Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-10-11
TWO OTHERS ACCUSED.
fionk Gibson Declares That He Did
Not Kill the conditts.


Not Kill the Conditts.
Edna, Tex. Oct. 11.-Monk Gibson,
who was captured in a barn. where he
had hid nine days. by a negro named
Warren Powell, says he did not kill
the CondItt family. but that two other
negroes, whose names he does not
know did the deed. He stated that
they had spoken to him in town about
numbering the Conditts previous TO the
enactment of the tragedy. He further
stated that when he went from the
pillow where he was at work to the
house, Mrs. Conditt was still alive.
The barn In which Gibson hid is the
property of George t. Gayle. is about
two and a half miles from Edna, and
500 yards from the residence OF John
Gipson. The latter Is the white man
who first brought to town the news of
the murder of the Conditts. Warren
Powell is one of the negroes whom Glib
son said he saw chasing Mrs. Conditt
around the house. Powell, however,
was on that day working for white men
and proved an alibi. Powell. who saw
Monk Gibson's head sticking through
hole In the barn. sent his boy TO tell
John Gipson to report the fact to the
sheriff. while he remained TO guard the
boy.
AS soon as the news of Monk Glib
sons locatl reached town James
Powers. one of the deputies from whom
Monk Gibson made his escape "A week
ago. headed at full speed for the barn.
Following Powers came the sheriff and
his deputies. General Hulen. Major Nc
Donald and the entire ranger force.
about twenty in all, all well armed and
mounted but the strenuous Powers had
made John Gilpin ride and had reach
cd the barn and had him tied down.
hand and foot and placed him under the
seat of his buggy and was on his way
back to town when he met the sheriff
and ranger force. The entire party
then returned to town at a rapid gait
entering and passing down Gayle and
Hanover streets, Galveston avenue and
thence down Cypress street to the Jail.
DIR. Radkey and Surgeon Loving used
a stomach pump on Monk Gibson and
only drew forth mucus and cracked
corn. a slim diet. This was done to see
II food had been furnished to him by
any person aiding him to escape.
The general opinion now is that he
has been hiding In this barn ever since
his escape. 1t will be remembered
that the track trailed from the direc-
ton of the place OF his escape was lost
hin httnArad I'd 10 la
the day after he got away from the
officers. II this is true. and. 1t seems
to be so. the numerous tracks found
and followed In the bottoms were evil
IDENTIFY not made by Gibson.
His emaciated condition would in d.
cate that he has been without food
ever since his escape except the corn
which he shelled from the ear and ate
raw. His pockets were well supplied
with shelled corn and he had supply
sctored away in the sheaf oats in the
barn in which he was hiding when
caught.
The oats in this building were about
IN item aifd N 81 esc n
hole corn was found. In the cornfield
near by his tracks were found and
there were all the evidences of where
he had gotten his supply OF corn under
the cover Of night. He ate ravenously
when food was taken to him shortly
after he was lodged In Jail. about s:45
o'clock Monday morning
District Judge Wilson convened the |
grand jury. In his charge the Judge |
said the members must make a thor |
ough investigation OF all violations Of |
law.
Two companies of state militia |
guarded fail and fifty men patrolled |
roads leading to town.
TEXAC nnn EEL nuc