Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-10-05

chest, this bullet not penetrating
very deeply. He told of another
wound that, he said, pierced the
| heart
At the conclusion of the States
evidence, the defense asked for q
non-suit, which Judge Burgwyn over
ruled.
There were about 20 defense wit
nesses sworn, but only part of them
were used
Defendant Tcstifies.
Robertson was the first to take the
stand. He gave his age as Is, and
related that he had been called
Grip" due to a deformed leg. He
said his wife was 10, and they had
been married two years. He said he
was barber and worked in Hen
Hunter Coggsdale He told, under
questioning, that he first met Coggs-
dale at his (Roberson's) homA and
that he did his barber work for him.
The night before the Staying, Rob-
ersOn said he spent at his mother
in-law's, and left there, bringing his
only possession, a pistol. He told Of
getting out of an automobile IN the
heart Of the business section, and
walking to JOe'S Place, Where Coggs-
dale worked. He said he asked Coggs-
dale prior to the shooting to stop go
ing with his wife, and that Coggsdale
cursed and threatened him. The wit
ness declared that Hunter got pis-
tOl from behind the counter, and mad
it in his hand. Robertson said he fir
ed before Coggsdale could shoot at
him
Robertson also related that Cleve-
land Ayscue, relative Of his wife,
had told him only short time be-
fore that COggsdale would slN,ot him.
with Coggsdale and asked Coggsdale
to leave his wife alone. He oaIu ne
did not intend to kill Coggsdale, but
shot him in sell defense, Robertson
told the court that he had asked
Coggdale three times to stay away
from his wife, and that he had been
to the chief of police about it, So
Letting his aid.
Ayscue's Testimony.
Cleveland Ayscue was called as a
witness, and said Robertson vic l.,
ms niece He declared that A.!gsiale
told him he would kill Grip" If he
bothered with him. He said Gladys,
Roberson's wife, came with W., y
dale to her mothers home the night
before the shooting.
Chief Langston was called. and he
described going to Joe's Place the
morning OF the killing, and corro-
borated much of Peck's testimony.
Wife With COggsdale.
Mrs. Vernon Robertson, wife Of the
defendant. gave her maiden name as
Gladys Faulkner. She said she had
been married two years, and there
were no children She said she knew
Coggsdale, and was with him at the
Vance Cafe when Robertson called to
them, and asked Coggsdale to refarin
from going with his wife. She told
of being out with Coggsdale the night
before the shooting and that Coggs-
dale had a pistol with him at the
time. She declared that COggsdale
laid a gun on the seat of the auto
mobile and said he would use it if
Robertson came to him. She declared
that Coggsdale told her he would
"use the gun willingly'' on Robertson.
Robertson Appealed to Police.
Police Sergeant Henry T. Hamm
was called to the stand He told OF
being asked by Robertson to go to
Coggsdale about four weeks before
the shooting, and ask him to stop
seeing his wife He saw COggSdale
and told him to desist. Coggsdale,
Hamm declared, refused to take any
of CiJ0or01x1 do
claring chats what he says.
Several character witnesses were
called by the defense at this point,
all giving Robertson good character.
c. C. Finch, desk sergeant of the
Henderson police department, told
the court that Coggsdale called him
and said that he had been threaten
ed by Robertson because Coggsdale
was going with his wife. He asked
the officer for advice. Finch decla1-
ed he told him to stop. COggsdale
the witness said, replied that che
could take care of himself.
The following questions were ask
ed during the taking of testimony
and were not allowed to be answered
in open court. The witnesses Whis-
pered their answers to Mrs. w. G
Kearney court stenographer, ano
they were made a part Of the record
of the case.
The questions, with their answers
follow:
James Hampton:
@. Have you ever seen Hunter
Coggsdale have a nearl handle plstol
up in his bedroom?
Answer would be: Yes.
Vernon G.. Robertson:
@. Who was Hunter Coggsdalc witt
when you saw him between sunset
and dark on the night before the
shooting: With my. wife.
@. Why then, MIR. Robertson, attej
you got back to Henderson I'd YOU
20 to the place of Mr.. Coggsdale ano
talk to him?
Answer would be: I went down
there and thought I would ask him
to stay away from my wife or loaV'
town, and maybe we could get along
together.
c. Did you have knowledge that
Hunter Coggsdale was going with
your wife in an improper way?
Answer would be: Yes, | had.
Cleveland Ayscue:
@. l will ask whether or not you