The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-09-30

murder trial now on in the district
court, took the stand in his own be-
half today at II O'Clock, and told his
own story of the tragedy in which he
took the life of his brother-in-law.
Faunt Downey, in Verden, February
Il, reciting also the events that led UP
to the trouble.
AS a witness, the defendant was
good, reciting his story in a plain,
simple way, yet carrying with it GER
tain directness that was impressive.
His manner was composed and his an
swers to the questions of Reford Bond,
his attorney, on direct examination,
We're clear and to the point The sub
stance of his story was to the effect
that Downey had, on numerous occas-
ions, threatened his life, while in con-
versation with others He named sew
eral men who had told him of these
threats.
Among others, he mentioned Tom
Gibson, who the witness stated, told
him some time before the trouble that
Downey had said in answer to ques-
tion that he had no grass in the Pan
handle in partnership with Henry Cor
nett and owned nothing with him, but
that he would rather kill the d. s.
b. than anything else.
Warned Again, Says Witness.
On February 21. the day of the kill
ing, said the witness, he was warned
again of threats made by Downey Ben
Ford being mis- informant. Witness
stated that Ford told him that day
that Faunt had threatened his life.
"He told me that Downey was drinking
and that he had gun. He said Faunt
had threatened to kill me and asked if
had gun. told him | had not and
he said, you had better get one" said
the witness.
Cornett continued, Later in the day
Joe Smith asked me if | had a gun
and said that Faunt told him that one
OF us was going to die before night.
Joe told me | had better get gun. /
told him | didn't want any trouble
with Faunt.
81 met Ed on the street and he took
me by the arm and said, Come on
We walked down the street and he
said sXot, ORC ooipo n t,ovo tro,,l11,,
with that fellow I thought at first
that he was joking but noticed that his
face was white He asked me if had
a gun. | told him no. He said had
better get one because Downey swore
he was going to kill me and that he
was drinking.
Buys Gun.
q went to Glotfelter's and asked to
see gun. Sol told me that III was
going to have any trouble with any one
he would rather not let me have it,
wanted a big As Colts, but he said he
had no shells for it. | tried to buy
some shells at the other hardware,
but they didn't have them, either.
Then | went back to Glotfelter's
and told him | wanted the other gun.
He said again that if was expecting
trouble he would not let me have the
gun. | told him was going to keep
out Of trouble if possible, but that a
fellow had threatened my life and
didn't want to be caught without a
gun. He went up to the case and got
it. | told him would keep out of
trouble if | could"
Meets Downey on Street.
Answering questions propounded by
Bond, the witness told of his meeting
with Downey. He said, Il saw Faunt
several times during the day He
walked around me wherever | was.
Every time / saw him, | moved away
to keep out Of trouble. Ed, Joe Smith
and myself were standing in front OF
a pool hall when Downey came up. |
walked into the pool hall Later
Twas sitting on a barrel in front of 81
lis grocery and Faunt and Logan
Gorum came along. Faunt wanted to
stop, but Logan pushed him along by
the arm.
"About o'clock | had been to the
bank to fix up some papers on a team
/ had gold. went from the bank tc
Ellis store. Ed was in there and SO
was Faunt. didn't know Downey was
there until was inside the store.
asked Ed If he was ready to 90 home
and he said he was. ! walked out OF
the store and stood leaning against the