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Q Did he say why he went down to get the boy at Mose
Wright's house in the first place?
A NO. '
Q Did he offer any explanation to you as to why they
didn't carry the boy back down to Unole Mose's house after
that?
A I didn't ask him.
Q And_he didn't offer any explanation to you about
that?
, A No.
MR. CHATHAM: I believe that.is all.we have in
qualifying the witness for the State. -
CROSS EXAMINATION
BY MR. CARLTON:
Q Mr. Cothran, give to the Court the exact language
of the question which you asked "J.W." on this occasion?
' A I asked him if they went out and got that boy, out
at Mose Wright's house.
Q Then you said, "Did they go out and get that boy
Erom Mose Wright's house?" I
- A I just said "Did you all".
Q And what was his exact answer to you?
l A He said, yes, but they put him out there at the1
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Q And when he said, yes, but they put him out there:
at the store, did he say who put him out at the store?-
A No, he didn't say. -
. Q And when he gave his answer to you, did he say "They"
OI " WE" ?
A I don't remember whether he said "We".or "They".
Q Now who was present when you had this conversation
with Mr. Milam?
A You mean when I talked to Mr. Milam?
Q Yes, Sir. who was present at that time?
A Nobody but me and him,
Q was Roy Bryant present?
A No.
Q Mr. Cothran, you were a candidate this year for
Sheriff of LePlore County, isn't that right? '
A That's right. ' ' -
' ' Q And Mr. Campbell, a brother~in-law of Mr. Milam down
there at Minter City, supported you in that campaign for
Sheriff, isn't that true?
A I think so. -
Q And Mr. Milam supported you in that campaign, isn't
that true?
, { 1 A I think so. .
i
L- Q -And the there was a brother over at Itta Bena who
. - assiIt:3
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supported you, isn't that right?
A
Q
canpaign for
A
Q
A
QI think so.
In fact, the entire family supported you in your
Sheriff, isn't that right?
I believe they did.
And you are a good friend of that entire family?.
Yes. . ~ - -
And you no doubt believe that they are all good
friends of yours? '
-A
Q
A
Q
A
.. QYes, Sir. '
And you knew J. W. Milam before that time, did you?
Yes, Sir. . ' . -
And you all were good friends in the past?
Yes, Sir.
Did you know that any statement he might make to you
would be used against him? '
' A
Q
occur? '
A
Q
disappeared
1 . A
Q3No, Sir.
And on what day did this particular conversation .
It was on Monday.
Then it was on Monday, August 29th, after the boy
nd.be£ore the body was found, is that right?
Yes, Sir.
Mr- Cothran, do remember the occasion about a~'f
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week ago when you conferred with Mr. Breland, Mr. Henderson, I
and Mr. Kellum, and myself, and also Mr. George Smith. when R;
we were all together over there in the office? H
A I do.
" Q And on that occasion, Mr. Cothran, did you not make L
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the statement to us that you had never talked to "J.w." at N
- , 92
a1l_about this and that he had never made any statement »
about it? ' _9292
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MR. CHATHAM: If the Court please, this doesn1t go into
. ' "W
E the admissability of the statement. Q
THE COURT: No, it doesnt; but it is all right to ask
it now. m. ' _ NH
MR. CARLTON; well, we will hold that for now. But we.
a ' 92
will object to the admission of this testimony and this
alleged admission on the grounds that it was not freely
and voluntarily made, and that if any statement was made, -
it was made under improper circumstances without the de-
.<fendant being properly advised of his rights. And we say ~
that it is inadmissable for that reason. _
And we also have a further objection to this wit-
ness's testimony at this time on the grounds that the corpus
- w
Q delicti has not been oroven, and that there has been no V
£¬_§ Bhewing whatsoeyer in the record that the body taken from
"Q4 the Tallahatchie River and alleged to be that of Emmett Till,-
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that the death of that body was caused by any criminal
agency whatsoever.
THE COURT: The objections will be overruled. Let the
jury come in. u - '
The jury returned to the courtroom, and theproceed»
ings continued with the jury present.!
_ Q
A
Q
A
Q
A
Q
A
'Q
that county
A.
Q
A
QIs this John Ed Cothran?
Yes, Sir.
Mr. Cochran, where do you live?
Greenwood.
Greenwood, LeFlore County, Mississippi?
