The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-11
FLAMING TORCH"
Of "DAND|ES" TO
HEAR FATE SOON
"Red" Hatton Says He Didn't
Know What Was in Confes-
sion He Signed Produces
Character Witnesses.

Joseph e. Hatton, alias RED"
characterized as ..'the flaming torch
of the dandy bandits, win probably
know his fate before nightfall. Trial
of Hatton on charge of robbery
in connection with the holdup Of l..
A. Hunton, New York salesman. dur
ing the latter part Of October. was
concluded at 1850 o'clock Satur-
day.
Arguments to the jury and the
charge Of Judge ]. Ed Richards were
Immediately begun and the case will
be given to the jury during the early
afternoon. Court attaches express
the belief that but a short time will
be required by the IL tried and true
men who will decide whether or not
Hatton will be given his liberty on
this charge orr will serve five to Is
years in the state penitentiary.
Cross examination Of Hatton was
resumed Immediately after court
convened Saturday The defendant
declared that he did not know the
contents OF the alleged confession
which he signed and that he thought
it was a statement that would re-
suit in the release Of Mrs. Aida i,
Shaw. Hatton declared that on the
night of the Hunton robbery he re-
turned to his home shortly after .
o'clock and remained there the re-
mainder of the night.
D. B. Puryear, counsel for Hotton
| next called d. b. Sweeney to the
witness stand as q character wit
ness. Major Sweeney declared that
| be had known Hatton In the nationa
guard and knew his reputation and
| that 1t was good. L. ]. Calhoun, for
mer captain In the national guard
and r. J. Moss, former lieuteapt-col-
onel Of the Fourth Tennessee, also
stated that Hatton's reputation was
good.
Identified Wrong Man.
w. w. Breathwick, young mar
employed by Pigeon Thomas Iror
company. was the next witness. ant
he stated that he was arrested II
the ChiscaL hotel at the instance o.
Hunton, who positively identified him
as one of the men who held him up
Breathwick declared that he wal
taken to police headquarters and
questioned and held there from 6: 81
one afternoon until $40 the follow.
ing morning. when he was released
| Breathwick llass filed suit for dam
ages for false arrest.
Mrs. Tahlula Hatton, mother OF th'
defendant, was called to the witnes:
stand. She stated that her son wa:
"a wears of age on July last; tha
| he had been discharged from thu
navy for physical disabilities. TIT
discharge paper, as well as a lettel
to Mrs. Hatton from the command
ant of the Great Lakes Naval Train
ING station, were offered in evidence
On cross examination, Mrs. HattoI
| stated that although her sons ag'
was given in his discharge papers al
20 years Of age on Nov. 2o' this was
an error.
Says Son at Home
Mrs. Hatton declared that ON tn
night of the Hunton robbery "Reo
Hatton had left home shortly atte
sunner. but had returned home short
lv after Q o'clock and to her knoWl
edge had not left home again ina
night. on the Saturday night fol
lowing this she said Hatton had tele
nhoned her and had come hom
early. Another holdup is alleged t
have taken place on that night also
AS to- the watches which Hattoi
admits he had in his possession, Mrs
Hatton declared that she had give
her son money with which to bu
shirts and had upbraided him 10
buying the watches instead OF tn
shirts. He wore one of the watches
a wrist watch, for several days. sh
said. She admitted that Hatton ha
been sent to the industrial school;
The, defense closed its case wit
the conclusion of Mrs. Hatton's ties
timony. The state then started 1t
rebuttal testimony, calling City Com
missioner Charles r. Shannon t
the stand.