The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-06-25

his brothers house. The witness
stated that Willis had called him into
the Kitchen and said isn't this the
Devil" He thought that he was re
ferring to the moving. He had then
showed him a revolver, remarking:
"This is worse thas the devil"
Butler Moore.
Butler Moore took the stand next,
He had held a conversation in Esq.
Ricketts, office with Willis. Didnt
know but thought that it was a short
time prior to the killing Couldn't
state time definitely. Willis had re-
marked: Nail up that tool box 1
will never need it again. l have lost
my mind" Willis had pulled back
both sides of his coat Witness saw
bottle on the left side Had said:
"Give me that" Saw nothing on the
right side, but presumed a revolver
was there. Willis had said: "You
don't get this"
w. J. Mcdonald.
w. J. Mcdonald testified substantial
ly as follows
Il have moved the Willis family
number of times. | moved them from
Columbia to Mt. Pleasant early this
year. l went to the Massey home
about / o'clock on the day of the kill
ing to move Mrs. Willis household
goods to Columbia When | arrived
there Willis was at his brothers and
came across the street. He was OPP
posed to the moving. Mr.. Massey
suggested that Willis and his wife set
tie their differences. Mrs. Willis
said that Henry was armed and that
she wouldn't talk to him. Willis
denied being armed and turned
his back towards Mrs. Willis so that
she could search him. After a short
conversation Mrs Willis said: go
ahead"
Willis said: Il havn't told you to |
move yet" To this 1 replied: "All
right, down it goes"
"a second conference was held.
Mrs. Willis called again: go ahead"
1 said: what about it Henry
Willis replied: Go ahead"
after the furniture had been load
ed Mrs. Willis told me that there
were two pictures behind one of the
doors that had been overlooked.
While / was taking them down she
went into the kitchen and picked up
a picture frame there. Just as she
handed this to me on her return to
The room Willis entered the door. He
fred twice, his wife falling dead He
hen came back through the room,
passed me and went out through the
hall door. l heard two other shots.
Willis then crossed the street to his
orother's house and disappeared into
he house. He soon came back on
he porch and yelled to me across
he street: rs she dead Mack? Go
md see and let me know l have
aiken one dose and am going to take
mother"
On cross examination the witness
tated that Willis had come to him
,rior to the shooting and had said:
You may have to move the furniture
ack My wife doesn't want to come
own here" He said that Willis had
eemed troubled about his wife's re-
usal to live in Mt. Pleasant, and had
alked to him about 1t on several oc-
asions, never saying very much. 7
nee or twice Willis had shed tears. I
Willis had stated that Mrs. Willis had Q
aid that she would have her husband h
rrested IL he came back to Columbia r
, trouble her. Mrs. Willis had In h
ended moving to South Columbia, he n
1ought, and had said that she and G
Irs. Kirk Wood would occupy house h
lere He recalled that Mrs Willis h
ad said to Willis: n
promises are like pie crust. They q
re made to break" This was at the :,
me that Willis had implored her to 4
i've up her intention of moving back r.
, Columbia. IL
Joe Parsons Testfies.
At the conclusion of the testimony Y
: General" Massey Saturday after =
BON the state offered one additional
itness. Joe Parsons took the stand
I'd related a conversation held with
Ie defendant short time prior to
e shooting. In this conversation, at W
hlch one other person was present u
ILLS had said: VI
you can put up those tools, p