The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-05-01
DISCHARGED ON
EXAMINING TRIAL
Was Lester Phillips of Charge
of Numbering EStil St. Clair.
Was Arrested Last Friday and
Lodged In Jail With
out Bond.

On last Friday morning with
out previous notice, Constable H
C. Acton, DR.. C. w. De
Weese and others rode int
Hartford with Lester c. Phillips II
charge. Inquiry revealed that he wai
charged with the murder of Estil st
Clair whose body was recently fount
in Rough River near Hartford. The
charge was preferred by ]. T. Wed
ding in the following affidavit:
County of Ohio, State of Kentucky
Affiant ]. T. Wedding swears tina
he has reasonable grounds and car
prove that Leslie Phillips has coun'
mitted the offense of numbering Els
till st. Clair by hitting him il
the forehead with some hard sub
stance and crushing his head ant
throwing said Estill st. Clair's body
in Rough River and that said murder
was committed on the first day o.
March, 1908, in Ohio county, Ken
lucky. j. T. WEDDING.
Witness: H. G. Acton.
Subscribed and sworn to before
me by ]. T. Wedding this April 23rd
1908. w. s. DEAN, ]. P. o. c.
The following warrant for young
Phillips arrest was issued by Esq. w
s. Dean before whom the affidavit
was made:
The Commonwealth of Kentucky.
To any Sheriff, Constable, Uailer, Cor.
oner, Marshal or Policeman in thi'
State, Greeting:
1t appearing from the oath of j
T. Wedding that there are reasona.
BILE grounds for believing that Leslie
Phillips, of Ohio county, State OF
Kentucky, has committed the offense
of numbering Estill st. Clair. Com
mitt ed in manner and form as follows
to-wit: The said Leslie Phillips did
on the LIST day of March. 1908, in the
county of Ohio and State of Ken
lucky, unlawfully and wilfully MUIR
der Estill st. Clair by hitting him
in the forehead with some hard sub
stance crushing st. Clair's head and
afterwards throwing the body of the
said Estill st. Clair in Rough River
Done as aforesaid and against the
peace and dignity of the Common
wealth of Kentucky. This is, there
fore to command you to forthwith
arrest the said Leslie Phillips and
take him before County Judge w
B. Taylor of Ohio county, forthwith
and without bail TO answer said
charge and TO be dealt with accord
ing to law.
Given under my hand as Justice of
Peace of Ohio County, Kentucky, this
the 23rd day of April, 1908.
w. s. DEAN, ]. P. o. G.
The case was set for trial, We'd
nesday, of this week, and young Phil
lips was remanded to jail to await
the trial. His father, Mr.. F. F. Phil
lips, of Narrows, was notified. his son
not being at home at the time OF
his arrest, and he came to Hartford,
Saturday, April Goth, and arranged for
the trial, Wednesday, and employed
Barnett and Smith to represent his
son.
The case was called for trial at 10
O'Clock a. m, Wednesday, and after
brief consultation, the Commonwealth
represented by County Attorney, e.
M. Woodward and Judge r. r. We'd
ding, announced ready, whereupon the
trial.
1t was the theory of the prosecution
that st. Clair was murdered for the
purpose of robrey. hence the inquiry
naturally turned to the question as to
whether the deceased had any money
at the time he was supposed to have
been killed.
Denny st. Clair, brother of the
deceased was sworn as a witness and
testified that his brother on leaving
home to make the trip down the riv-
er stated that he intended to go from
Evansville TO some point in the west,
and that his family was not expecting
him back He also said that his broth
er had some money when he left
home.
Bud st. Clair, another brother, made
practically the same statement, but
was unable to give any definite idea
as to whether his brother had any
money when he left home.
: Ira Funk, who was on the logs with
young st. Clair. stated that he and
st. Clair were discharged at Rumsey
and that they came bcak 10 Livermore