The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1917-01-02

there during the whole trouble; Tom
Thornton came in the back door and
shouted ''hurrah for Santa Claus
his father put him out, telling him ia
have some respect for Rev. Shouse
Tom said: "G--d--the brother" when
the trouble started Mike grabbed
Will Benedict and was holding him
Steve ran to him and told him to
turn him loose, which he did; George
Thornton walked around the stove
and said 'By God I'm ready to shoot
it out with you," and shot Bill, who
turned then and shot at him; Mike
Gaddis fired three times at Bill
John Thornton ran by and snatched
pistol from Benedict and ran at Bill:
fired at Steve; George and John
Thornton snapped pistol at Steve
but they were empty and ran;
George shot from behind the stove
Benedict was talking peacefully to
Galloway at the time.
On crosS-eXamination, he said that
he had been on good terms with the
Thorntons; he denied that he had
made a statement to Mike Gaddis
CD you if you don't turn him
loose I'll cut your throat; denied he
had knife in his hand; denied he
saw his brother walk to a back Win
dow and call for his pistol; said Cad
dis took hold of Will Benedict Just
as soon as George passed by him in
the aisle; first saw his brothers
pistol after he was shot; and was
sinking to the floor; George Thorn
ton fired first two shots; Gaddis fir
ed three; couldn't tell how MANY
shots Willie and George fired; he
said Thornton came down the aisle
took Willie's pistol, shot Willie and
then John and George Thornton both
snapped their pistols in his face; and
| they they both ran; said he was not
saying word to George
Widow of Dead Man
Mrs. William Benedict, widow of
the dead man, told practically the
same story of the shooting that Stew
en- Benedict did; size said her hus-
band was not drinking, and that no
words had passed between him and
George Thornton before the latter
shot him; on cross-examination she
denied that her husband was cursing
and said that he'd clean out the
bunch; he only said that they had to
respect his family; she denied that
the teacher asked her husband to be
quiet and not raise any dis turbance.
Burban Galloway
Burban Galloway, son of Marion
Galloway, was sitting within three
feet of Willie Benedict; he said that
George Thornton said nothing to
Benedict; walked up to him and shot;
Benedict staggered around the stove
with his gun in both hands; he saw
lie. hill lot III 4 L.
witness in the right arm; saw Tom
Thornton with pistol but did not
see John fire; on cross-eXamination
he said he once had fight with one
of the Thornton boys but it had been
hold of Benedict; he saw Tom with
his hand on his pistol in hip pocket
a good while before shooting began.
DR.. Weddle, of Hustonville, told of
examining the body of Willie Bene-
dict and said that there were two
wounds, one through the left Shout
der. which ranged through the body
and the other through the left hand,
starting at the back of the hand; he
supported the body of Benedict after
the shooting and Benedict died in his
arms
witnesses Tor the DefenSe
John Thornton, father of the
Thornton was the first witness for
the defense; he said he lives in Sugar
Tree Hollow; came here from Wayne
county 80 wears ago; assisted Miss
Minelle Pruitt, the teacher in arrang-
ing for the Christmas tree at the
Harris Greek schoolhouse: she was
to conduct the entertainment and he
to assist in keeping order in the
house; he was superintendent of the
Sunday school; he was at the school
all day; came back about in the
afternoon; and stayed there to at
tend the tree; George Thornton got
there between 4 and 5; Tom about
z; Benedict about 6 80; he spoke to
Benedict and had few social words;
they were On good terms; Tom came
III and sale something to little boy
friend about Santa Claus: John toll
Tom TO keep still that Brother
Shouse as taking; Tom start n out
md Ioh' wen. cut with him; Scrte-
body had knocked his hat down and
he talked loud about it; Ambrose
Wilson picked up his hat; John went
on down the hill short way with
him; Tom came back in about Is
minutes and started back up the
aisle; John told him not to do so;
Tom said he'd go home; went out
and stayed some time; came back
and began crying to his mother; ad-
mitted that Tom was drinking; he
sat by his mother and hushed;
George came back in his shirt sleeves,
was to act Santa Claus; asked to be
excused and came back and stood
with them; Tom went out and around
the house; next saw Tom about Is
minutes later walking down the aisle
from the curtain and placed himself
up against the door; Tom cried
again; Benedict who was about two
desks in front of George, raised up
and said: That's got to be cut out
right now" Gave his baby to his wife
and said; at don't matter a CD;
it's got to be cut out" Ambrose Will
son told him he was doing more ours
ing than anyone; Bill unbuttoned his
coat and drew his pistol up in the
air; Gaddis grabbed him; George and !
Tom were behind John; They said
nothing to Benedict; He pushed Tom
back; Steve Benedict came up and
said ''Turn him loose;" Benedict was
advancing; George stuck his gun
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