Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-01-28
WINES COMPOSED
IN HIS TESTIMONY
Judge Overrules Defense's Mo.
tion for Peremptory Instruc-
tions and He Takes Stand
(By Associated Press)


Harlan, Ky, Jan. 2s-Composed
and apparently at ease, DIR. H. C.
Winnes TOOK the stand in his own be-
half shortly before noon today, in his
trial on a charge of the murder of
Miss Lura Parsons, mountain social
worker
The commonwealth had closed it's
case with the presentation of two
witnesses.
The defense then asked for per-
cmptory instructions, which was inn
mediately ovcrrulcd. There was no
argument.
Reviewing his life and work during
the past year, DR.. WinneS told of his
trip to Dillon, near here, from where
he rode over the mountain on a mule
to the Pine Mountain school to test
cattle. He said he did not notice
Miss Parsons on the train en- route to
Dillon, but saw her on the platform
at the station. He said he left Dill
lon about an hour and a half after she
started for the school.
"The last l saw of her," Winnes
testified, "was when she was walking
Up the railroad track; she was abop.
half way up the hill"
The prosecutions evidence was
slowed up by the appearance on the
stand Of Jerry Reed and Jim Robin
son, negro conviCts, who at the time
of Miss Parsons murder in Septem-
Der, were working from the prison
camp at Dillon, near the Settlement
Reed, who is still in the prison
camp, declared that DR.. Winnes had
passed the prison camp between 1:3O
and 2 O'Clock on the day of the mur-
der. Reed said at the time he was
resting and reading a magazine. He
asserted that DR.. Winnes asked him
if there was any danger in going up
the mountain the way he was start
ing and that he told the veterinarian
that the workmen were blasting and,
while it would be possible Off him to
go in safety on foot, it would not be
possible for him to continue in that
direction Oh Il mule which he was
riding.
Reed said DR.. Winnes It'll him that
he had been told that the male would
take him over the trail wit ,ut any
but said that he haG lost
his way,
Reed said that in the morning from
11:30 o'clock until noon he had been
running an air compressor under or
ders from the engineer. He said that
about II o'clock he shut dow the COM
presSor and went to the camp to eat
his dinner. Several others including
Robinson, he said, went ahead. He
SAID he did not see DIR. Winnes at the
camp. At about 1880, he said, he
went back and started the compressor
again.
While Reed was Oh the witness
stand the defense produced the shoes
hat and clothes worn by Miss Par
sons when her body was found OH the
trail.
The club with which Miss Parsons
lad been struck then was produced.
Reed was made to grasp the club,
showing to the jury how he would
iold it if he We're to strike anybody.
Reed is lefthanded. He drew back
he club over his left shoulder.
Counsel for the defense pointed out
hat the teacher had been struck on
he right side of the head.
The testimony of Robinson failed to
'ffer any sensations. Robinson said
le had not seen either Miss Parsons
II DIR. Winnes.
Houston Holiday, another convict,
vas called and testified that. he had
cen Reed reading a book on the side
# the road leading to the convicts'
ating place, about noon, but declared
hat Reed did not come in for dinner
S he was supposed to. He declared
hat Reed was not at that place when
e and others returned from dinner.
lie did not see DR.. Winnes, Holiday
aid
Mrs. Ethel Zande, head of the Pine
fountain school; Miss Margaret But
IL and Miss Petit, among Mrs. Zan-
e's staff of teachers, told of DR.. Win
es' conduct on the day he arrived at
t school and reported that woman
'as travelling on foot over the noun
aims from Dillon. His description,
ne witnesses said, fitted one of the
eachers. He described her in detail,
hey testified, and among other things
,entioned that she wore fiat heel
hoes. Creech thereupon was sent
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