Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-25

tion.
The witness admitted he had beea
turned out Of the church in July,
1927, alleging that County Judge
A. b. Crane was the leader Of the
faction that turned him out, and tina.
action Of the church was taken after
he had been subpoenaed as a witness
for the government In the intimidS
tion case.
THE church practically belongs to
the Crane faction" the witness said,
asserting the Crane had been active
in securing his expulsion from the
congregation.
Jone also stated that he had been
aligned with the "eastsiders" or in
dependent faction IN county politics,
and that while he had had no IN
friendly feelings toward Judge Crane
II do not like the things ne has
done
O. n. Moody, R~aymondville barber,
testified that the day after the al
legged assault on Hart, John Swanner
entered the shop where he was EN-
ploved. and in reference TO the Hart
incident said: Il gave y Of those
what he needs, and will get
the rest later"
Moody stated he had no connection
with either political faction; that H.
worked on the west side Of the track
and slept on the east side. the rail-
road track being the line that is sup
posed 10 divide the respective terri
tories Of the rival factions. He added
there had been considerable rowing
around the town over politics.; sew
eral fist fights had been INDUCED in.
and that from his window he had
seen Swanner strike Hart.
Heard Alleged Warming
T. W. Herndon. an aged man with
whom Hart was talking Just prior
20 the alleged assault. testified he
heard Swanner warn Hart to leave
town. He also admitted that he had
signed a statement in the presence
Of Judge Crane to the effect that
Swanner had told Hart he would give
him SO hours to stop talking about
MIN. ard that q few days later n
had signed a similar statement for
the department Of justice agents.
Which statement is true-the one
YOU signed for Judge Crane or the
one you are making now" the de-
Tense attorney asked.
Il I'm swearing to the one I an
making now; | only signed the 9TH
ers.." the witness replied.
Herndon said that the evening aft
or the alleged assault he accompanied
two officers 70 the office OF Judge
Crane. and that the latter wrote
the statement. most Of which was
dictated by Swanncr. and that afte.
II had been read to him he signed u.
III thought that would be the las.
Of it, he said. II did not wan to
get into court and ] thought that
would settle the natter
HeEndon was the last witness At
the night session. Judge H%utcheson
proposed that court convene at :
o'clock Friday morning. but receiV-
ing the assurances Of attorneys that
the case could be completed Friday,
set 9 o'clock as the hour 70 resume
TESTIMONY.
Knew of No Conspiracy
r. ". McDougall, city marshal at
Raymondville. was the first wit
ness on the stand Friday morning.
and testified he WAS y witness FOR
TIE government in the peonsge case;
that he had never been molested,
ana had no knowledge Of any con-
spiracy 10 i%ntimidate witnesses.
Nat Wctzel testified that Hart had
told him Of Roses alleged threat. and
that he had personally appealed to
gounty Judge Crane 20 tale charge
Of the situation pending the appoint
mcnt Of a sheriff to succeed Ray
mOnd Teller. He said he told Crane
he would appeal 70 the governor If
the county did not take action.
"He did not agree 70 stop the
trouble Wetzel said. He asserted
that to his appeal Crane replied:
we nave gotten rid OF the rest OF
them and old man Hart must 60"
This conversation was alleged to
have taken place in the commission
crs court room at ~Raymondvilie the
day prior 70 the alleged ssault on
Hart.
On cross examination the fact
was brought VI that Judge Crane
was the attorney In an action against
Netzel for n board bill; that a
judgment had been secured ana Wet
Eel had appealed the case.
Netzel had no part IN the neon
age case. and asserted that his in
terest in taking up the matter with
Nt"hS was merely 70 prevent LIOu-
BILE.
OustCd From Church
K. W. Huff. former county and
district clerk, stated both he and his
wife had been ousted from church
membership. and that Crane was the
leader Of the opposing church fac
ton. Relative 60 county politics ne
said there was - machine and a
democratic party: hat he afrili-
ated with the democratic party but
the machine controlled the county
lie testified that Currie came 10
him the day the latter was alleged
20 have been ordered to leave town.
The conversation that ensucd was
ruled cut, and the witness testified
that Currie left Raymondville that
DAY.
Huff was elected county and dis
trict clerk IN 1921. when the county
was formed. but was defeated At the
next election.
+. II. Parker. department % tus-
TIE agent, was the last witness on
the stand for the government. Re
hnHntNur AMel..mN A.