The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-05
STATES ATTORNEYS
EXAMINE WITNESSES
Make Attempt to Fix Time of
Every Detail in
Murder.
]. M'NEES TESTIF1ES
Sheriff of Randolph County
Exhibits Watch Penetrat-
ed BY Bullet.
J. M'NEES TESTIFIES

Testimony given today by number
of witnesses in the case of William
Circle of Winchester, charged with
the murder of Mrs. Iva May Brown on
July 10 in South street, did not tend
to strengthen the defense.
Attorneys for the state started early
in the day to secure testimony as to
the specific time of every detail men
toned.
The trial will be a legal battle be-
tween number of the best lawyers
in eastern Indiana. Theodore P. Shock
ney, of Union City, is handling the ex-
animation for the state, while Henry
u. Johnson is acting in the came ca
paCity for the defense. With Shockney
for the state are Will w. Keller,
Wayne county prosecuting attorney
and Bert E. Woodbury., the prosecut-
ing attorney of Randolph county. AS
sisting Henry U. Johnson are Attor
neys Walter Parry and John Newton
of Winchester.
One of the most important witnesses
called by the state today was James
McNees, proprietor OF the McNees no.
tel at Winchester, where Circle
roomed. McNees testified that Circle
was not in his room at the time of the
murder, but shortly afterward Circle
light McNees said he went into Cir
cle's room and talked to him for a
short time
Exhibiting a watch through which
a bullet had passed, John Henning,
sheriff of Randolph county, said he
found the timepiece in the coat pocket
of John Davisson. The watch was
carried over Davisson's heart.
Three Saw Murder.
There were three witnesses to the
shooting of Mrs. Brown. They were
Julian A. Shaw, Joseph Sommers and
Flossie Chopper, the latter 17-year-
old high school girl.
Mr. Shaw testified that he had seen
Circle at a fireworks display at the
Frances E. willard school early in
the evening. Shaw with Mr. Sommers
were taking their niece, Miss Chopper
to the home of her uncle, Tom Ashton
at South and West streets at 1880
o'clock at night when the shooting Oc-
Cured.
They were walking forty feet in the
rear of Mrs. Brown and John Davisson
when they first noticed them and they
walked faster in order to pass them,
When they were within thirty feet of
the two, a shot was fired and Davis
son staggered. A man detached was
seen to run towards Mrs. Brown who
had turned partly around in an effort
to get away. Before she could es.
cape, a second shot was fired which
passed through the bone of her right
thumb and into her body, not causing
serious injury. The third shot fired
and the second to strike Mrs. Brown
entered her left side, passed through
the heart, and lodged against the skin
on the right side. The bullets taken
from the body and the one which
struck DavissOn were exhibited.
DAWSON Not Suspected.
A shadow of suspicion was cast
against Davisson, who was openly
charged by some at the time, with hav
ing fired the shots. However, the state
brought out testimony which would
show that while the shots were fireC
from close to the couple. the distance
was too great for the act to have beer
committed by Mrs. Browns compan
ion.
Shaw walked Immediately to the
body after the third shot had beer
fired He asked who had been sho
and Davisson replied, ITS May Brown
Bill Circle did it, I'm shot too" 4
few minutes later Shaw went to ;
livery stable where Mr. Brown, hus
band of the murdered woman was EN-
ployed and summoned Mr. Brown.