The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1920-04-02
NUMBER 55
rUCKETT ACQUITTED OF
CHARGE OF MURDER.

| IHAhOE Of MURDER.
Making a combined plea Of un.
written law and self-defense, Homer
Pickett, confessed slayer of W. ].
Ross at the Pickett home in the 18th
district on the morning of March lS,
secured an acquittal on the charge Of
murder in the first degree before
Justice j. T. Rushing late Friday af-
ternoon. The trial elected much in
terest, the court room being filled
with spectators throughout the en-
tire hearing of the case. Numerous
witnesses were examined and coun-
sci was employed by both the state
and the defense. The defendant
and wife were the witnesses introduc-
ed by the defense, while the wife of
the murdered man and more than a
dozen character witnesses testified
for the state.
Proof introduced by the defense,
alleging that Puckett's wife had been
raped by Ross and that the murdered
man was attempting to take the de-
fendant's life when the tragedy oc-
Cured, was the basis for the courts
decision TO dismiss the case. Mrs.
Puckett testified that the heinous
crime Of which Ross was charged oc-
Cured at her home on the afternoon
of March 18th while her husband was
out hunting. She stated that she con-
fided the grusome occurrence which
was charged against Ross, to her hus-
band about the following midnight
an earlier disclosure Of which, she
stated, was withheld on account of
threats made by Ross
Pickett testified that on the fol-
lowing morning about 8 o'clock he
went unarmed to the Ross premises
where he found the man alleged to J
have violated his domestic rights and
asked him the meaning of the charge
made against Ross by Puckett's wife.
Ross thereupon became violent, the
defendant stated, and went to the
Pickett home and was personally
charged Of the crime by Mrs Pickett
IN the presence Of her husband. Ross
thslA cursed Pnckett's wife ma lna<e
az attempt TO strike her. % fhe sde. Y
fendant testified. whereupon Puckett
intervened and was knocked to the
floor by Ross. As the defendant was.
arising to his feet, Ross dashed Puck
ett with knife about his right Jaw
and throat, and proof of the defense
showed. In the combat that followed
both men were tripped and fell to the
floor side and side, Puckett's testimo-
ny continues, whereupon the defen-
1ant obtaind his pistol from a table
in the room and fired several shots
killing Ross instantly.
Puckett surrendered himself soon
after the tragedy to Deputy Sid Bird
song, who was one of the securities of
the defendants bond for release. He
was held under $500 bond following
The preliminary arraignment.
The wife of the murdered man tes-
lifted that Ross was blowing near
his home on the afternoon that the
alleged crime leading TO the murder
vas said to have been committed and
hat she and her children were in
communication with her husband
throughout the afternoon. She stated
he could hear her husband talking
o his team and that she believed
he would have detected his absence
rom the field if such had been the
ase.
Some twelve or thirteen character
witnesses were introduced by the
tate, nearly all of whom testified
hat the character Of Ross was good
nd that the reputation of Pickett
vas bad. Among the witnesses in
reduced by the state were Howell
iaston, A. p. Wood, Robert Mcneil.
Sed Moore, Lee Taylor, William Al
tee, T. G. Shackle, Paul Castor, W.
!. Barr, James Peterson, Flint Wal
er, McCollum, George Petrson and
FRS. w. .Ross.-Jackson Sun, Mar.
9Th.