The north Mississippi herald. (Water Valley, Yalobusha Co., Miss.) 1888-1929, 1918-08-30
Geo. Goodwin Found Guilty
OF MansIaughter For The
Killing Of CASTOR Mitchell
cerated on the top and powder burn
ed, indicating fired at close proximity.
Engineer Frank Stewart

ed, indicating fired at close proximity.
Engineer Frank Stewart
Lived here 18 years-am locomo-
tive engineer-was on night of Dec.
3, l917-knew CASTOR Mitchell and
Geo. Goodwin both for about years.
Saw both night of killing-Mitche.l
was engine foreman and had charge
of the crsw-Goodwin followed the
engine, his duty was to cut the cars
and throw the switches. Luther
Williams was field man, his duties to
block the cars--I was engineer and
Tom Myers was my fireman, but Mr..
Myers being also an engineer we
changed places sometimes to rest
and relieve each other. Mitchell
was superintendent of the crew and
we all were subject to his orders. l
reported for work that night at z
o'clock-all the crew named were
present that night. Mr.. Myers was
acting as engineer when we went in
with the cars on Track No. S. Was
supposed to make a kick" switch
but failed and went in on Track No.
stopped then Mr.. Myers and |
changed sides, ! taking the engineers
position on right side--saw signal to
"go ahead" and pulled down lead
track with engine opposite spur
track at back of Trusty warehouse
yes, left cars on track No. came
out with 3 cars-went south $50 feet.
went below Blocks" crossing /
mean back end of cars had clear.
Blocks Crossing which Is sou,t,5F
switch stand No. 5-No one gave
signal to stop, stopped Of my own
accord. After stopped short time,
minute or so, saw flash like pistol.
l spoke to Mr.. Myers about it, he
answered back--He went back up lead
track, was gone 8 or a minutes then
came back. went up there after
fireman came back. / found body of
Mitchell laying fiat on back with arms
extended, head southeast about 8 or
10 in. from caboose track-his lam
tern at his right side between knee
and foot-pencil along side and pa
peds under his head. Two or three
were present-he was south of No.
stand. We started to work later
under Mr.. Spangler's direction.
Spangler came to get work started
again. Saw Mitchell and Goouwin
several times that night prior to kill
ing-did not see any difficulty that
night between them. Later saw
wounds on Mr.. Goodwin's face and
head-he was in jail-it was some
what dark in the Jail.
Jury Visits Scene of Tragedy
At this juncture the Court, Jury
and attorneys went to the scene of
the tragedy where the court ques-
toned Witnesses Frank Stewart and
M. j. Bates for the purpose of To-
eating the switch track, switch stands,
caboose track, and other tracks and
positions. locations of cars, and other
marks for identification purposes.
Fireman Tom Myers
Am locomotive engineer, have
lived here 28 years-was locomotive
fireman night Of Dec 8, 1917. Was
running the engine when went up
lead with cars to switch on track No.
5-when stopped ON No. 5 track,
changed with Mr.. Stewart and he
took charge of engine. Did not see
signal to go ahead was on left side
of engine-did not see signal to
stop-did not see flash or hear re-
port of gun. When engine stopped
at Trusty spur. got down and went
back toward yard office--heard that
Mitchell was shot---came back to
engine-Mr. Stewart went north
] did not go to scene-did not see
the body. Did not see Goodwin in
jail.
(Court took Recess Until l:s0)
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