The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1910-08-09

1 -"
along with the person who had stolen
the wheels, and witness claimed he
never knew they were stolen.
W. W. Montgomery, the next wit
ness for the State, husband Of Char
lie Plyler's sister, testified to quar-.
rel between Plyler and Parks over
some money matter last October, and
to a conversation in which Plyler
told him TO kill Parks. This con-
versation occurred on the Monday
before Parks was killed. On cross
examination of this witness, the de-
Tense brought out the fact that wit
ness never mentioned this threat Of
Plyler's to kill Parks until the pres
ent trial, although he had testified at
the preliminary,
Fred Hayes testified that Plyler
came to his house one night a week
or so before the killing, and asked if
he had heard any threats made BY
Parks against Plyler.
P. W. Plyler, a relative Of the de-
PENDANT, said that Plyler came to his
house on the night he was coming
to give himself up to the officers, and
told him he did not do the shooting,
but knew who did do it. That he
did not want to tell it for fear Of
what the man would do to him if
they didn't put him where he could
not get to him; that he was danger
Gus man, and had said he would kill
Plyler if he told.
A negro, Lewis Walker, testified
that Vane Richardson had said in
his presence, shortly after the first
shooting, that he recognized Charlie
Plyler's voice, He said, also, that
Plyler had rebuked him for telling
so much" at the inquest, and asked
why he had not let them pump him
and drag IL out OF nm as Plyler
himself had done.
Robt. Rape testified that he was
cutting oats in his field not far from
Mayhew's house on the Wednesday
the murder is said to have occurred,
he saw the prisoner Mayhem coming
from a southernly direction, and he
was travelling "betwixt run and a
trot." He said he hollered at May
hew and asked him where he was 60
ing and he answered Il am going to
see my gal" Asked in which direc-
ton Mayhem was going, witness said
that he was travelling in the direction
towards where the dead man was af-
forwards found. Mr.. Rape said he
had heard gun fired about an hour
by sun that evening, and that he saw
Mayhem about a half hour after he
heard the gun. George Mayhem
went on the stand and testified that
he was in South Carolina the day of
the murder, stopped at Gus Brooks
on the way back, and didn't get
home till late in the evening, and
then went to band meeting at Eb
Robinson's house. His evidence was
corroborated by ]. B. johnson, a
colored preacher who said he went
with Mayhem to South Carolina and
back, and by Gus Brooks, Eb Rob-
inson and others.
Doc Montgomery testified for the
State that he saw Mayhem on that
Wednesday evening when the sun
was about ten or fifteen minutes high;
that he came by witness house driv-
ing in a rubber-tired buggy. He was
driving pretty fast and witness asked
him what was the matter, and May
hew replied 1T would not do to tell
now" Mayhew's explanation was
that he had driven from home and
was going over to the band meeting
when Mr.. Montgomery saw him, and
in this he was corroborated by a
number of witnesses.
Constable Cliff Fowler testified to
a conversation he had with Plyler in
a restaurant in Monroe the day the
body was found and Plyler had come
here for a coffin. He said that he
asked Plyler if he thought negroes
had done the killing, and that Plyler
said he didn't think SO; but that 1T
didn't make much difference, Parks
was very sorry man anyway"
Ransom Plyler testified that he
heard Plyler say, shortly after Parks
was shot the first time, that IF Parks
kept on about his Cd d-n clatter-
ing, he might find out who done it"
On cross examination witness said
that Plyler didn't say who did it and
that he did say that he himself
didn't do it.
Roland Starnes and Mr.. and Mrs.
Cleveland Hinson testified for the
defense and were probably the strong
est witnesses TO show an alibi for
Plyler. Mr.. Starnes testified that he
saw Plyler that evening at Plyler's