Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-02-17
HUGHES TELLS STORY OF TRAGEDY Wealthy Arkansas Planter Reviews Details Leading
 Up to Shooting. SELF DEFENSE PLEA Says D0Ian ResOrted to BlackmaiI and
 Would Have Brained Him
 With a Chair.
SELF DEFENSE PLEA

Memphis, Tenn, Feb. 16.-Before q crowd that filled every inc hof space at the First Criminal Court, ]. ]. Hughes, the Arkansas planter, charg- ed with murdGing Tommy Dolan, took the witness stand this afternoon in his own defense, and tCld the story Of how ,he and Doan had first met, their travels through Memphis and the fatal shooting in the Cordoy} Hotel.
 Just before Hughes took the stand the court rocm was ordered cleared Of women. The only woman present was Mrs. Scott, widow of an Arkansas man who Hughes killed several years ago. She left the room.
 ''It was @ case of do or die testi- fled Hughes, T was unable to cope with Dolan, being weak and feeble
 Hugces says Dolan was advancing upon him with a ineavy chair when he fired. He said they had previous ly had a struggle for possession of the pistol, with which the shooting was done. Hughes danied having threatened the police. Hughes testifi- ed that the reaIl cause of the shooting  the return of a diamond which Dolan had in his possession and which Hughes claimed was his
 "When I refused to pay the black mail Dolan told me tisat would either pay it or I'd never leave the room alive. He ,sprang towards my grip to get my pistol, which he knew was there, as he had been handling it short time before
 According to Hughes testimony, Dolan got possession of the diamond while the two were fiding about the city in a taxicab together. Hughes testified that Do!an was wearing the stud at the time he shot thim. On motion of the Attorney General, the court order that Dolanis tie and the stud be brought into court.
 Hughes declared under question, that he had missed the stud Sunday morning while he was at a downtown barber shop; after Ae immediately consulted with friends as to what steps should be taken for it's recovery he had turned the matter over to De- tectiwe George TT. O'Haver, paying O'Haver $50 as retainer.
 uiSAl, lIuSHlo A'Riu, isAo been spent by him and Dolan in the tendelloin and that they came down. tCw natter trying to get into his apart ment at the Graham Flats. Hughes testified that Dolan had left lhim at the entrance of the Cor'dova Hotel, and that almost immediately the de- fendant had repaired to the barber shop for a shave. It was at this time, said the witness, that the dis covery was made that the stud had been lest or stolen.
 Hughes testified that the cGnversa- ton between he and Dolan directly before Dolan had attempted black mail had been pleasant, as he was under the impression that Dolan would voluntarily return the jewel.
 "But," said Hughes, "as soon as ! told Dolan I would not pay him for the stud which he claimed to have found, he became threatening and ug- ly. Then it was then that 'te made q run for the grip, opening it and puil.- ing out my revolver. We grappled, both holdirr to the weapon. l then wrenched it away from him. He rush ed across the room, grasped q chair and started towards me. With the weapon raised for a blow, I shot. l kept or shooting until 1 thought he had enough"
 The witness declared that he did not shoot after he had notified the hotel clerk of the tragedy. Elmo Stovall, the clerk, had previously testified that two shots sounded after Hughes had told him of the shooting and asked that the police be summoned. Denial was made by the defndant that he had visited the tenderlo.n district