The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-11
CHAPTER XIX.
(ContInued.)

NtOutimue0.D
! went forward with merciless pre-
cision and despatch. a certainty and
rapadity so we'll ordered as TO be over
whelming in moral effect,
The evidence was cruelty against
Tom Strickland Two witnesses, a
farmer and his son. testified TO fnding
the dead body of STAN Tucker by the
roadside, at point midway between
the Tucker home and the town or
Nineveh, at daybreak on the morning
OF the twenty-seventh day of July just
past. They were on their way into
town TO sell garden produce. The
dead man lay on his back just at the
edge OF the road. There was bullet
hole in his forehead. A pistol, with
one chamber empty. lay an inch or two
distant from his right hand. The wit
nesses had hurried into Nineveh and
notified the authorities.
Simeon Birdsong testified that bad
feeling had existed between Thomas
w. Strickland and Stamford Tucker
since the night OF the clash between
the Strickland and Yancey factions at
the opening rally OF the Strickland
campaign The witness stated that the
accused at that time made threats 10
get even" with Tucker for attempt
ing to break up the Strickland meet
ing On the following day the accused
had openly insulted Tucker in the bar
room of the Nineyeh hotel and had
knocked him down a short time later
when they again met in the same
place. II was generally believed that
there would be bloody encounter be
tween them before the campaign
closed other associates OF the dead
man and the accused testified TO the
same facts.
I Mrs. Todhunter, whose appearance
as a witness for the state was a dram
attic surprise. and who was pitifully
alitated, testified 10 the fact OF the
accusation made agalns' Thomas w
Strickland by Eettie-May Doeeett at
the reception and hop given by the
Nineveh Light Infantry. and her testi-
mony was supported by that OF several
other ladies who heard the accusation
/ Nicholas Bledsoe, the bartender IN
I the saloon frequented by the Yancey'
( Tucker faction, testified to the facts oil
the two visits TO his place made by
the accused on the forenoon and even
ing OF the twenty-six,h day of July just
past. on the occasion OF the later
visit the accused had told him that
Stamford Tucker was the man whom
Lottie-May Doggett should rightfully
have charged with her ruin, that the
girl had told him, the accused, OF
i fuckers meeting her secretly, and
that he meant TO ma Tucker &C
knowledge the truth publicly or else
kill him. This witness testimony es
tablshed the hour OF eight-thirty or
that night as the exact time at which
i Tom Strickland Lad IF. the barroom
to go out TO the Tucker home for the
purpose OF compelling Stamford
Tucker to agree TO make such an &C
acknowledgement or OF forcing a hostile
meeting in the event of his refusal
\ White-haired Mrs. Tucker. the dead
mans mother: Katherine Tucker, his
sister. and Ellen Ba ry, domestic In
the Tucker home, testified that STAN
ford Tucker had left the house at OF
about eight-thir.y o'clock on the nigh
OF the twenty-six. IA OF July past. say
ing that he might be late in returning
He had not told them where he was
going. They had believed he was go
Ing into the town OF Nineveh.
i Doctor Langford, the county cor
oner. testified to the established fact:
Of the inquest that had resulted in q
verdict holding Thomas W. Strickland
FOR the killing OF Stamford Tucker.
Luther Bradfield, proprietor OF {
hardware store In Nineveh, testified
that Thomas w. Strickland had pur
chased a revolver from him on tho
morning after the opening OF tn,
Strickland campaign in the Ninevef
town hall. He identified the weapon
taken from the accused at the time
OF his arrest as the one thus pur
chased and stated that the bulle
found in Stamford fuckers brain wa,
fired from pistol OF the same caliber
/ Colonel Thurston Il. Todhunter an,
Miss Lottie-May Doggett had not an
swered to their names when allied a,
witnesses for the prosecution. TIL,
deputy sheriff, sent t. bring them into
court, had returned later and an
nounced that he hal been unable t
find them. This had occasioned much
surprise. but, as both the state and tn,
defense felt assured OF their appear
ance at almost any moment, the exam
ination OF other witnesses proceeded
The case again. Tom Strickland be
gan TO assume it's most ominous cspec
Immediately following the testimon,
OF Bradfeld, the hardware dealer.
The prosecuting attorney turned
smiling. from a whispered consulta
tion with old Ephraim Tucker.