Yes, Sir.
How long have you lived in LeFlore County?
Thirty years. - .
what, if any, official position have you held in
during the past four years?
Deputy Sheriff.
Deputy Sheriff?
Yes, Sir.
And you have been a deputy under Sheriff George
Smith, is that right? I
A
I ; ' QYes, Sir.
In your capacity as Deputy Sheriff, I want you to
tell the Court and jury whether or not in the latter part1
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of August, 1955.-You had occasion to investigate the .
murder or disappearance of Emmett Till?
A I did.
Q
talk to J. w.And in that investigation, did you have occasion to
Milam, one of the defendants in this case?'
A Yes, Sir. _
Q Where was he when you talked with him?
A In the LeFlore County jail.
Q Do you remember the day oi the week it was that you
him? '
f
A Monday.
Q You talked with him on Monday?
A Yes,_Sir.
Q And had he been arrested that day or was.it the day
' wbefore? _
- A That day. I
Q
talked withwho was present in the jail! Mr. Cochran, when you
him? .
A No one but he and myself.
Q Now, before he made any statement to you, and before
.YOU asked him any questions, did you threaten him or intim-
idate him in any way in order to compel him or force him to
ti I make any statement against his will?
.... </
- A NO, Sir.
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Q You did not?
A No{ Sir.
Q And before he made any statement-to you, did you
promise him any reward or hold out any hope of immunity -
for him if he made any statement to you?
- A No, Sir- -
Q And was any statement that he made to_you in the
jail at that time on that Monday, was that statement freely
and voluntarily made? -
A Yes, Sir. -
Q Now, will you tell the jury, Mr. Cothran - - and
speak out so the last man sitting over here on the back
row can hear you, will you state what you had to say to
"J.w." that day in the jail and what he had to say to you 1-
in regard to the murder of Emmett Till?
A I asked him if they went out there and got that
little boy and if they had done something with him. And he
said that they had brought him up there to that store and
turned him loose, there at Roy Bryant's store.
Q Did you say they went and got the boy, or did he say
we went and got the boy?= _-:11.-| ,.._ -._, _ Jn:. " - r. -~.-'- - 92.- '?_'1" |_».~' ' -";92§'i
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"~92:'.'v -f"=*;i"~ *A I don't remember whether he said "we" or "I". I _~ hiieiél
1 wouldn't say_for sure. »?$&§§§", '--'43.; ..,":§-'feee< "*:§_.:~-"+11Ie. »--.1-_ 91:i;?;.;i,u.'.E 1.'=" .= . _.. -. ;92-&n_=;-- -1.--»-QQ Did he say where they got the boy? .;§§§E%§$.. I . -
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' A Over at Mose Wright's. '
Q He told you they had gotten the boy at Mose Wright's
U house?
A Yes. Sir.
U Q Did he say what time of the night or morning it was
when they went out and got him? - .
| A No, Sir. -
U _ Q Do you remember whether you asked him specifically
the hour that he got him from Uncle Mose's house?
I; 3 A No,_Sir .
- Q what did he say, Mr. Cothran, with reference to
92
I what he or they did with the boy after they got him from
old man Moses house?M
A He said they brought him up there and talked to him,
92 and then they let him go.
. .
Q where did he say they brought him to talk to him?'92 .
m A Up to Mr. Bryant's store.
1 Q where is Mr. Bryantte store?
! A In Money, Mississippi.
Q And Money is in LeF1ore County, Mississippi. is
that right?
A YES, Sir. -
f 1 Q Do you know about how far it is from Uncle Moses
house to Mr. Bryant's store at Money?
. ' 144
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A I would say around three miles. .
Q How long did they say they kept him up there before
they released him?
A He didn't say. _ .
Q Did he offer any explanation to you as to why they "
didn't carry the boy back home, back down to Uncle Mose's
hOUSE? -
- A No, Sir.
- Q Did he tell you where he spent the rest of the
92 night after that? -
A He told me he went home.
Q He said he went home after that?
A Yes, Sir. .
Q Do you know where he was living at that time?
A No, Sir.
Q How long had you known Mr. Milam prior to this con-
versation you had with him?
A I imagine around a couple of years.
Q would you say that you knew him well and that he knew
you well?
A Yes, Sir, I knew him.
