More Witnesses

Durant Democrat, Saturday, April 8, 1922

Witness Testifies Slain Man Had Barely Time to Walk to Scene of Crime

          The evidence of state witnesses continued in the trial of Mordicai Golden today, and was practically a repetition of the evidence taken all day yesterday. Most of the witnesses examined yesterday and today either saw Mordicai or Sadie Golden or both near the scene of the crime or arrived there immediately after Craghead was shot. All agree they were walking toward the Methodist Church, that Mrs. Golden walked past the garage where Craghead and others were, looked in, and later met someone in the shadow of a tree a block from the church. All agree that the time when the Goldens were enacting this scene was shortly after 9:30 in the evening.

            But one witness has been examined thus far who claims to have seen Thomas Craghead from the time he left the garage until he met his death. Rex Whitt, Caddo banker, testified he was taking some girls home in his car, and that while going up Buffalo street he met Craghead about a block form the Methodist church going toward the church. he said he drove the girls home, about a block and a half away and that while one of the girls was alighting they heard the first shot. He estimates that by walking fast Craghead would have just had time to reach the church when the shot was fired.

            Others who testified this morning were Elmer Craghead, brother of the slain man, Joe Breen and Delmont Crossett, who were in the garage with Thomas Craghead when Mrs. Golden came by and looked in, then went away. Their testimony was practically the same.

            The state was expected to complete its testimony at this afternoon’s session, when the defense would then begin putting on its witnesses. The case will not be completed before late Tuesday, attorneys said. The court adjourned at 2:30 until Monday morning at 9 o’clock.

            The following is the testimony taken up until the time the court was adjourned this afternoon.

            Elmer Craghead, brother of the deceased, testified that before the homicide he was at his garage with his brother; and he substantiated other witnesses above mentioned in seeing Mrs. Golden coming down to the garage, turning around, going back up Buffalo street and on home; that shortly thereafter he heard the shots and was informed of his brother’s death; that he went down to the scene of the killing, had the body brought to his home, saw the wound stopped with cotton, etc, and corroborated others as to the location of the wound and the holes in the skin and flesh, etc.

            Carroll Stanton testified that he lived across the street from Elmer Craghead, that he saw Thomas come up to Elmer’s residence for supper; that he got in the car with him and came down to the garage with Thomas.

            Delmore Gossett testified about the same as others who were at the garage and was there that night; that he saw the same as the others about Mrs. Golden coming down to the garage, etc. 

Saw Craighead

            Rex White testified that he had been out on Blue and came in about nine; that he drove on to Kenefic and then returned to Caddo; that after returning he went down Buffalo street to Arkansas, south on that street to Russell, and then he turned west on that street; that at the corner where the church was he turned north on Manning avenue; that as he reached Buffalo street he passed Thomas Craghead; that thereafter he went on Buffalo a block and north a half block; that some young ladies were with him; that when he stopped one of the ladies was preparing to get out of the car and had put one foot on the running board when he heard the shots; that after the lady left the car he went south until he reached Russell street; then turned east past the Methodist church; that he saw some people in front of their houses, drove on and received information from the constable as to what had happened; that he drove on down to the Royal Hotel, on up to Buffalo, west of Buffalo to Manning and down Manning to the church; that when he got there he saw Dr. Allen and one or two others at the body of Craghead; that some days thereafter he walked from the corner of Buffalo and Manning where he had passed Thomas Craghead the night of the shooting down Manning avenue to the Methodist church at about the gait that Mr. Craghead was walking when he met him and about half way down to the church quickened his pace a little; that it took him about a minute and half or two minute to make the trip.

            Mrs. Herman Hauer testified that she lived just across the street south from the Methodist church; that she was at home the night of the shooting; that her husband was there; that they had gone to bed; that they had not gone to sleep; and that the windows were open; that they did not hear any talking or any noise until they heard the shots they  then looked out of the window in the direction of the church and saw a man and woman; that they went southeasterly from the church towards McGee’s; that they saw someone meet them down there; that they heard the woman calling for Ray McGee, etc.

            Mr. Hauer testified substantially to the same state of facts as Mrs. Hauer.

