old, weigh 1870 pounds, never
weighed over 1876 pounds; have beer
in Cairo about year and four
months; in the saloon business about
a year; served in the Philippine and
Cuban armies of the United States be
fore | came to Cairo; In Cuba my Col
onel was Col. Hardeman; enlisted at
Kennett, Mo, served in Cuba nine
months; was in the Philippines one
year and ten months under Col An
lerson. Had run the Brewery saloon
about month when the trouble oc
curred; never had any trouble VITA |
Egan. sheehan or Bridges knew |
hen by sight; knew. G2ligan. The
four men came into my place through |
he garden and wine room; was by a
able in the wine room, they tippel 1
heir hats and bowed when they came /
in: there was several women in the !
room they spoke to Galllgan; /
Judged them to be under the influence /
Of liquor they went into the hall | /
started to the saloon, anc wnen / got \
to the door there was a man at the |
telephone and a woman near him; /
took hold Of the woman and she got /
out Of the way; Egln was near the I
door and Sheehan right in the hall; /
said, You fellows either get in or /
OUT" Sheehan uaid, who in HI are
you?" ! said. Il am nobody. Ho I
said. Are You running this joint /
said, I'm trying to- ! took hold OF
the door to the bar room and opened /
it and Egau kicked it shut. says, /
Don't be in no hurry" the door flew
ont of my hand when he kicked it. 4
says. you fellows viii have to get /
out. and started to open the front I
hall door. Sheehau says. You think /
we're going out do your and he !
reached over and his me- Egan says, /
Dig into him, Dig into him. 2 and ne |
took hold Of me next. they got nay /
head down; three had hold of me; J
could net tell who had hold OF my
arms. or my face; tried to get the
hands OF my face: Sheohan bit ne
first and staggered back against the
wall. Egln had hold Of me; he said.
"Dig into the $500 -" Egan had his
thumbs in my eyes and some one
seemed TO be hitting his hands up;
could not sec who it was hitting me
then: but that man there (pointing to
Egan) had his hands in my face; Gal
ligan was there and said, Don't do
that. boys" | called twice for viii
ard ne seemed a long while getting
there; couldn't get away; when h.
did como in they jumped away and
said. Come on. we amt afraid Of
you" sheehan had hold Of my vest.
he struck me first when ! got into
the saloon my clothes was torn.
couldn't see my face. but could feel.
my eyes and throat were hurt and my
head; Egan tried to urge on the fight
and took hold of me. he had as big q
hand in it as Sheehan after if started
When ! got into the saloon | picked
up two bottles and set them down
again, and got the pistol out of the
drawer; they came into the door ami
said. Come on out and give us what
you've got;" Egan threw his hand
back and | shot him first: ! held the
pistol in one hand. told him 10 stop.
Sheehan was next 70 him and was
rushing for me, and couldn't get
back because | was against the bar
he was leaning forward this way (wit-
ness stretched forth his arms and
leaned forward almost touching my
----.-s bet dopt knew who
- ~fzu a..