The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-03-17

1
Reaves had left home on the sfternoon
before the murder. Was working in
tie field next to the Theta road, Reaves
must have passed on his way to Theta,
but witness did not see him, In the
afternoon witness went to the Reaves
house. saw Mrs Reaves at the door.
asked her If Mr.. Reaves had left any
word for him, she said he wanted TO
know If they were going to the lodge
together that night
Q:-How long did you stay at the
house?
A:-Perhaps five minutes.
Witness next saw Mr.. Reaves about
sundown, when they arranged to drive
Reaves holse to Rountree's buggy.
When ne next saw Mr.. Reaves 1t was
after supper when he came with the
horse. The buggy cushion was IN
the buggy under tree Witness went
up stairs to dress, he called to Miss
Ragsdale TO help him find the vest to
his dark coat, be had worn thin sum
Iuer coat to the funeral witness had
just gotten the black coat. when he
neaId Reayes IN the yard bslow. Wit
ness did not see the gray coat, which
is exhibited at the tlIal, that night,
did not know when he had seen it, or
when he had worn it. he did not find
the dark vest, but wore the gray one,
which matched the gray coat, did not
know where the gray Coat was at the
time, but did wear 1t the next night
Witness saw MI. Thompson at the
lodge for the fist time that night,
Thompson was to take the 3rd degree
of Masonry.
Q:-Did You walk up to Thompson
and take hold of the lapels of his coat,
and say, "You are mighty dressed
up, - OF words to that effect?
Al do not remember whether 1
did OF not, | might have done SO.
Witness did not know where Mr..
Muller is His deposition is on file.
Met him for the first time that night
at the mines at Carter's Creek
Q:-Is there anything in Muller's
appearance to make you unwilling to
have him to come here to testify?
A:-There is not.
GIN his deposition he testifies to
the color of the coat you wore that
night does he not?
Ale does.
Q:-After you lett Thompson that
night coming back from the lodge at
the place where he turned Off, did you
meet any other living soul?
Al did not.
There was no light in the house
when witness got home he struck a
match after he got up stairs. Next
morning he arose early and went to
the barn on his place, about three
hundred yards from his fathers barn.
1t was just day light when he and
Carrigan went to the Reaves home
They saw Reaves' body in the hall,
witness stopped down and felt the face.
it was cold.
Odd you then go into Mrs.
Reaves room. walk up to her, push
pack her bonnet and look into her face2
Al do not remember whether l
did nor did not, may have done so.
Q:-What did you do next?
Al went out with Carrigan to
where the BODY was. found a small
amount of money, some iron washers.
some short pencils and belt punch.
Witness then went to Mr.. Tucker s
called him out from the porch and
told him of the murder Witness did
not rememb her whether he told him at
the gate or not.
Q:-Is this the same man that you
wanted TO go over and spend the night
with your mother and father?
Alt wss.
II was the day before the funeral
that witness WAC sitting facing Mrs.
Reaves with a pencil and tablet, he
was talking in an ordinary tone of
voice.
Q:-On the night before the funeral
did you go into Mrs. Reaves bed room,
sit down on the edge of the bed, put
your arms over beyond her and have
a conversation with her?
Al may have sat down on the bed,
do not remember about thar but | did
have conversation with her there.
There was a number of ladies In the
room at the time She asked me to
move her baby over further on the bed.
Q:-At another time that night did
not some ladies' come in when you were
sitting on the bed, close to Mrs.
Reaves?
A:-No
Odd you know that Mrs. Reaves
opposed bringing the dogs there?
A NO.
@; Did you suggest getting the dogs
OF the detective or anything else to /
run down the murderer?
A Il did not.
Q:-Did Mrs. Reaves?
She did not.
Emmerson Tucker and witness helped |
to prepare the grave for the funeral
During the burial Mrs. Reaves stayed |
in her buggy, witness STOOD by the
mules. Was asked to act as pail
bearer, but did not do so.
Q:-You heard Alb SpaIkman testify
here did you not?
Al did
Q:-Do you know of any reason why
he snould peIjure himself to convict
you of this crime?
Al do not.
Odd you not stand by the mules
at the funeral, look back into the
carriage at Mrs, Reeves and smile at her,
and did she not smile back at you?
Al did not and she did not.
After the funeral witness went to the
home of Mrs. Reaves. Took dinner at
home on the day of the funeral, and went
BACK to the Rsaves home in the after
noon, and maybe at night. Witness
had no reason for going EXCEPT that he
was friend to the family. " illness ad-