The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-14
DRAMA MARKS
ACCUSATION IN
JACKSON TRIAL
Employees of Store Tell
Vivid Story of Killing in
Lebanon Court.
By Times Special

By ItmeS special
LEBANON, Ind, Jan. IA dra-
matte story of the Staying of Lafay-
cite A. Jackson, head of the STAN
dard Grocery Company at Indian
apolis, was related today by two
employees of the company, who
named Charles Vernon Witt as one
of the two bandits who raided Jack
sons store.
Ray Gibson, clerk in the COM
pany'S central store at 419 East
Washington street, told how the
bandits opened fire when Jackson,
after fumbling for gun, finally
shot at the bandit duo.
witt had turned his sawed-off
shotgun on me, and Mr.. Jackson
was reaching for the gun behind
the counter" Gibson told the jury
'As Mr.. Jackson fired, one of the
bandits yelled, Let him have it,
and both of them fired several
times.
Shot Three Times
IT know that Jackson was shot
three times before he fell, blood
streaming from his face and BODY
Gibson named Louis E. Hamil-
ton, alleged trigger man" now
awaiting trial on a murder charge,
as the bandit who shot Jackson.
Gibson was among the first wit
nesSes for the state in Wits trial
on murder count as result of
Jackson's murder in his store May
81, 1881.
The tale of Walter England.
porter in the store, brought
spectators to the edge of their
chairs.
"That man who later I found out
was Hamilton had been in the store
before the shooting and asked me
for the buyer England testified
IT told him he couldn't buy any
thing, not even a shoestring. He
talked loud to me and then went
out.
Covered With Shotgun
81 was coming up from the base
ment and was STOPPING over to pick
up some packages on the floor when
Witt stuck his shotgun next to my
heart and said stick 'em up"
England yelled the bandits COM
mand so loud that many specta-
tors jumped. Jurors who had
listened to England's quiet relation
of events up to that time were
startled by his loud cry.
ST took a step toward Witt and
then Hamilton came in" England
continued. "Witt told me they
meat business and I took another
step toward him.
Gust as I did that, Gibson came
around the counter and Witt shifted
his gun toward him. I saw it was
my chance to get out, so ran out
the back door to police headquarters
and told them about the holdup."
First Alarm Given
England's alarm was the first to
reach police the day Of the shoot
ing.
Drs. Thomas B. Noble ST., and his
son, Thomas Jr., said bullet that
pierced Jackson's liver caused his
death.
His last words to us were that
they had shot him down life
dog" the physicians testified.
Pointing his finger at Witt, Mrs.
Gowan Mills, widow of Syracuse
(Kan.), sheriff testified. That's
the man who killed my husband"
Mrs. Mills was prevented from
telling details of the country road
shooting of her husband Sept. 10,
1927, when he stopped to question
three youths in q parked car.
Defense Is Outlined
With selection of the jury
Wednesday afternoon, defense at
torneys outlined the alibi defense
Witt will offer in opposition to the
states charges.
Ira M. Holmes, attorney, in his
opening statement for Witt, said the
defendant and his wife left Putnam
county for lola, Kan, the day be-
fore the shooting at Jackson'S store.
Holmes said the couple arrived in
lola at p. m. on the day Of the
shooting to visit Hamilton.
While building up defense for
Witt, Holmes also laid the ground
work for the alibi Hamilton later
will plead before a jury.
Holmes said that when Witt and
his wife arrived at lola, Hamilton
was the guest at birthday party
for his brother Max, which was
being held at the Hamilton home.
Judge John Hornaday announced
court viii be adjourned Friday aft