Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-01-25
TESTIMONY BEGINS
in WINES TRIAL
Jury Secured Late Monday and
Attorneys Tell What They
Will Try To Prove
Five Witnesses Heard
by Associated PressJ

IldIlan, NY. an. LO-f1Vc Wit
neSscS were examined at the
morning session of the trial of DIR.
ii. {. Winncs, charged. with the
murder of Miss Lura Parsons,
Pine Mountain school teachers.
The prosecution attempted to
prove that Winncs was not far
behind Miss Parsons ON her jour
ncy over the mountains to the
school.
John Day fixed the distance at
about quarter of u mile. The
state won a point today when Cir
cult Judge Davis instructed the
defense to Conline itself to spcCi-
fy convicts in cndcavoring to
draw out the liberty given con-
victs at the rood camp near Dill
Ion, not far from the murder
Gene. The defense will cndeavor
to bring out the movements OF
eight negro prisoners.
Harlan. Ky., Jan. 25-A jury
was obtained to try DIR. II. G.
Winncs, charged with killing
Miss I.ura Parsons, near Dillon.
last September, in circuit court
Monday afternoon. At SIS
o'clock the state and defense an
nOunCcd that Andrew Ouecncr,
+ N. Miles, and James Steward,
all miners. would be accepted.
Rufus Wilson. assistant super
intcndcnt of construction at the
convict camp near Dillon, was the
first witness called by the state
when the taking of testimony was
opened shortly after 4 o'clock.
Wilson testified that ne was at the
prison camp at the time Miss
Parsons passed along the trail
leading from Dillon to the Pine
Mountain school. He also stated
that Jerry Reed, Allen Porter and
Sam Ellcry and a convict named
Stubblcheld, were at work on the
road at the time Miss Parsons
passed the camp. While he was
ON the stand Attorney I'lovd Byrd
of LcXingtun. who is assisting in
the prosecution Of the case,
brought Il large map into the
court room and had Wilson point
ont various locations which have
played important parts i'll the
murder mystery.
Aftcr the jury had been sworn
il CommonWcalth's Attorney J..
ID. Forester. for the prosecution,
and ID. {. Jones. for the defense
made short statements outlining
what each intended to prove.
Attorney Forester declared
that the state would prove that
DIR. Winncs followed closely be
hind Miss Parsons on the noun
tain trail; that nc was ON the trail
at the same time as was Miss
Parsons, and that while crossing
the mountain he pretended that
he was lost. The attorney also
declared that the state would
prove that DR.. Winnc,' actions at
the Pine Mountain school were
peculiar and sufficient to arouse
suspicion.
I'm the statement for the dc
tense Attorney Jones declared
that the defense would show that
DIR. Winncs and Miss Parsons met
Tor the first time at the railroad
station at Dillon and that their
actions there indicated that they
had never seen each other before
The actions of DIR. Winncs, &C
Cording to Attorney Zones. were
at all times those of a gentleman,
and Inc stated that the testimony
would show that Winnes arrived
at the school after 3 o'clock on the
day Miss Parsons was murdered
and began his examination OF the!
cattle at the school at lis o'clock
The conduct Of DIR. Winncs, Mr..
Jones said, has at all times been
above reproach. and he reCited
how DIR. Winnes had voluntarily
returned to Harlan county after
the body of the murdered teacher
had been found.
DIR. Ninnes also went to the
scene of the murder. Attorney
Jones said. and there, in the pres
cnce of large number of armed
men. showed no signs of having
been at the spot before. The de-
tense will also show, the lawyer
declared, that many other had an
opportunity to commit the crime
and that convicts and guards were
on the mountain while Miss Par
sons was passing over it. Evil
dence will also be introduced to
show that one guard at the prison
camp was discharged for attempt
ing to clear up the mystery, At
torney Jones said, and he added
that a witness will testify to the
finding of bloody underwear in