The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-01-27

Arch Knapp. defendant, took the
stand in his own behalf Wednesday
afternoon and the state was unable to
shake him in hts testimony concerning
the events of last Halloween night. 1t
became clearly evident throughout the
testimony Of the defendant that his
defense will be accidental shooting re-
sulting from his drunken condition.
The reason Knapp made such good
witness for himself was that he was
unable to remember anything that
happened from the time he drank his
second bottle of whiskey until the time
he reached the county Jail at $3.50
o'clock next morning. He did not
even remember who was in Dick Ell
words place that evening and had only
faint recollection of William Will
Jams, whom he is accused OF killing.
Memory Fails Knapp.
Prosecutor Keller, however, will
argue that Knapp's memory was not
so much of blank as he made it out
to the jury for the testimony of sew
eral of the states witnesses told of
the statements of Knapp prior to the
shooting and directly after the shoot
ing in which Knapp said, II am going
" euOOl YOU, anu DIS SOOu DIS luc act
was done he said. 81 didn't shoot that
niger. did ~"
Knapp contended on the stand yes
terday that he could not remember
any OF these conversations and that
his memory had completely left him
after he entered Elvord's place at
chout Q O'Clock
The first ! knew Of lot Of those
i,.tnss was when I heard the men talk
'>rsal the stand" said the witness.
Il had no i'll feeling toward Will
ians." said the defendant. Il don't
remember any of the conversation
about coon hunting"
Don't You even remember about
Williams dancing and YOU batting for
him in the back r'".'-' ICED the
prosecutor.
Recalls Jig Dancing.
We'll. | just have faint recollec-
ton that Williams was dancing back
there but | don't know who else was
in the ROOM" answered the witness.
The following explanation was made
by Knapp regarding the revolver
which has never been introduced for
evidence and the state has been un.
able to find it:
MY wife's sister left her revolver
Il 32-calibre, with me to clean and tc
sell if | had a chance. On Halloween
night took it out and remember plac
ing it in my right hip pocket. l don't
remember anything about it after that
time. | know that the reason l put il
in my pocket was to show it to Man
drum Howard, who wanted to buy it
! dent remember whether showed
it 10 Howard or not. | don't remem
Der anything about it after that
Mandrum Howard had been sum
mOned by the state to testify rela tive
to the transaction for it is understood
that Howard was in Elvord's place al
the time and knew nothing about the
reported transaction. Howard has
mysteriously disappeared from the
community for although the summons
were served personally by Sheriff
Steen, Howard has not been seer
around Hagerstown or Greensforl
since last Saturday. He was employ
ed at Teetor Brothers factory, Hagers
town. Prosecutor Keller believes tina
Towards testimony will be materia
in disproving the allegation made b.
the defendant regarding the transact
Con, which the prosecutor believes wa
never made. Every effort will b,
made to locate Howard and he vii
have to answer to the charge of con
tempt of court unless he shows VI
some time today and gives an accoun
OF himself.
Buys Another Pint.
Knapp continued his story with thu
statement that before he ate supper OIL
Halloween evening, he had drunk
pint Of whiskey bought at Dick Fl
Words place. Within an hour afte
that he bought another half pint o
whiskey.
Where did they get the whiske
they sold to YOU asked the prose
cutor
Some of :; they got out of the scout
store room and some of it ont OF til
north room replied Knapp.
Was there any difference bct"oa
the whskey bought there thu IGN
than that bought there ." 2r
time" asked the attorney
Yes, 1t seemed to be stronger" re
piled Knapp
At this point, knapp's memory be
came blank and Prosecutor Relic
was unable to get any satisfactor
answer out of him. Question We're r,
peated and placed in different form
but Knapp insisted that he knee
nothing that happened until after h
had reached the county Jail. He coul
not even explain how he got to hi
fathers home after leaving Elvord
place and shooting the colored boy.
Following is Evidence.
The following is part of the test
mony given by the witness in diret
examination by Attorney Johnson:
Q.-Whom did you see in Elvord
place?
Al don't remember seeing an
body.
Odd you drink any whiskey aftt
YOU came out of the back room?
A.--No | don't think did.
Odd you see the Anderson boy
Stevens or Cheesman there?
Al don't remember.