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

Mrs Slayden stated, Ernest Slayden
ent, red the kitchen attired in his best
clothing. and asked her If she did not
want i'm to go and see about Mr.. Sui
lenger. She said she told him she did
not like to be sending for anyone unless
sne had some reason to believe there
was something wrong. She said that
Ernest insisted that something was
wrong. and that he would go and see.
She said that after breakfast Ernest
went to the barn and got bay mare
and went off toward John Sullenger's
store, saving that he would go to John
Sullenger's and see If James Sullenger
had not telephoned there. She said he
was gone a short while and returned
telling her that he had found Mr.. Sui
lenger's horse hitched at the school
house. and'had found his umbrella near
the horse. See said Ernest advised her
to 90 up and look about the school
house, and he would go over to Sullen-
gers store. She said he was still rid
ing the bav mare He again rode away
while she and other members of the
family went up 20 the school house.
where they found the horse ridden the
day before by Mr.. Sullenger. She
said she looked about the school house
and the old cistern, and that it was COW
cred. She said there had been small
opening over the cistern which had not
been covered for wears until that morn
ing. and that she noticed il had been
covered up. Mrs. Sullenger then told
of the search for her husband. about
having his money about her waist.
about his property holding. etc. which
facts are well known. She said she
did not know whether Ernest Slayden
knew she carried the money or not,
but admitted that her daughters knew
she had it.
In substance, William Tharpe told Of
the search and the discover of the tell
tale blood on the mouth of the cistern.
and the subsequent events after the
work of drawing the water from the
cistern was begun. he said that he
heard Ernest Slayden say, before It was
known that Sullenger's body was in the
cistern. now gentlemen. if he is in
there. and has got his money, wen
know he done it himself" Tharpe
said he heard Slayden say, after the
body was drawn up. the head showing
the CHASTITY wounds. now if he's got
his money. he done it himself"
The next witness---Carl Monroe. told
of going down in the cistern and plac-
ing the rope about the dead body, and
Of overhearing Slayden talk of the sui
eide theory. He corroborated Tharpe
and others as to Slayden's insisting
that if James Sullenger still had his
money he had committed suicide. He
corrobarated other witnesses who said
that Slayden looked into the cistern
before the body of Sullenger could be
distinguished. and SAID, "boys that's
him and he's got a rope around his
neck. "
Ed Large told of hearing Slayden talk
of the suicide theory. and said that
Slayden had insisted that Sullenger had
committed suicide. because he had his
money on him when searched.
Ellis Kline was another who corrobor-
ated other witnesses as to Slayden's in
sistence of his snicide theory.
Allie Porter also said he had heard
Slayden say. if he has got his money
he killed himself.
William Monroe said he was discuss
ing the case after the body had been
taken from the cistern and did not
know Ernest was in hearing. He said
that Ernest interrupted him and said: