The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1918-01-09

with his attorneys throughout the
trial.
A large crowd was in attendance at
the court house. eager to hear the tes-
timony. The building was cold, but
the throng held on shiyering in their
0ver-cOats.
Charles l., Esper shot and killed
James X. Knox here on the night of
Dec. q in his anger, according to
testimony introduced into the pretim'
mary hearing at the court house this
morning. He told Sheriff 7, c. Gar
rott, according to testimony, when he
gave himself up Immediately after
the shooting, that it was not done IN
self-defense According to the t23tt-
mony, he charged Knox with breaking
up his family. "You are mistaken y
was the reply Of the dead man, as it
was stated in the trial This angered
Esper and he ayowed that Knox had
to take his family, now that he had
broken it up for him. Esper said he
had the proof in his pocket 1t was
said that Esper's account Of the hap
pening related that Knox again as
serted that Esper was mistaken; Els
per pulled his gun and began firing
There was one shot, then a pause and
four quick ones. Two of the shots
took effect, one through his left leg
the other through his left hip, pene-
trating his bladder, and causing his
death, according to DR., W. B, Dick
ms testimony.
Nothing unusually startling was re-
vealed at this mornings hearing
( Among the witnesses introduced by
the state were DR.. W. y. piGlsins, w
f. Meadows, Il. l. Gossom, g. W.
| Stanley, Ray Brown, Miss Rosaiyn
Knox, Homer Herbert and a negro
John Stamps. Their testimony was
heard from the opening Of court at ~
O'Clock up to after the dinner hour to,
day. Each witness was questioned by
both the prosecution and the defense;
the defense thoroughly examining
sayings. County Attorney Mean:
Johnston represented the state and
Messrs. Fred Witty ard s. |, Osborn
the defendant Justice A. W. Exams
presided.
81 Am Going to Kill Yog"? Esper
Told Knox. Don't Shoot Me-"
Knox Begged.
DR.. W. 3. Dickins was the first wit
ness examined and told that he hac
been summoned to the Kings Daugh
,ers Hospital on an emergency call
Upon being questioned by the stat'
in regard to Mr., knoX's dying decla
ration he said that Knox related tht
story as follows. Esper accused hin
of being the cause Of family troub es
Knox denied this statement. u an
going to kill YOU" Esper told Knox
according to the testimony Don
shoot me-" was Knox reply.
In the defense's questioning he ask
ed DR.. Dickins whether or not Mr.
Knox, in his dying statement had dc
MED Mr.. Esper's charge, or whethei
he had affirmed it.
DR.. Dickins replied that ne dI'
. neither That the man just gave al
account Of the happening.
Esper Had TeIephoned Gossom.
Z. |. Gossom was then put on tn
+ stand. He had met Mr., Knox at tn
station on the night of the shooting
He said that MIR. Esper had teleph0n
, ed him Thursday morning, askln
when MIR Knox would be in Green
: wood and that he had propo5itlo
a 20 talk over with him. lie testiie
, that Mr. Esper told him that ne woul
{ meet Knox at the train after Gossor
! told Esper that he would arrive.
n According TO Gossom's testimon!
I upon arrival of the train he, Gosson
Z was not present, but came up littI
4 later. He took one Of the two-han
bags carried by Mr.. Knox, which wa
! handed to him by Mr.. Knox and h
q and Ray Brown, after speaking to NJ
p Knox, Joined Miss Rosalyn Kno.
q daughter of the dead man, who ha
:, come down from Memphis with HI
). father and the three walked on u
II town. lie testified that the thr'
n were seyenty-fvs feet from Knox al
> Esper when the first shot was fire
1 He testified that he aided in undrea
ing Mr.. Knox and that he was u
armed.
When asked by S. l. Osborn, a
is torney for the defense, in which han
h. bag was Mr.. Knox's gun, the one h
:; (Gossom had or the one Mr. kn'
himself carried, Mr.. Gossom said tn