Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-12-28
PERCY IN JAIL
AT WINCHESTER
Compr omise Between State and
Federal Officers Pending
Trial or Bail Bond

Lawrence Piercy, held TO the
February term OF circuit court
under $4,000 bond on i charge OF
assaulting. abducting and at
tempting to kill Peter W. Wells
December 2. was taken to Win
chester for Incarceration in the
jail there till February unless he
makes trc bond, late Tuesday al
ternoOn by the Lexington and
federal officers who brought him
here. and Deputy Sheriff SAINT z
Bush, of this city.
Considerable argument devei-
upcd after the examining trial OF
l'icrcy as to where he would BE-
kept until his trial ON bond was
made. L. ). Commissioner Wizard
OF Frankfort. wanted TO take him
back to Lexington. Several OF
the Lexington officers who came
over. thought it would be a bad
idea To take him back there. They
said that he has Il world OF friends
III Lexington who might bc III
constant communication with
him. anti there was no telling
~hat might happen.
Judge Price fclt that the fcdcr
~ officers who had arrested Pier
cy first on the Tyrone distillcry
robbery charge. perhaps had or
iginal Jurisdiction over him. 50 he
was rot inclined 10 be insistcnt
about the matter.
\ttOrpey Harry Miller. repre-
-enting Piercy, urged that as Z
matter Of courtesy and convcn-
ieuCc Ia. him. that Picrcy be left
III Lc%iiiStOu where he could com
suit with him without much i'll
convenience - would be caused
by having to come over TO Rich
mond.
The wlole argument resulted
IN a compromise. Winchester be-
ing chosen, and the officers took
INN there and turned him over 10
iailer Mullins. with instructions
to keep q mighty close watch on
him.
tscrcv was held TO the federal
grand jury under $1,000 bond IT
Lexington on the Tyrone diStil-
iery charge the other day. He
furnishcd a bondsman, the Lea
ineton officer, said, who later
was shown TO have been worth
less than $500, 50 the bend was
declared .vo.d and he was retain
ed in iail Commissioner Wizard
said here Tuesday that he intends
to prosecute the bondsman for
making a false statement regard
ing his property. Mr.. Wiard
said that he would not approve
amy bond for Picrcy on the fcder-
III Charge until Judge Price had
approved bond for Piercy OH the
Charge that Is against him here
IN Madison.
.Ntturney Miller said that he
would not offer a bond that was
not wholly satisfactory to both
the federal and the Madison
county court, if Inc sought to have
hi- client released on bond.
Rarely has any case attracted
a~ much interest as the trial OF
Ticrcv did here Tuesday. Many
thought that the examining trial
uj Mickey Keith last week broke
all records for attendance, but the
crowd that packed into the coun-
ty court room for the Piercy
trial was larger. if possible, than
that which heard the Keith trial.
People gazcd At Piercy as if he
was a wild animal in mcnageric.
There was nothing that could be
be- construed as even tending TO
mob violence. The big crowd
was quiet and law-abiding in
every way, and though crowding
closely about the prisoner. plainly
anxious to get a closeup OF him,
there was nothing but curiosity
expressed. Everyone declared
that he can be tried here in cir
cult court with every prospect Of
fairness and justice.
Attorncy Harry Miller entered
a plea of not guilty to the four
charges against Picrcy. Attor-
ucy K. {. Oldham. who repre-
scnts Mick Keith. another de-
fendant IN these cases. sat with
Aitorney Miller. as a matter OF
courtesy to a friend. he said.
An additional charge OF rob
berry has been made against the
defendants. and warrants sworn
cut. thus making four charges
against them. The robbery charge
is based ON the fact that they
compelled MIR. Wells to give up
his knife ON the tragic ride. The
other three charges are abduct-
ing or falsely arresting. conspir-