CONTINUATION OF THE RUNNELS MURDER TRIAL-
THE TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION CLOSED-
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES FOR THE DEFENSE

Indianapolis Sentinel; February 21, 1879


Martinsville, February 20 -- The trial for Runnels for the murder of
John Radcliffe is dragging along slowly, this being the third day. The
prosecution concluded their testimony this morning after examining 50
witnesses. The strong points they have relied upon were as to the tracks
of defendant and money in his possession the night after the death of
Radcliffe. Counsel for the defendant, in making his opening statement
to the jury said they expected to prove that it was impossible for the 
defendant to have been at the place where the body of the deceased was
found at the time the State claims the murder was committed; that they
would be able to show that he ate breakfast at home and then went to 
a neighbor's and thence to Martinsville and was not in the direction of
the place where the body was found, and that they admitted the defendant
was in the neighborhood of the place on the day before hunting, and that
the tracks identified as those of the defendant were made at that time,
and not of Saturday; that they would be able to satisfactorily account
for all money seen in his possession, and in explanation of the testimony
of the defendant before the coroner's jury as to the fact that he had
but $1.63 in money on the day of the murder, that he had never been on
the witness stand before and did not really know what he was testifying
to.
Twenty-two witnesses for the defense have been examined. It was shown
that Mrs. Radcliffe, widow of the deceased, since her husband's death
has admitted that the deceased when greatly exercised had smothering
spells. One witness testified that 12 years ago the deceased told him
he occassionally had these spells when excited. The object of this 
testimony is to show that Radcliffe died from natural causes and not 
from the hand of an assassin. The father, mother, and sister of the 
defendant testify that on the morning the body was found the defendant
arose about daylight, built the fires at home, ate breakfast and about
sunrise changed his clothers and started to Martinsville, leaving home
aout 8 o'clock. The defense will probably close their testimony by noon
tomorrow and the case is expected to be given to the jury early on
Saturday.


Submitted by Debbie Jennings