| Show another statement of the stokes murder case oxford idaho apar apri oth 1884 editor deseret news in your issue of april ath 1884 1 noticed a letter over the signature of H M bennett attorney for stokes asserting to give the facts in relation relation to the stokes examination ai feel it my duty to correct mr bennett in the statement made by him the facts with reference to the hearing are as follows the morning of the trial I 1 spoke to the sheriff about the witnesses for stokes all belne being armed his answer to medas me was alve ye will have to keep our eyes open today the examination commenced thursday mornin morning at 11 and continued until I 1 about out 2 a in on friday with an intermission as stated by bennett on the same evening I 1 again spoke to the sheriff about these witnesses for the defense being in court with their pistols on if the pistols pistol were svere turned over to mr bennett as he stated I 1 did not know anything of it t to iny my knowledg knowledge e three of them had hat a pistol each in their belts around t their reir leir persons gawith reference derence r to the merits of the case I 1 would state that the evidence for both the defense and prosecution was attentively listened to by me as also the character of the evidence given the witnesses for the prosecution bein being men well known by b t the e community for truth and veracity whose testimony cannot be impeached pea rea ed together with the statement made ade rueben bueben wilson before hig his 18 death eat 9 which statement was produced in court after due consideration with sympathy for mr nir stokes I 1 could not do otherwise than render a decision to bind the defendant over to awalt await the action of the grand jury without bail which decision met with the approval of the community community as expressed to me afterwards with the except exception lon ion of mr bennett and perhaps a few others mr bennett Bennet fc stated that he was not aware or did not believe that any attempt whatever had been made to bribe the justice call it what you please perhaps mr mcbennett bennett dennett has anew a new name for it but the offer of WW was made to me in the presence of a witness by a man and not a woman as has been stated he said you can have the money right here if you will acquit tile tiie whether mr stokes or the friends spoken of by mr bennett had or not I 1 am not able to say mr nir B says not and he ought to know but I 1 do know that the money money was offered and came f from rom some source which can perhaps be explained by mr bennett very respects respectfully ully A F CALDWELL justice of the peace oneida county idaho territory |