            Mrs. Ed McIntosh testified that she lived cati-cornered southeast from the church; that Miss Francis Shwartz was spending the night with her; that they had prepared to retire and were sitting on the bed, but had not turned out the lights when the shots fired; that they immediately jumped up and looked out in the direction of the church and saw a man and woman whom are later recognized as Mr. and Mrs. Golden; that she heard Mrs. Golden hallow “Oh, Ray, Oh Ray!” and “Get my daddy,” and that she saw them go over towards McGee’s.        

Flowers Trampled

            Riley Stephens testified that he went by the church the next morning and examined the premises; that there was a flower bed south of the church and that the flowers had been trampled down.

            W. C. Castlebery testified that he also examined the premises around the church and that the flowers had been trampled down next to the church building that he timed Rex White when he walked from the corner of Buffalo and Manning avenue to the Methodist church, but did not remember how long it took.          

Heard Shots Fired

            Ottis Smith testified that on the night of the tragedy he attended a Young People’s meeting at the Baptist Church, leaving there about 9:30 in company with his wife and mother-in-law, coming east to the Methodist church and then around the Methodist church and up Manning avenue. That between the church and the alley in the middle of the block he met Mr. and Mrs. Golden standing between the sidewalk and the street. That they continued up the avenue and about midway between the alley and Buffalo street they met Lloyd Weidman, Murrell Rylant, and from there went on home about a block further and immediately retired. That before he went to sleep he heard five shots and got up and went to the door thinking it was a fire but saw nothing and did not hear of the killing until the next day.

            Mrs. Ottis Smith testified substantially to the same state of facts as her husband, Ottis Smith.

            Murrell Rylant testified that he attend the meeting of the Baptist church and thereafter accompanied a young lady home to the northwest part of town, and Lloyd Wiedman was with him accompanying another young lady; that they returned by the way of Buffalo street and Manning avenue; that between Buffalo street and the alley north of the Methodist church they met Mr. and Mrs. Ottis Smith and Mr. Smith’s mother that after passing them and just across the alley they saw a lady dressed in a light skirt with a dark coat or cape, dust cap; that they proceeded down the avenue behind the lady to the Methodist church, walking about twenty-five feet in the rear; that there she turned to the West around the church toward the home of the deceased; that as she turned the corner they spoke to her and she answered “Good evening” but did not turn around and they did not see her face.        

Golden Confessed

            Jim Latimore testified he lived a block or so southwest of the Methodist church; that he had retired when he heard the shots which sounded in the direction of the Methodist church; at the same time he heard a noise as if someone was running and immediately put on some clothes and went out on the front porch; that when he reached the street he heard a lady say, “Run here, Ray, Oh, run here, Ray.”; that he started down in the direction of the voice; that when he got down in front of Ray McGee’s house he saw Mr. and Mrs. Golden and about the same time he saw D. B. Williams and from there he ran over to where the body was; that when he got there he struck a match to see who he was and saw it was Tom Craghead; that he was dressed in his ordinary work clothes; that about he same time Dr. Allen and others arrived; that no weapons of any kind were found about the body but that they found a small pair of pliers, couple of small wrenches, small screw drivers,  and things like that ; that on the way over, he passed by Mr. M. T. McIntosh’s residence and seeing some parties there he asked them who did the killing and one of them answered, “Mr. Golden”; that he saw Mr. Golden close by and asked him did he kill him and he said he did; that he stayed there until the body was carried away and did not se the defendant nor Mr. Williams any more that night.

            Walter Wilson testified that he heard of the killing at the garage and immediately started up to the scene; that when he go there, Dr. Allen, Mr. Wiedman, and others were already there; that he remained there until the body was moved and accompanied it to Elmer Craghead’s home; that there he helped to remove the clothing, that they were ordinary work clothes; that the deceased’s hands, face, and clothing were greasy as though he ha just left his work and had about two day’s growth of beard; that he helped wash the body and helped lay it out; that he found eight holes in the body; apparently four entrances and four exits; that he helped put cotton into the wounds; that with the arms down beside the body in a natural position the holes thru the skin of some of these wounds did not correspond with the holes in the flesh and they were unable to insert cotton into the wounds until they raised his arms up over his head which drew the skin upward until the skin corresponded with the holes in the flesh.     

