Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-08-29
Bailey Tells His story


Bailey Tells His story
Mr.. Vernon, Ky. Aug. 29--
John Bailey. mountain feudist
SHOT Beverley d. White. of Yer
saillcs, because he feared for mi:
life, and White was trying tt
draw a pist toll, Bailey
Saturday told the Rockcastle
county grand Jury which is hear
ing evidence on the charge OF
murder placed against Bailey as
a result OF the killing at Hell
bricks Station, Knox county. last
April. Bailey was the first wit
ness for the defense.
The state closed its case .uncx-
pectedly shortly after court re-
convened at ! O'clock, S.. Z.
Walker, sheriff OF Knox county.
introduced into evidence the
clothes White wore the day he
was slain and explained the va-i-
GUS bullet holes in the clothing.
The bullets that killed White and
which were taken from his body
also were introduced.
Mrs. Cassie White, widow Of
the slain man. testified as to his
physical condition Immediately
prior to the killing. She said that
he was in very bad health and i'm
mcdiatcly prior to the shooting
had returned from Rockcastle.
Minn., where he underwent an
operation.
After hearing Mrs. White. the
state rested and the defense open
cd with the defendant on the
stand. -..
Bailey told the jury that he
had made two trips. to the res
taurant owned by Hugh Ham
mond. cousin. The first trip
was to see Hammond about some
money the latter owed him. The
second trip was to ask Hammond
who usually took his meals at the
boarding house OF John Riley.
and where the Bailcys always
boarded when i'll the village, if he
was going to diuner.
Bailey said that Ire had been
standing inside the lunch room
drinking a bottle of soda while
lie waited for Hammond. When
nc set down the bottle. Bailey
said. White was standing inside
the door. reaching for his suitcase
which stood inside. Bailey said
he tried to go out the door and
White turned to him and said
what the hell are you doing
here" at the same time putting
his hand on his pistol, in the side
pocket of his trousers.
He said that the pistol appar-
emily would not come out. but
fearing that White would get it
out and shoot him, he opened fire
White was facing him when the
firing started, Bailey said, but
turned Immediately with his left
side toward the gun. .
Asked why he kept OH firing
after White turned away, Bailey
said that he was frightened and
that it looked like White would
get his gun out.
Bailey denied speaking to
White on the train approaching
Heidrick's Station. He said, how
ever. that he saw White there.
Explaining the presence of SO
many Baileys in the town the de-
PENDANT said that he had pronnis-
ed Sawyer Smith, of Barbourville
to come to that place some time
early in court week and was on
his way to that place. He said
that the reason he did not go on
was that the taxi in which he had
expected to ride to Barbourvilfe,
was gone when he left the lunch
room the first time. His father
was accompanying him to Bar
bourville, he said and George
Berry, a deputy sheriff. who is
jointly indicted with Bailey and
his father and brother on charge
of conspiracy to kill White, had
been in the village serving papers
on some witnesses.
Bailey underwent stiff cross
examination by A. Floyd Byrd
Of Lexington, q special prosecu-