The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-06-02
PROSECUTION ENDS ITS STORY
IN BANks0N MURDER CASE
Shows That Prisoner Had Murder In His Mind
An Hour Before He Fired Fatal
Shot, Defense Today

lodged in the south wall of the Police
Qua ters were exhibit and ideni-
fed BY Lutz. The pistol taken from
Bankson on the night Of Sept. %, 1910.
When he was taken in the resort on
18th street, was identified by "Skews"
the night clerk at. the police station.
The pistol Bankson used in killing
French was identified by Lutz; he
did not know the caliber Of the pis-
tol. Lutz said the bullets taken from
The walls OF the police station we're
what is known as "steel jacket" bull
lets; Lutz stated that Bankson re.
marked while struggling with the
officers, II am game man. That
he (Lutz) called for hand cuffs, which
placed on Ba kson's wrists and that
he was taken Immediately to the
county jail. Lutz stated thas he ex-
-mined the pistod used by Bankson
and that there were three loaded shells
and three empties in the pictol;
these sheels, we're identified BY Lutz.
Lu'z test fed hat he had Banks by
the right arm when Police Chief
Cowel struck Baukson In the face w th
the handouts.
The trial was frequently interrupted
this morning by Juror McCommon
having an attack of acute indigestion.
Dr. J. Luce vas called in and pre-
scribed for the sick Juror and he soon
recovered sufficiently to resume hear
ing the testimony.
GINS Johnson, (coiored policeman)
followed Lutz on ths stand. He tes-
titled to meeting Bankson on the COR
ner OF Thirty and sycamore
Streets, about 4.30 on the afternoon
of December 3D., 1910; that Bankson
asked him what time Sergeant French
came on duty; that Bankson boarded
a car on Thirty fourth street; that the
same car passed Police Headquarters.
Coroner DR.. NcManus next took the
stand, he testified that he reached po-
lice headquarters about 500 p. m. on
the day Of the killing; hs found Ser
geant French dead, lying with his head
in the doorway leading into the office
of the Chief OF Police CoweIl. He
found one bullet hole in the left back,
about an inch from the spine on line
with the left nipple; that the bullet
ranged straight through at right
anglesto the skin; that the death OF
Wilfred French was caused by puuc-
turing blood vessel, causing hem
morhage; DR.. McManus identified the
clothes worn by Sergeant French at
the time he was killed.
The defence here admitted the fact
that these were the same clothes.
Police Chief Cowell followed DIR.
McManus on the stand. His testi-
mony corroborated the testimony oi
Jailer Lutz. Cowell Swore that Bank
son had been to the Cairo Police Sta
ton twice between Sept. %, 1910 and
Dec. 3, 1910 and asked both times foi
his pistol, which all this time had been
locked up in the chiefs desk; that
Bankson never asked for any money
or other thing, alleged to have beer
taken from him; Cowell testified thai
he struck Bankson in the face at least
twice, while trying to subdue him
did not notice any wounds on Bank
sons face prior to his striking him
did not hear Bankson ask him (Coweil
to ot hit him. The defense failed Il
shake Cowell in the least on cross ex.
animation.
Officer l.. Fl. Paul followed Office
Cowell on the stand. He told practi
cally the same story as the chief up Il
the killing. Paul testified that Sar
geant French after telling Bankson h
had no key that would fit the hand
cuffs exhibited by Bankson, went bacl
to the closet; from there to th'
chiefs Office; put on his uniform
came back into the main room ant
stopped at Tax Collector Sheehan'
d sk end and proceeded to put OF
his star. While doing this, Bsnksol
again asked French If he hat a he.
to it t,e handcuffs, French replies
that he had not; BanBson said "yo'
haven't, eh? Jumped To hs feet au'
shot French in the back. Frencl
clapped his hand to his breast ant
said "Oh"! and fell. Paul testitie'
that he knocked the gun from Bark
sons hands grappled with him. Th
rest OF Paul's story was corrobatiol
of the listening Of Po ice Chief Cow
lell.
\ The prosecution tried to find dis
crepancy in Officer Paul's testimon.
before the Coroners Jury and his TIES
timony before tn trial iuery, but fail
ed. In fact the cross ex animation
onl siren henhe Paul's testimony,
Ianything. Officer Paul was asked 3,
1.-THE cross examinetsif he didn't know