The Sentinel=record., 1911-05-26
STATES CASE
 MADE STRONG
JACK PuRNELL, IN JAIL AT TIME OF cHITwooD KILLING, TAKES
 THE STAND.
Ills Version of the Incidents Before Shooting Corroborates the Story Told by Other Prisoners of
 The Jail

Jack Purnell, one of the rrisoners of the county jail at the time of the Chitwood killing, who was then held under first degree murder indict- ment but who has since been acqut- ted of the charge, was probably the strongest witness for the state iii he first day of evidence taking against John Rutherford, who is on trial for one of the most famous tragedies that has ever been written in the annals Of court history here.
 Purnell was the last witness used by the state during the day, and his examination made fitting climax to a days proceedings devoid of spec tacular but most impressive in its in tense interest
 The crowd was larger in the court routine jury drawing. and the court room was c'ose and hot, but the ab- sorbing interest kept the crowd quiet.
 Mrs. Dan Goodwin. sister of oscar and Gearge Chitwood, whose lives have been swept out by this unexpect- el conflict of few short weeks. ac- companied by her husband and little child. occupied a chaid close to Attorney Graham, who Is assisting in the prosecution She remained ap- parently unmoved by the recital Of the witnesses until while one was tes- tifying in denial of something she believed otherwise. She haf whisper ed indignation, but it was not heard except by those close to her.
 The state began it's case with the introduction of Coroner Randolph to prove that Chitwood had been killed and to describe the wounds aftel which he established that Rutherford was the man present and in whose custody Chitwood was when killed. It was then that he directed his atten- ton to number of witnesses from All about the court house square who were awakened by the shots, and Who looked out. but none of whom saw any thing of either mob or of individuals running from the scene.
 With this done the prosecutor mas probably gone back to the scene or the killing. and the prisoned witness es who testified in former hearings will probably be used this morning behind the evidence give in by Jack puruell yesterday. He was the first of the then prisoners called into the case.
 At the time all the other prisoners in the county jail at the time of the Killing were giving their evidence n length to the coroner Purnell refus- ed to testify. He was under indict- ment for first degree murder anu there was no way to make him q witness Later. however, and since his acquittal, he was called In py 'he grand jury. and testified there. Tnat testimony. however, could not nave been presented in offset of anythihs he might have testified yesterday hao his story not followed the version given the grand jury.
 When Purnell took the stand there was absolute quiet. It had not pee' long since Purnell, Prosecutor Woou and Col George w. Murphy now fol the defense, were trio of princlpa actors in another court room, Whei Purnell's life was in the balance ah' when Prosecutor Wood was the prose .cutor, but where Col Murphy was th' reliance of Purnell for liberty.
 Prosecutor Wood questioned TUT nell easy. but closely. He asked som' pointed questions. and Pufneli ans wered hesitatingly in some instances but positively on all except one point The rrosecutor asked Purnell wha Rutherford said to Chitwood anou his transfer to the city jail just bs fore the outer jail door closed agains them. Purneu hesitated. He said tha something was said there about wh was to take chitwood to the city jai ana Rutherford either said T am go ing to take you to the city iair' Q that there is the man who wi take you to the city iaiI The prose cutor wanted a positive statement C thc latter from the witness. but i'ul nell.s answer was that he heard non toa we'll. that he had man troubles Of his own since and tha