Hide Article Text (OCR)
JESSE’S ALIBIDEFENSE INTRODUCES A M SREH OF STRONG WITNESSES.MRS. SAMUELS ON THE STANDFAMOUS GRANDMOTHER OF DEFENDANT GIVES EVIDENCE.JESSE JAMES TELLS HIS TALEHIS TESTIMON Y IS NOT SHAKEN BY CROSS-EXAMINATION.Perfect Antueke of Trillnoi Hurled at the State la the Noted Trial Yesterday—Attempted Impeachment of Pron-eeatlon’e Wllirii.The attorneys for Jesse James marshaled all their forces yesterday, and every effort was made to tear down the strong case of circumstantial evidence which the prosecution has wound about the youthful defendant. From the time the session of the court opened yesterday until Judge Shackleford announced that the work for the day bad been finished, the defense hammered on the pillars which support the case of the state.Attomey Walsh caused no lit lie excitement when he asked that the state's principal witness. William J. Smith, be recalled for the purpose of verifying the special dispatch which was published In The Journal yesterday, stating that Smith had been charged with larceny. The witness admitted on the stand that he had been guilty of the charge.The defense proved yesterday that W. W. Lowe, the confessor, did make the confession which was printed In the newspapers.Mr. Reed took every advantage of his opportunities to question the veracity of the statements of several witnesses who appeared for the defendant. He compared their'testimony yesterday with their statements «.' -h were before tbs grand Jury, and found se era! Saw a In the testimony yesterday. The prosecuting attorney, has transcripts of all the testimony which was made before the .rand Jury, and he was very alert yesteriu^ wh..a ssvc.-ai witnesses made statements Which did not agree with their former ones.The defense may close Its case to-dty.Mrs Samuels on the Stand.An old woman yesterday tottered Into the courtroom where Jesse James Is being tried on a charge of train robbery. Her steps were unsteady as ebe tremblingly felt her way over the floor toward the witness stand. She was supported on the one side by a stern faced, steely eyed man of middle age, while on the other, guiding her with tender care, was a young woman. The hair of the old woman was whitened with the weight of years and troubles and her railing eyesight had necessitated the use of gold rimmed glasses.That old woman was Mrs. Zerelda Samuels, the mother of Frank and Jesse James, two men who less than a quarter of a century ago were the moet noted bandits of the world. One of them, Jesse, has gone to Join the silent majority, shot to death by a treacherous comrade; the other, Frank, now a reputable citizen, was the middle aged man who yesterday supported his aged mother’s footsteps to the stand where she was to tell twelve men tried and true that her grandson was innocent The young woman who was so solicitous for her welfare was her granddaugnter, Mary James, the sister of the defendant.As the aged woman made her way id the witness chair she was obliged to pass her grandson. He arose, pressed her hand, and was greeted with » soft smile from the grandmother's eyes.The tension In the courtroom was great as Mrs. Samuels took her seat. She had not been seen In public since the famous trial of her son Frank, after hts aurrender to Governor Crittenden at Jefferson City, over a decade ago. As she sank back In the witness chair she faced the entire assemblage, and 500 pairs of eyes were fixed upon her.They noted the tremor of the aged hand, the glossy whiteness of the hair upon which rested a simple and becoming bonnet of black: the plain black silk dress—every, thing. Every ear was on the alert to hear the words which she would utter.Hold up your right hand to be sworn, boomed forth the clerk of the court.Up went the right arm, but the hand was missing! Nothing but an empty sleeve-empty nearly to the elbow—greeted (he vision. The minds of all, unconsciously, instantly reverted to the tragedy In which she lost that hand » many years ago, when Pinkerton detectives are said to have thrown a dynamite bomb Into her house, killing an Infant in her arms and maiming herself for life.The assemblage remembered that It was this event that marked the embarkation of Frank and Jesse Jsmes upon their career of disreputable deeds and their undying hatred and enmity for all Pinkerton detectives.You hereby swear that everything you say upon this stand shall be the truth, the whole troth, and nothing but the truth?I do. There was nothing weak about this response. AVhfle given in a low 'Voice, It was clear and distinct, and after Us utterance the Jaws closed with the snsp ot determination.-Please state to the court your name,a ” anfrt litnrngT VbdwaiMRS. ZERELDA SAJ1UELS, GRANDMOTHER OF JESSE JAflES.were there, but that they left that night. 6he testified that Jesse left with his mother. hi a aunt and the children, to place them on the cable car. that night about 8 o'clock. She did not remember when Jesse had got back to the house, but it was some little time. It was moonlight, warm, and they were sitting upon the porch. She aald that Jesse had come in the back way. around the house, and Joined herself end Mary James on the porch. Some little time afterwards Mrs. James returned, and they were all seated there together when she heard the explosion. She asked Jesse what It was. She didn’t remember exactly, but she thought be said It was a blast at the coal mines. They went to bed about II o'clock.Jeaie Was the Only Han There.Was there any man there that evening V* see Jesse?”h. sir. There was no man there at allbut Jesse Are you cure?”