The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-06-29
MAT THEIRS GORDON
NOT GUILTY
SCENE In THE COURT ROOM
WHEN THE JURY RETURNED
ITS VERDICT.
THE CONFUSION OF THE CASE.

1--WE, the jury, find the defendant
not guilty"
The large court room was filled Sat
urday when the jury in the case of
the State VS.. Ma thers Gordon filed
in to make their report after being
out over night
The defendant, his father, uncles
many friends had gathered nearby.
When Judge Holding asked, Have
you agreed, gentlemen" the foreman,
Mr. R. B. Warren, came forward and
delivered the verdict, which Judge
Holding then read to the court.
The scene which followed was most
affecting. Friends crowded about to
congratulate the defendant and his
grey-haired father, who has stood by
him so Loyalty and faithfully through
all his troubles. Tears sprung to the
fathers eyes and he was so overcome
by his emotions that he could only
clasp hands with friends as they came
forward. and look his gratitude.
Mr. Boone Whitaker, the uncle of
the defendant, was also deeply affected
and while his eyes filed with tears, a
smile was on his face and as friends
approached him, he would grasp their
hands and say, It's all right now,
boys, it's all right"
The account of the trial in last
weeks Herald closed with the testi-
mony of Mrs. ]. H. Shuneman.
Miss Green was the next witness
called, and we give below the con-
of the testimony and the argu-
ment in the case.
Miss Bette Green.
The testimony of this witness did
not differ materially from that of Mrs.
her sister, except that she
said the second man seemed to be
at the gate of the engine
house when she first saw him.
J. n. Shuneman.
The witness stated he was barber,
and now ran shop in the Brown |
Block, but formerly ran the shop at |
the Bethel That he was awake but |
had retired when the first shots were |
fred. That he Immediately jumped |
out of bed and ran to the front door |
and gate. That the shooting had |
ceased before he got out of the room. |!
Heard five or six shots. His attention |
was attracted to the engine house. |
Saw two men, one running towards |
the corner and was only little |
and was only little ways away from
he engine house, the other seemed to ,
be pulling at the gate to the city |
pound. The second man followed the
first, but not as SO rapid gait. |
Thought he heard the second man call |
o Ed Morgan, or Morgan call to him.
ed Morgan soon came down the engine
house steps and followed The street |
was well lighted, an arc light at both
ends of the block, incandescent lights
1t the engine house and lights shin
ng through the windows of the livery
stable. From the form and way of
the first two men ha1, he
hought the one in front was Officer
Mclean and that the second was
Charlie Morgan. That he was ac-
;uainted with w. j. fowler and Mrs.
Mathews Gordon. That during Cor
Ions absence in st. Louis he saw Tow
er and Mrs. Gordon meet sew
,ral times at the corner near his shop
n the Bethel and walk off together.
That he noticed them meet, and she
seemed looking for some one. Saw
Mrs. Gordon walk in the ladies en-
rance to the Bethel several times
Turing the defendants absence in st.
4ouis and go up the steps, but saw