The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-04-25
Told Of His Actions On The
Day Of The LynChing
Denied That He Had Anything
To Do With II
The Arguments In The Case
Started On Monday

The defense in the murder case of
Ohio VS.. Louis ]. Bolton continued the
examination of its witnesses Friday
morning. AS on Thursday afternoon
the greater number witnesses called
we're for the purpose Of establishing
an alibi, showing, as the defense
claimed In its opening statement to
the jury, that Defendant Bolton was in
and about his place Of business all
afterfoon and evening on July 8, the
day Carl Etherington was lynched,
and that he had no part in the lynch
ing as an abettor or otherwise.
Among the witnesses placed on the
stand Thursday afternoon was Mon
tella Watha, who is serving 20-year
sentence for manslaughter, and who,
with two other penitentiary prisoners,
has been in the Knox county jail for
two weeks awaiting call. It appears
that Sanford Henry, who turned
states evidence in another one OF
these cases, was given srilling by
other prisoners upon his return to
the jail Watha on Thursday testi-
fed that Joe Bush, who turned states
evidence in the Bolton case, attacked
Henry and said to him, you know
Bolton told his men to stay away from
the jail"
George Fitterer, Newark glass.
blower, was one of the first witnesses
called Friday. He saw Bolton last
July s; went from Bottoms place with
Bolton to supper at the Warden just
before leaving witness saw Joe Bush
and heard Bolton say to Bush, "You
are drunk enough, you had better gc
home and stay there" On cross.ex
animation Fitterer said that he had
not been working at his trade, buI
was running crap" game over Bol
tons place; upon returning from the
Warden witness got the bank roll ant
started up his crap" game.
Mr. Fitzgibbon informed Judge
Wickham that clerk at the Warder
hotel had ben called as witness, bu
was not present. Judge Wickham sale
that the defense should go on with lt'
Witnesses.
Bolton Is Called
All was excitement In the cour
room at 9:35, when the name of Loui,
J. Bolton, defendant, was called Bol
ton left his seat among his attorneys
and occupied the witness chair Th,
examination In chief was conducte,
by Mr. owen. Bolton said that he Il
81 years OF age, born and reared II
Newark; father died about Is or /,
years ago; mother, aged 10, Is living
upon death of father witness tool
charge of fathers business of carrier
was never engaged In saloon business
until July, 1903, except when he work
ed for about one month as clerk In I
saloon; this was Just prior to tim,
he bought the saloon he owned II
July. 1910.
Bolton detailed his movements o
the day, especially after the visit o
dry" detectives TO his saloon. III,
said that he followed detectives I,
the Warden hotel, but emphatically I,
clared that he did not order the clerl
there to refuse rooms to the detec
tves. Bolton denied statements cred
Tied TO him at the city Jail.
The defendant denied having visit
ed his barn on July and said that h,
did not tell Joe Bush to so up to tn,
saloon; couldn't say whether he saw
Bush that afternoon; didn't NEE
Bush on the street that afternoon
nrst learned OF trouble at the parl
when patrol wagon with Etheringtor
ia II; Etherington was not among de
tectiyes who visited defendants sa
loon. 0o
In general, Bolton denied havlnl
talked about lynching anyone on th,
day or evening Of July 8. that he walk
cd with Bush and others when thes,
men left his saloon to go towards tho
jail, that he was about the jail tha
day or evening, that he advised Busl
or any other person TO 80 to the Jail
Bolton said that when the crow,
with Etherington passed his saloon HI
went into his place OF business; late
he walked north TO the Trust build