“Yes. air, I „-n.Why did not Jesse go to the depot with hts aunt and mother?Because I asked hwm to stay with me. And I didn’t think there was any use for both of them to go.Mrs. Samuels did not rem. nber seeing Miss Edgecomb that night, a he stated most positively that Jesse did not 'cave his home after he had returned from the cable car that night,Mrs. Samuels became confused over questions as to whether Jesse had gone to get shaved before or after he returned to the house and stayed, after taking his aunt to the car.After an hour on the aland Mrs. Samuels was excused, but will be recalled today by the state.Mrs. James Testifies.Mrs. James, the mother of the defendant, was next called. She gave her age as 51 She told of going to the depot with Mrs. Palmer and her children, who took the 9:05 Katy for Texas, She left them before the train pulled out and went straightnoon the entire family went ta Troost park.“Did you hr the curfew on the night ofthe robbery?Yea, sir.“Was Jesse them at tbat time?No. air. He came In some time afterward.Did he leave the house at any tima that night after he returned until you retired, about 11 o'clock ?’“No, sir, he did not.”The witness was then excused.Jesse James « Its Stand.‘■Jesse, I guess you’d better taka the stand,” said Mr. ViRl . The boyish defendant arose and walked quickly to the witness chair.My name Is Jesse Edward James, I am 3 years of age, and I have Uved in this city for sixteen years, he said In a dear voice, upon interrogation. He threw his right leg over hla left, crossed hts hands in front of him and looked his counsel straight In the face.He had attended the Woodland, Morse. Llnwood. Webster and Central high schools. He lived at 918 Woodland avenua for some years.Where did you first work?“At the Bee Hive.How old were you?”Eleven.“And the next place?”For Crittenden Phlater.”How long did you work for them?“Ten months.And the next place?'I worJte£ three months for the Germania Life loBurancF'ftNRgJttijrand on June H, IS91. I went to the Armour ’PkfktaW-AJua-v.-pany.”How long did you stay there?'I worked there six and one-half years, leaving on January 15. lfflg, to take chart* of the cigar stand In the county court house. I am still there.Are you acquainted with W. W. Lower' Yes, air.How long have you known him?*Since last May. 1 met him first In Justice Krueger's courtroom, where both of ulore me irain puuea oui ana went mraiKnt ,----~ * -—eve-------—home. When she arrived there ehc found | Jo1™ Kennedy's preliminaryMrs. Samuels, Mary and Jesse seated upon the front porch. They remained there until about 11 o'clock and then retired. She did not bear the explosion. She La somewhat deaf. She was positive that Jesse did not leave the house sfter she had returned that evening.What year were you married to Jesse James?“I object! shouted Mr. Walsh, on bla feet In an Instant. It Is Irrelevant.Objection austained.” tersely ruled the court,How old Is your son? asked Mr. Reed.He Is 33. Will be 2A In August.”How soon wa» be torn after your marriage?I object. again shouted Mr, Walsh.The prosecuting attorney knows that he has no right to ask these questions. They have nothing to do wllh the case, said the court.The objection was again sustained and Mrs. James was excused.Mias Mary James' Evidence.“Call Miss Mary Jamee. said Mr. Walsh to a deputy. The sister of the defendant came In from the witness room and took the chair. She ts a sweet faced young woman of 19, was quietly dressed in black and wore black gloves.“I have lived In the city for sixteen years. she said In response to a question.hearing. After that he came to the court house several times and bought tobacco from me.Do you know Andy Ryan?*Yes. sir. jHas he visited you at the court house?’ Yes, sir. A number of times.”Dkl you ever ask Lowe how to rab ■ train?”1 did not.Did you ever plan with him to rob aIraki?”I did not.”Where and when did you get shaved onthe nlahl of September 3 last?In the barber shop on Thirty-third, near Troost. I went there about 7 and left about 7:3(1.Where did you go then?“I went home, and then, about B:IS, I should Judge, left with my mother, my aujy. and her two children, to put them upon the cable car. My aunt was going home.And then?’I went to Jones’ drug stare and stood outside for a time listening to some negroes plavlng. I then went into the store and played the slot machine.How long were you there?’Oh. twenty or twenty-five minutes. “And then?’I went to Hill A Howard’s drug store.Dta'% tv lt;S \|ucct|Uil, - - - , .T have attended the Woodland. Morse, ' 1 hu,‘ a Sli-B °r cream soda, talked Llnwood. and Central high schools. awhile with some friends, and then wentYou are a graduate of the last?” ; outside. T loafed around there a lltUa“Yes, sir. I While and then went home.She corroborated the evidence of her rou *ee anybody on your waymother and grandmother. She said that home?her mother returned from the depot on tho ' Tes. I talked to Mr. and Mrs. Bunch. night of the robbery between 9:30 and 10 ’ How did you approach the house?' o'clock. They were seated on the porch ,ook the short cut. the way I alwayswhen she came anil Jesse had not been *“■ which cuts off considerable distance, home long. I went around the side of the boose andWe heard the explosion shortly after- found grandma and Mary on the porch.”wards.” she said, and grandma asked Jesse what It was. NoJ I don't remember what he answered.Did any man come up and ask where Jesse was that night?”Why. no. surprisedly.Wasyour mother there?'‘No. she had not returned.When did she come?'In about fifteen or twenty minutes. How long afterwards was the explosion?**Vrw sharllv.**
Newspaper Details
Kansas City Journal
Kansas City, Missouri, US
Tue, Feb 28, 1899
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Joplin P.
MO, USA 03 Aug 2024
Other Publications Near Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City Daily Journal of Commerce
Kansas City Journal
Kansas City Evening Star
Kansas City Times
Kansas City Weekly Kansas City Star
