The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-17
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EVERY SPECTATOR
At BANDIT TRIAL
Judge and Court Officials
Even Halted by Troops on
Duty During Sensational
Hot Springs Hearing.
Especial to The News soimitar.)

wv WI HtS5o IiOu' IlISs
Especial to The News Soimitar)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. Nov. IT
ne matter how monumental the evil
dence may be against Tom "Curley"
slaughter and Fulton Kid" Green,
fef-confessed bank robbers of Okla
homa, there is one banker who is
willing to admit that. after all
slaughter isn't such a bad fellow and
Is willing to show the right shirt.
slaughter and Green are being tried
n circuit court for the murder of
now BroWn, deputy sheriff who they
snot to death on Sunday, oct. 10.
ABOUT SIX miles east of this city,
inc man who has recently formed
Aa peter opinion of Slaughter than
ne mad previous to coming here is
u. Caldwell, president of the Peo-
PIES bank, Cave City, Ky. He first
made the acquaintance of Slaughter
and Green at the noon hour OF Tues
day, April G. The medium of intro
duction was a six shooter" Slaugh-
& ter presented, and with 1t came the
command to put 'em up" The
banker is not dull of comprehension,
l SO up went his hands. and then came
4 q Little walk TO the banks vault.
from which President Caldwell was
forced to take sS,56l20 which he
dumped into a 50-pound flour sack
Slaughter had brought with him for
Just such an emergency. The bank,
said its official head, has long since
! been reimbursed for the money stsl-
en-, but another mission than that
4 brought him here,
Among other articles that Slaugh-
Ter took away with him was II little
gold watch. 1t had been manufac-
tured over a century ago. A very
prominent banking house in Wash
. ington, d. c., had sent the watch
TO the Peoples bank in Cave City.
/ making that institution custodian of
/ the timepiece for minor heirs of that
town. President Caldwell wants that
9 wach back.
When he arrived hero he held a
conference with Circuit Judge Scott
4 Wood and received permission to
speak 20 Slaughter. The bandit rec
ognized him and smiled a greeting.
Tom" said President Caldwell, II
came all the way from home to ask
you II YOU still have that little gold
watch you took when you held me
np. If so. would like to get it back"
viii Return Watch.
Slaughter smiled again and said.
All right. Ill see that YOU get II.
The dr.! thing is too old and of no
\ use to me, and l intended to send ii
back to you"
And that is why President CaId-
well thinks pretty we'll of Slaughter.
! Hot Springs has witnessed many
criminal trials in its interesting his
/. tory but none to equal this one.
Also, 1t is the first time in the his
tory OF the county that members of
the state militia are on duty in and
around the courthouse. A squad of
two officers and IA men. under the
command of Capt. j. Carroll Cone,
being part of the machine gun COM
Party Of Pine Bluff, Arkansas ma
uonal guard. at the request of Cir
cult Judge Wood, were sent here by
Cox. Charles III. Brough for duty
during the trial The request for
sfile soldiers was the result of a warn
Ing seut here by the secretary of the
Texas Bankers association who
stated he had information that friends
OF Slaughter and Green were hop
ping toward Hot Springs" for the
purpose of liberating their pals.
Judge Wood took no chances and If
there 10 any attempt in that direc-
lion, those who initiate Ii will get
the warmest and most fatal recep-
fion of their career.
5 The military embellishments may
nave been the proper procedure to
take, but, just the same, there are
many who would rather get by the
guard" without the trouble that one
has to now go through to get into
lAhe courthouse. The soldiers are no
Fespeetors of persons. Judge Wood
found that out the first day the
militia was on duty. He came to the
courthouse early, was halted by a
sentry who ordered him to stand
and be identified"
Il am Judge Scott Wood" ex-
planned his honor.
.Halts Trial Judge.
That don't mean anything to me"
replied the soldier, who was fully
armed. You will have TO wait until
some one can identify YOU"
BY that time Sheriff Brad O
Smith. who with other officers had
''kidnaped' Slaughter and Green
from Sedan, kas., officers, arrived.
He. too. was stopped by the sentry
But I am the sheriff of the coun
ty, my boy" explained Sheriff Smith,
# TELL 1t to the corporal of the
guard" replied the sentry.
The two county officials were final
iy permitted to enter the courthouse
after Capt. Cone had personally iden
titled them.
Every one entering the building has
to pass through the same procedure.
Inside. on the ground floor they are
searched for concealed weapons. No
one has thus far been found "totlng
q gat." ANY such artillery will be
Immediately confiscated and the per
son guilty will be locked up In the
county jail.
The state rested It's case today,
and it is more than likely that both
Slaughter and Green will take the
stand in their own defense. The ties
timony the defense has to offer Will
ii is thought, be concluded by Wed
nesday afternoon and arguments
should be made that night. The YER
dict is anticipate Thursday morning
The state has asked for a verdict,
In its opening statement that Will
carry with it the death penalty.