Law Case File 1900
Francis Giltner v. Charles Gorham et al
October 19, 1848
Marshall, Michigan

The said Simon D. Harris being sworn to speak the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth says that he is 33 years of age & upwards, resides in the village of Marshall, that [he] resided there for nearly four years past--Knows all the white defendants in this case, but not the plaintiff[. K]new Adam Crosswhite & his family who resided in Marshall in January 1847. . . I heard of the affair on that morning while he was at breakfast. Recollects there was a candle burning on the table but right on going outdoors which he did immediately after getting notice of the affair it was broad daylight. [W]ent immediately up to Crosswhites. When he got there he saw four strangers whom he found afterwards to be Kentuckians—W. Dixon the Deputy Sheriff the Crosswhite family & Calvin Hackett the barber—

John B. White's son Dewitt came directly after—witness was then boarding at White's—& he and the boy started from there about the same time—the latter arrived there only a minute or so after witness. The boy arrived just at the time when Troutman drew a pistol on Hackett & he went off very soon with Hackett towards the village—met his father some 15 rods from Crosswhites— Witness and Hackett came up to the door together on first arriving there[. T]he door was then off the hinges & open. Witness saw one Kentuckian besides Troutman standing within & heard Dixon's voice in the house—as witness and Hackett came up Troutman was standing on the threshold—Hackett put his hand on the door post to look in when witness saw Troutman draw a pistol from his left pocket, change it to his right hand, & placing his finger on the cock point the muzzle towards Hackett getting him to stand back. Hackett immediately saying something about getting some one to take care of him—& went off towards the village. Witness then went into the house & found the Kentuckians the Crosswhites and Dixon there. Dixon and the grey eyed man were endeavoring to induce Crosswhite to go with him to the Justice's office, & threatened to bind him if he would not go—Saw them trying to take away a powder horn from him—Crosswhite expressed an unwillingness to go at first[, and] afterwards consented to go before Squire Sherman with his wife if they would get a carriage to take the children [then] give him a chance to get counsel to defend his rights—They consented the Crosswhite might go down to Squire Shermans with Dixon--to get counsel . . . & they accordingly went Crosswhite and Dixon together—At the same time, a messenger left to get a carriage from the village to take the family—and in a very few minutes, witness saw a waggon at the door with a driver[.] Troutman then urged the family to get aboard & they declined & said they would not go, some coloured persons having arrived in the meantime & persuaded them not to go. None of the white defendants were on the ground at this time. After this time there was no further effort made by the Kentuckians to urge or compel the Crosswhites to go that witness saw. [A] considerable number of coloured people had by this time arrived.

S B Harris

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