From: Sherri Hall [ldrbelties@earthlink.net] Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 5:11 AM To: KY-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [KYF] NEWS: Winnes Murder Trial 1921, Harlan Co. Submitted by Mary Lou Husdon Middlesboro Daily News, Middlesboro, KY Jan. 25, 1921 Testimony of State's Principal Witness In Winnes Murder Case Is Torn To Shreds Rufus Wilson, Convict Camp Official, When Cross-Examined Refutes Statements Offered In Testimony -- Defense Witness on Stand Tonight or Tomorrow Morning -- Case Will Probably Go to Jury Before End of Week. Harlan, Jan. 25, -- With five witnesses for the prosecution examined up to 2.30 this afternoon in the trial of Dr. H.C. Winnes charged with killing Miss Lura Parsons, Pine Mountain teacher, near Dillon last September, the case is now well under way and it is predicted it will be given to the jury by the end of the week. Evidence submitted by the prosecution's witnesses so far is of such a nature to indicate that the commonwealth's case against the veterinarian is not as strong as was supposed before they were put on the stand. The testimony given so far has been tame and not as incriminating as anticipated. Witnesses for the defense probably will begin testifying tonight or Wednesday morning. The testimony of Rufus Wilson, convict guard superintendent who testified for the state last night, was torn to pieces this morning on cross- examination, and weakened the case of the prosecution considerable. The superintendent was interrupted several times during the cross-examination by D.C. Jones, attorney for the defense, and made to refute statements offered in his testimony. Jury Secured Late Yesterday. the jury was obtained late Monday afternoon. The last three men accepted are Andrew Queener, E.N. Miles and James Stewart, all miners. the selection of the jury, which required three days, was obtained only after 188 men had been examined. Two special venires had been called before twelve acceptable men were secured. Rufus Wilson, assistant superintendent of construction at the convict camp near Dillon, was the first witness called by the state when the taking of testimony opened Tuesday afternoon. Wilson testified that he was at the prison camp at the time Miss Parsons passed along the trail leading from Dillon to the Pine Mountain school. He also stated that Jerry Reed, Allen Porter, Sam Ellery and a convict named Stubblefield were at work on the road at the time Miss Parsons passed the camp. While he was on the stand Attorney A. Floyd Byrd, of Lexington, who is assisting in the prosecution, brought a large map into the courtroom and had Wilson point out various locations which have played important parts in the murder mystery. Attorney Forester declared in his statement that the state would prove that Dr. Winnes followed closely behind Miss Parsons on the Mountain trail; that he was on the trail at the same time as was Miss Parsons, and that while crossing the mountain he pretended that he was lost. The attorney also declared that the state would try to prove that Dr. Winnes actions at the Pine Mountain school were peculiar and sufficient to arouse suspicion Attorney For Defense Talks In the statement for the defense Attorney D.C. Jones declared that the defense would show that Dr. Winnes and Miss Parsons met for the first time at the railroad station at Dillon and that their actions there indicated that they had never seen each other before. the actions of Dr. Winnes, according to Attorney Jones, were at all times those of a gentleman and he stated that the testimony would show that Winnes arrived at the school after 3 o'clock on the day Miss Parsons was murdered and began his examination of the cattle at the school at 4:15 o'clock. Dr. Winnes also went to the scene of the murder. Attorney Jones said, and there, in the presence of a large number of armed men, showed no signs of ever having been at the spot before. The defense will also show, the lawyer declared, that many others had an opportunity to commit the crime and that convicts and guards were on the mountain while Miss Parsons was passing over it. Robert B. Franklin, of Lexington and Frankfort, one of the best known lawyers in the state and the prosecutor in the Goebel murder cases of 15 years ago, is assisting in the defense of Dr. Winnes. ______________________________