Editor Testifies

            Guy Crossett testified that he heard of the difficulty when he came out of the picture show; that he immediately got into his car and drove up to the Methodist church and saw the body there and several people standing around; that the deceased had on his ordinary work clothes and that his clothes as well as his hands and face were dirty; that he saw hiss body searched and the several trinkets described by Walter Wilson were found in his pockets but no weapons of any kind. Mr. Crossett then minutely described the location of the sidewalk, steps, and porch of the church and things immediately surround the church; there was a flower bed near the southeast corner of the church with kind of tall flowers in it which appeared to have been trampled down; that the body was loaded in his car and taken to Elmer Craghead’s residence that he accompanied the body up there and stayed with it until early in the morning; the he helped to undress the body and washed it; that he also assisted in staunching the flow of blood and corroborated Walter Wilson in his statement about the holes in the skin not corresponding with the holes in the flesh when his arms ere down in the natural position and it was necessary to raise the arms above the head before the holes in the skin and the body would correspond in some of the wounds and before they could insert the cotton.

            A.P. Brauderick testified that he went up to the scene of the difficulty soon after it occurred, that he searched the body and found these several trinkets described by other witnesses and found no weapons of any kind.         

Gave Williams Something   

            Lee Smith testified that he lived in the block east of the Methodist church; that he had retired that night when he heard the shots, he dressed and went out into the street; that when he got out there he heard a woman screaming; and calling on the Lord and said she was dying, and then hallowing for Ray McGee; that when he got in front of McGee’s house he found Mrs. Golden and D. B. Williams and later met Mr. Golden who appeared to be tolerably cool and calm and then went over to the church and saw the body; that he had o his work clothes and that they were dirty; that he saw defendant hand something to D. B. Williams, saying “You take this and keep it.” He further testified that he heard Mrs. Golden say that she want her pap an say she wished she hadn’t come down there and heard her say, “He insulted me.”

            Charley Smith testified that he went to the scene of the difficulty right behind Lee Smith, and testified to substantially the same state of facts.

            Francis Schwartz testified that she spent the night of the killing with Mrs. McIntosh; that they had retired, but had not turned off the lights when she heard the shots fires; that her bed was near an open window; that the shots sounded like they came from the direction of the church; that McIntosh’s residence is just across the street from the church; that before she got up she heard a man’s voice from in the direction of the church say, “Someone please come over here”; then she heard someone say, a lady’s voice, “Oh my little boy, he has killed him, he has killed him,” and then “Oh, my boy; oh, my boy, call my daddy, call my daddy”; and then commenced calling for Ray McGee; that she got up and looked out of the window and saw Mrs. Golden coming across the street and say Ray McGee meet her; that McGee came to their house to use the telephone and put in a call for Mr. Williams; that while he was waiting for an answer, Golden came to the porch and said, “D. B. is her, Ray”. 

Golden Nervous

            Mrs. Alice Manning testified that she lived just across the street form the church and a little southwest and she had not retired that night when she heard five shots form the direction of the church and heard some talking but could not distinguish the words; late she could distinguish a lady’s voice calling “papa”; that she looked across the street but on account of the trees she could not see anything, thereafter, she recognized Golden’s voice trying to console his wife; that shortly thereafter Golden came to her house and asked her to call Mr. Williams; that Golden seemed to be a little nervous, she thought; that while she was waiting for an answer at the phone she asked Mr. Golden what was the matter and he said “He couldn’t tell me”, and then she asked him did it and he said , “I did it” and then she said to him “Why did you do it?” and he said “I would love to tell you Mrs. Manning, but I can’t”, but about that time Mr. Williams came to the walk from the west and joined Mr. Golden and they walked off towards the east.

            Miss Annie Laura Muckleroy testified she lived with Mrs. Shoefner in the second house east of the Williams; that just a few minutes before the shooting she saw Mrs. Golden pass her house going east; shortly after she passed, she heard shots fired and in a few minutes thereafter, she saw Mr. Williams pass the house going in an easterly direction.

            Mrs. J. N. Schoefner testified substantially to the state of facts as the above witness.

Boys Saw Couple

            Frank Nagle testified that he was down at the Baptist church about the time the meeting broke up; that he was on the outside with a couple of other boys, standing under the electric light; that while standing there he saw Mrs. Golden crossing Henderson avenue coming towards the Baptist Church and continuing east o the south side of the Church street, that about that time they saw Mr. Golden on the north side of Church street also going east; that he continued eastward a short distance and then crossed Church street southward and met Mrs. Golden about thirty or forty feet east of where he and the other boys were standing; that in a moment Mrs. Golden continued eastward  leaving Golden standing there about where he had met her; that Nagle and the two boys that were with him walked up to where Golden was and spoke to him; that he and one of the boys, Jack Dempsey, then turned around and came back to the Baptist church.

