The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-12-15
Witnesses Tell, Step by Step,
Incidents Leading to The
Murder.
OF The Scene The Next Day And Of
the Later Happenings.

" hetber 1t was caussd by a venereal
disease or not. Thought the swelling
was caused from lifting logs. No, he
did not state on a former trial that his
physician told hIm he had the disease
named, but said his physician had
laughinaly remarked that it looked like
he might be suffering from this disease.
Witness said be knew q. J. Mckee,
John ROuntree and Joe Trimble.
Odd you employ them before you
were lodged in jail to sse witnesses
and get evidence in your defense?
| Al did not
| Odd not these men see witne sses
ana work mp evidence in your behalf
at your instigation?
| A.-Ihey did not, though out OF
friendship for me they helped me
some in my trial.
The Attorney General then read tn
affidavit signed by the defendant and
presented 10 the court bstoi9 the
| former trial in which he aveTred- that
the three men named hid been secured
10 AID him In his uetense and had
seen large number OF witnesses both
of the state and defense, and that the
presence of these three men by his
side during the trial TO assist in tn
REORGANIZATION of witnesses was nee
essary to the proper conduct OF the
/ case.
The questions were again asked the
witness who was confused in bis an
swers at this point.
O Did you know before the last
trial that DR.. Louis Leroy would make
test for blood stains on your clothing
and would be illness in this case.
A.-Yes
Odd you know that Jno. Roun-
tree. Lum Mckee and Joe TrImble OF
either of them had schemed to kill
possum and get some of its blood and
] send il in around about way to LII.
| Leroy and thus test his abiiltyf
| Al did not know 1t personally,
hut heard of it.
O. Did you know this before filing
the affidavit just read.
| A.-Yes
WEDNESDAY, MORNING.
The cross-examination of the witness
by states Attorney. j. b. Garner was
! continued Wednesday morning.
Rountree said he hal known Reaves
four years. Had been intimately and
closely associated with him. They
were together great DEAL Knew ms
general character and MAKE up
Never knew of him being jealous OF
his wife Meyer heard OF his being
jealous of his wife.
Had known Arch Dodson since boy
hood. Had no recollection OF Dooson
telling him Reaves was jealous OF oils
wife and advising witness not to go
there 80 often. The defendant stated
that he did not remember whether ne
stated on the former trial that the
testimony of Dodson was false or not
but that he had no recollection what
ever of any conversation with Dodson
In which there was anything saio
about Reaves being jealous " MS
wife. Defendant denied having ever
heard 1t intlm sted that II 'aves was
in any way jealous OF him.
The defendant admitted that Jonn
Bratton came to his nome on sept 70
before Reaves' death and spent the
night at his home That they had
conversation on the porch after sup,
per, but denied positively that ne SAID
anything to Bratton or Bra ton to him
about John Reaves being jealous either
OF himself or of BTattOn. Again stated
that he hau never heard or thought
Reaves was Jealous hush md, ana
Mas sure he did not say anything IKE
that to Bratton.
Questioned by Mr.. Garner as to what
was said in regard to Mr.. neaves
killing himself, he denied the con-
yersation as stated by Brattou, but ad-
mitted that he did have conversation
with Bratton about Mrs. Reaves. De-
ho rofufnh a nir.
en- instance to Mr. Bratton about being
in Columbia one day with Mr.. Reaves.
circus was In town and he ana
Reaves were crossing street. one OF
the big CIRCUS wagons very nearly ran
over Reaves. Defendant pulled him
hack and told him TO watch Out he
wouid be run over and killed; that
Rsaves replied that 1T would make no
differen e to me, I would just as . BON
he dead as alive Defendant testihed
that Bratton replied Ives. have
heard him say the same thing twice
myself.
@. AS q matter of fact. IS it not
true that the CIRCUS you refer to was
in Columbia on the 24th of June, and
after the night Bratton spent with
You. -.
Al don't remember If it was. but
&. :. ucsitive that the occurI ence spoken |
of was before the 23rd OF Sept.
O.-Did yeu not state to Mr.. Bratton
that John Reaves would commit
suicide before christmas, aud did you
moi so tell him for the purpose OF Law
ing grounds for the suicide theory !
~ hen John Raaves was found dead.
A.-No sir, / did not.
Onestioned In regard to the tesrl- !
monv of DR.. W. 4 Cox. defendant said
he NAV have had. conversation VITA
DR.. Cox in regard to whether or not I
the wounds were sslf-intiicted. but