The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-01-25
YOUNG THOMPSON
GOES ON STAND
Denies knowledge of His
Fathers Murder.
TELLS OF FINDING THE BODY
Says Money Was Secured to
Telegraph and Telephone
Relatives.
THOMPSON FREED ON TRIAL

testimony this afternoon IN the case
against Thomas Thompson, nineteen
years of age, charged with having
guilty knowledge of the death of his
father, Henry T. Thompson, who was
found shot to death on December 26,
in a ravine. near Providence. At
the conclusion of the testimony of
the States witnesses, the defense
moved the court to dismiss the de-
PENDANT, but this motion was over
ruled.
The defendant was placed on the
stand at o'clock this afternoon and
continued to testify until 8 O'Clock
when his cross-examination was
completed and court adjourned.
The young man gave a detailed
statement of his actions and move
ments on the day his father disap-
peared and the subsequent finding
of the body.
ThOmpsOn's Testimony.
Thompson testified that on the
preceding night of the tragedy he
remained at the home of a friend.
He said that he went to the store
about Sis o'clock that morning and
asked for his father, but was told
that he had gone out. With Tom
Baker he went up stairs and began
taking an invoice. His sister tele-
phOned to the store and asked why
it was the order she had given her
father had not been filled. He went
across the street and secured a part
of the order and returned to the
store. He returned to the upstairs
and resumed his work of invoicing.
He remained at the store until noon
and went home. His mother was
uneasy on account of the absence of
her husband and he Immediately re-
turned to the store and talked to his
brother-in-law concerning his faith
er's disappearance. He looked in
the cellar of the store and then went
to rooms that his father was in the
habit of using.
Witness, continuing his testimony,
said he went to a drawer where his
father kept a pistol and found that
it was missing. He went to his own
room and secured a thirty-two cal
liber pistol. He returned to the
store and borrowed Jackson's horse
for the purpose of going in search
of his father. He was told that 1t
was being whispered about town
that his father was missing and to
avoid any publicity in the matter, 1t
would be best for him not to ride on
the main street.
He left town by an unfrequented
way and went to the cemetery.
Hearing a report from a shot gun
over the hill, it occurred to him that
possibly his father was hunting. He
rode over the hill and through the
cemetery, but saw no one. To get
back to the main road, he skirted
the woods and came to the Rock
House" which is a depression in the
side of the hill. While peering
down in the gulch he saw what look
ed to him to be the body of a man.
He left his horse and going nearer,
saw the body of his father. He i'm
mediately remounted his horse and
returned to Providence, reporting
to his fathers brother the discovery.
Several went to the place and found
the body. 1t was then suggested
that he telephone and telegraph to
the relatives. II was then that he
secured $50 from the bookkeeper
and went to telephone and tele-
graph.
The prosecution failed to shake
the testimony Of the boy on cross
examination. 1t is the general
opinion that the deed was committed
between 1880 and ~ o'clock.
Marshall Sutton, who caused the
arrest of the young man, was placed
on the stand this morning, but his
testimony was not of startling ma
ture. He said that the boy told
him he wanted him to assist in find
ing out who the murderers of his
father really were.
One witness testified yesterday |
that Thompson came to the store |
and secured the $40 before he went
in search of his fathers body.
Young Thompson Acquitted.
Providence, KY, Jan. 19.-Thom-
as Thompson, nineteen years of age,
who has been on trial here for the
past three days on the charge OF
having guilty knowledge of the MUIR
der of his father, Henry T. Thomp-
son. was acquitted this afternoon