            Jack Dempsey testified that he was one of the three boys who was standing under the electric light at the Baptist church and corroborated young Nagle in all material details of his testimony. 

            Rufus Merriman testified that he was the third party standing under the electric light and corroborated the other tow boys up to that time that they had spoken to Golden and returned to the church’ that after the other boys returned to the Baptist church he asked Mr. Golden to go to town with him and that Golden replied that he was not going all the way to town’; that they then walked eastward in the direction that Mrs. Golden had taken; that they started out walking pretty fast and that Golden said “Let’s not walk so fast, let my wife go ahead.” That he wanted his wife to go ahead; that at that time they were about the middle of the block; that in further conversation with Golden he understood him to say that he had something picked out; that before they got to the corner of the block there was a pathway going cati-cornered across Church street to the Methodist church; that Mrs. Golden had gone on to the end of the block and turned straight up Manning past the Methodist church that as they were cutting across the street Mr. Golden left him about the middle of the street and went between the Methodist church and Tom Criaghead’s residence and that he, witness, went on around in front of the church and up Manning Ave. the went he got above the church he met Mrs. Golden coming down the avenue and passed her and went on up the street; that before he got to Buffalo street he look up and saw Mr. and Mrs. Golden together on the sidewalk north of the church.

Saw a Woman

            F. M. Green testified that he roomed at Will Peter’s on the corner of Buffalo and Manning avenue, that a short time before the shooting he had occasion to make a trip to town; that when he came out of the house he saw a lady going down the street in the direction he was going on the forth side of Buffalo street; in a short distance east of Manning avenue he saw a man cross the street northward towards the lady and that this man and the lady met under the shade of the tree; that he, witness, continued on eastward passing the man and then went on by the lady on towards town. The lady had a white dress, white stockings, pair of slippers or shoes, a light faun overcoat and boudoir cap and she was walking very slowly; that he went on down to a drug store purchased some ice cream, came back to the corner of First street and stood and talked there with a gentleman for about ten minutes; that he then went on home and shortly thereafter and in his judgment in the neighborhood of ten o’clock he heard some shots; that thereafter he went up to the church and found the body and a number of people there.

Mrs. Craighead Testifies

            Mrs. Vada Craghead testified that she was the wife of Elmer Craghead; that on the evening of the day that Mr. Craghead was killed, she had taken a number of friends out on a picnic on Blue; that she returned about 9 o’clock in the evening and after disposing of her guests drove on down to the garage; that she found her husband, Tom Craghead, Joe Breen, and Delmont Crossett at the garage; that she stayed at the garage about thirty minutes; that while standing in the garage door she saw Mrs. Golden coming down Buffalo Street on the side the garage is situated on and that she came up within about five feet of the door; that she looked in, turned around and walked back up the street; that she was dressed in a spring coat, light skirt, white hose, house slippers, boudoir cap; that when she got back up the street she met a man; that the man was under the shade of a tree and that she could not distinguish who it was or how he was dressed; that she stood there close tot his man for a few minutes; that she then turned around and came to the garage passed there and continued on down towards Ray’s Realty office and there she went across Buffalo street southward and then went on up Buffalo Street westward; the witness and her husband and her brother, a Mr. Slack, got in a car and started homeward going up Buffalos street; that as she was going up the street in a car she saw Mrs. Golden crossing Manning avenue and that her husband Mr. Golden was with her; that as they passed them in a car they started at them as though to see who they were; that within a few minutes after they reached home she heard the shots fired and in a few minutes they learned what had happened and that they immediately got into the car and rove down to the church and that the body of the dead man was brought to their house.

            Virgil Slack testified that he was at the garage at the time when Mrs. Vada Craghead was there and corroborated Mrs. Craghead as to seeing Mrs. Golden coming down near the garage, returning, coming back again, passing the garage, crossing the street and going back up Buffalo Street.

Comments

[Glenn]

Thanks again for posting these. My cousins and I have always wondered what happened to our Great-Grandfather. My Grandma, Junia, and Auntie Maurine have never really known the whole story, either.