The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-17
BOMB EXPLODED
in KIDNAP CASE
Craddock Turns States Evil
dence After Charge Against
Him N0lIe Pressed.
NO VERDICT WEDNESDAY

A bomb was thrown into the camp
OF the defense Wednesday In the case
against Mrs. Alice Stansbury and
others charged with impersonat ation of
federal officers and KIDNAPPING when
District Attorney Kennerly nolle
pressed the case against J. ID. Grad
| dock, one OF the defendants ana called
him to the witness stand for the gov
ernment. Attorney Shepherds motion
that his testimony not be admitted In
view OF the fact that he had heard all
the previous evidence was oyerruled
| by the court.
In his testimony Craddock admitted
that something was said at Thomas
Swafford's home. about Uncle Sans
business" but that he heard nothing
about anyone being a federal officer.
Mr.. Shepherd refused to cross examine
him reserving exception 10 the whole
testimony.
The case, one of the most hotly con-
tested in this term of court, Is not yet
| completed but will go TO the Jury
Thursday morning. The defendants.
Alice stansbury. s: r. stansbury, Tom
original claims that nothing was ever
said as to any Of them being federal
officers, in spite Of the fact that the
government established by hve wit
nesses that they had done so. Govern
ment evidence was completed yester-
day.
Defendant on stand.
Mrs. Alice Stansbury took the stand
for the defense as the first witness.
She told of how she had married a
man by the name of Pemberton, BY
whom she had three children. the
youngest being Myrtle Orene. She OBJ
tained q divorce from Pemberton in
Ckn "a h<x,s at~ kIxH
later gave little Myrtle Irene, then ~
months old, to Thomas Swafford and
his wife, to be cared for by them. She
told of repeated attempts to regain
possession of her child. all or which,
however failed owing to the fact that
the Swafford's had adopted the child.
She told Of how she had at last con-
ceive6 the scheme of going to Cleve-
land where the Swaffords resided and
pretend to serve the writ OF habeas
corpus on them and by that means
get her child.
The witness said she waited until
after the girl was IL years Of age In
order that she might not be held
guilty of committing state offen&e.
A copy OF an old writ Of habeas corpus
which had been instituted once before
by Mrs. Stansbury was made and
served on Swafford on May 30., 1913.
Wnen tne CItitu was tAhpH py tno uS~
PENDANTS. She claimed that Muler was
simply the driver Of the for nire'' car
and that siie eengaged NM to1 30 to-
Cleveland with her TO get the girl atad
to take them later to Atlanta. Ryan
figured In the case only as q friend of
Miller according to Mrs. Stansbury.
and went along with Miller to help him
In case of accident on the long trip,
Sam Stansbury, brother Of Alice
Stansbury, was helping her in her at
tempts to get possession OF the child
and knew nothing of her scheme 60 get
little Myrtle by pretending to serve
the fictitious writ
Craddock was accounted for by the
statement that he was a friend OF Mrs.
Stansbury and that when he heard
that she was going to make trip to
Atlanta he askedNto be allowed to go
along.
Away Two Years.
When asked as to why she. had re-
mained away from Chattanooga nearly
two years after the kidnapping OF her
child. Mrs. Stansbury stated that she
was waiting till the child should be-
come 10 years of age at which time
she wouldrb be allowed to choose be-
tween her own mother and the Swat
fords. The other defendants substan-
tiated the testimony OF Mrs. stans-
bury. s
After the completion Of evidence on
both sides II. Pope Shepherd, one OF
the lawyers for the defense, made
motion as to Sam Stansbury asking
that the jury be directed to find ver-
dict of not guilty in view of the fact
that no proof was found that he ever
.impersonated a federal officer. Ryan
and Miller being the only ones accused
OF this offense. The court overruied
the motion.
Motion made as to all the defen-
dants that the offense did not consti-
tute an offense against the federal gov
ernment was also overruled Counsel
was given forty-five minutes each In
which to argue the case. Arguments
on the case not being completed at /
o'clock, court was adjourned for the
day.