The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-07-20
Pickler Former Mayor Of Packer
City, Takes Stand and Gives
Damaging Testimony in Phil
lips Custer Case.
TAKEN HOME IN A CAB
Testified that Phillips Wanted t.
Fight and Had to be Assisted
Later-Proceedinss Of the
Day in Court.

The testimony of ex-Mayor T. B..
Picker that Mayor Phillips of Ottum
wa in company with Claude Myers
visited the saloon of w. w. Webster
& Co. on South Market street April
30 and partook of five rounds of "Old
Taylor" whiskey, was perhaps the
most damaging to the defendant
brought out at the hearing yesterday
in the Phillips custer proceedings A
victory of similar Importance to that
gained in the commencement of the
trial when the defense won favorable
ruling in the case, was secured by the
prosecution when the court overruled
a motion to strike made by the
defense.
T. H. Picker, former mayor of
Ottumwa was the first witness. He
stated he had known the defendant for
the. past twenty-five years. Asked by
Senator Cosson if he had ever seen
the defendant intoxicated during the
present term CT his office, he met an
objection by Judge Mitchell. The ques-
ton was altered and in reply the Wit
ness said that he had seen the mayor
intoxicated April 80 in the saloon of
w. w Webster & Co., on south Mar
ket street. When asked the nature of
the drink and the number of drinks
taken, Mr.. Picker said that five
rounds of "Old Taylor whisky were
drunk by the defendant, and witness
and Claude Myers who was with
them.
He stated that he was not sure
whether it was Mr.. Phillips or Myers
who invited him into the saloon, as
both came together from the direc-
ton in which Mr. Myers store lay
from the place where the witness
stood.
''The third round of drinks was
bought by me- said the witness, land
at that time john Gray came in. He
was going by and / called him in to
take a drink and join us. Gray
bought round of drinks and l bought
another"
Asked if Phillips drank each time
the witness said he did, but did not
know the quantity or pay any atten-
ton in that particular. When asked if
that he heard Phillips say You're a
- liar. addressing Gray, and that
Joe Jaques stepped in between them
but that Phillips seemed to be in
sistent on getting to Gray. He stated
that he, the witness, showed Phillips
across the room and talked with him
to quiet him, and that he tried to per-
suade him to go home. "The defendant
soon became more quiet said Mr..
Picker, and when asked to go home
in cab he refused" Later when
asked what was said by Gray to Phil
lips, he stated mat he heard Gray say
something about supporting Phillips
during two campaigns and Phillips
said you're liar
Mayor Phillips" said Mr.. Picker,
Struck at Gray and Gray caught his
ROOM
When asked if he talked with the
defendant about the matter afterward
the witness said he had and that the
defendant stated to him that after
some instance during the saloon trou
BILE, just which he could not recall, he
failed to remember what happened to
him, and also that he did not know
when he got home.
| In the cross examination by Judge
Mitchell, the political career of the
witness was gone into and the rela
tons with the defendant with
John Gray. The witness said that the
defendant and he differed on some
things but that they were friends 81
far as he knew When asked b!
Judge Mitchell if he talked with Johr
/ Gray after the incident in Webster:
saloon, he said he had. He was thel
asked If John Gray did not tell hin
then that i've waited for three year,
to get the old - ant
now | have the chance and will ge
him To this the witness answered
Not at that time Later he quail
fed it by saying Il don't remembe
him saying that" and the same repl
was made when asked if the witnes
had not heard Gray say that 1t was
last request of his brother James Ora
that he (John) keep after Phillips IN
til he would get him. The witnes
said he never heard such talk. AS t
what he knew of the bad feeling be
tween the defendant and John Ora
the witness said 1t was some politics
promises which were never carrie
out with regard to Gray, although tn
defendant was not accused by tn
witness for not doing his part. MI
Picker claimed he heard the prom
ises made and stated that after th
nomination of Phillips as mayor, h
with John Gray went to call upon hill
and there was told that the offic
wanted, that of chief of police or d.
tective in plain clothes, was promise
as far Phillips had the power.