Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1909-04-01
(Continued From Page One

When the case was called on Wednes-
day, March 10th, both sides announced
ready for trial A conference was
then held between the attorneys and
witnesses on both sides. court being
adjourned for that afternoon for the
purpose. The following day the task
of securing a jury was undertaken.
In the test of the regular panel it was
soon found that special venire would
be necessary, as only two men were
left from the twelve of the regular
panel. Judge Gordon then ordered a
special venire of one hundred men.
This number was summoned from the
extreme eastern section of the county,
and were in the court room early the
following day.
One after another of the first venire
were turned down, and before the jury
panel had been finished. both the Com
monwealth and defense had exhausted
their challenges. Only eight jurymen
were secured from this venire and il
was necessary to order the second ven
ire of seventv-five men. The jury was
not COMPLETED until Saturday at noon
The taking Of evidence began Saturday
afternoon and the Commonwealth did
not rest until Tuesday afternoon of
last week. hearing forty nine witnesses
in chief, and number in rebuttal
The intense interest in the case,
which was one of the most attroccious
murders ever occurring in county. was
shown by the eagerness of the crowds
here from the start 70 hear every word
of the evidence The court room was
packed from the calling of the case
throughout. Long before the calling
of court each day every seat in the
court room had been taken and until
Judge Gordon ruled the door be closed
when the seats were filled. the isles and
all available standing room was filed
The first witness called was DR.. Jesse
Moore, who made an examination of
the body of the murdered man after it
had been taken from the bandoned cis-
tern. where it had been thrown by the
murderer. DR.. Moore told the jury
how he believed the murder had been
committed. He said in substance that
a blow on the forehead of the dead man
was sufficient to cause his death. and
that he believed the two wounds in the
top Of the head was caused after the
todv was stiffened. He said that the
wounds could have been caused by the
forked end Of the pole alleged to have
used nv the murderer in carving the
BODY TO the cistern. DR.. Moore was
shown lever from a binder. and was
asked il the injury that caused death
could have been inflicted with it. He
replied that it could, and stated tina:
the nature of injury on the forehead
Indicated that the weapon exhibited to
him had been used. as the flesh was
grained and that the bruise appeared
to be about as wide as the lever.
James E. Sullenger followed DR..
Moroe on the stand. A Hlst Of the
scene of the killing was b Fore the jury
and witnesses, and this fat had been
from a survey and measurement made
by Mr.. Sullenger. His appearance he
fore the jury was simply to explain the
plat.
The next witness was Joe Johnson.
postmaster at Lola. Mr.. Johnson's
testimony was mainly regarding the
mailing of letter in his office. He
said that Ernest Slayden ad mailed
letter at Lola on or about MAY 18th.
following the murder in April, 1902,
and that the letter was addressed to
woman in st. Louisa woman address
ed as Mrs. Mabel S'ayden. He was