Q So that, at the time you were talking to him in the
jail there in regard to this alleged crime, he knew you -
were a deputy sherif of that county under Sheriff George
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Smith, is that right?
A Yes, Sir. ' '
1Q And I believe it is the fact that you arrested him ;y
and brought him to jail, is that correct? - ,92
A Yes, Sir. -
. Q Now, Mr. Cothran, in your further investigation '
of this alleged crime, did you go down to the point on the ,
Tallahatchie River between Philipp and Masel where the -
body was found? _
A Yes, Sir. RI .
And that was a body said to have been the body of
Emmett Till, is that right? 92. Q
A That's right. _
when did you go down there? = Q
A It was on Wednesday morning about - - around ten" .
o'clock.
" Q Then that would have been Wednesday morning, August -
318E. is that right?
A Yes, Sir. - .
Q And it was this year, 1955?
A Yes, Sir. ' -
Q And you say that was about ten o'clock in the
@ morning?
A Yes, Sir.
146
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Q And what was the occasion for your going to that
particular place? In other words. did you receive some '
message to go there or some request?
A YQS, Sir.
Q Do you remember who made that request of you or the
sheriff? .
I A Mr. McCool, the office deputy, called me and told
lTIE""" .
MR. BRELAND: We object to any conversation, Your
Honor. ' -
; .
THE COURT: Don't repeat any conversation,
Q But you did receive a request from someone in the
sheriff's ofice to go to that place there on the Talla-
hatohie River between Phillip and Masel, is that right?
A Yes, Sir, that's right.
Q And did you there immediately?
' A Yes, Sir. .
Q who went there with you?
A- Mr. Weber.
Q And who is Mr. Weber?
A A deputy sheriff. .
Q Did you stop on the way there anywhere between
q F Greenwood and the point of your destination?
A We did.
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nua:ionufFl}3020l' _1"R}_92§~1$§RIPT_~E2MMETT _'1.1I1iL», TBI&I= Sept 125.511"- ,n,_== 151
Q where did you stop?
A At Mose Wrights.
Q was Mose at home?
A Yes, Sir. He was picking cotton.
And did you pick him up? Q
A Yes, Sir.
Q And where did you and Mose and Mr. Weber go after
that? -' .
A we went up on the Tallahatchie River, up on the
E other side of Philipp.
Q What did you find there when you got to that part-
icular point on the river? _
A We found a body that they had taken out of the
river. _
Q and where was the body when you and Uncle Mose
first got there?
A It was laying in a boat there at the edge of the
river. _ '
Q And where was the boat? was it in the water or out
on the bank?
¢
A On the bank.
Q Do you remember who else was around there assisting
in getting the body there in the boat, and the details :
connected with it?
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- A Well, Mr. Strider was there, the Sheriff. And there
was severai-l people around there. There was Mr. Smith. He
was over there. And I dont know just who all was there.
'_1here was several more. -
Q was there a number of your people around. there?
A Yes, Sir.
Q Do you recall the negro undertaker at Greenwood?
A Chester Miller?
Q Yes, Chester Miller? -
I I A Yes, Sir. -
Q was Chester there? l
A Yes, Sir. " -
Q was he there when you first got there?
A No, He came right after I got there. H
Q And did he havehis funeral coach with him? I
A Yes, Sir.
Q And I believe you said that boy was in the boat-when -
Q And how long was it after you got there that the -you first got there, is that right?
A Yes, Sir.
body was removed from the -boat?
A Oh, I imagine around twenty minutes, maybe more or I
{ . maybe not.
Q what did they do with the body after it was taken -
. 149 II
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L out of the boat? How did they handle it?
Q A They took some big browh wrapping paper and put it
1 around the body and then put it in a casket.
Q When you first saw the body there. was it lying on
its back or face down?
. A On its face.
Q And was it turned over before it was taken out of
the boat?
-A Yes, Sir. _
Q And then what was done with the body; John Ed?
A It was put in a casket.
Q was the casket out on the bank?
A Yes, sir.
Q And who was supervising that? was it Chester Miller?
A Chester Miller. He was the one that handled him.
Q And he was the undertaker there? '
A Thats right.
- Q Now, ih the course of Chester and those who were
assisting him in removing the body from the boat and putting
it in the casket, do you recall seeing a ring on the de '
ceased's finger and seeing that ring removed from his fihger?
A Yes, Sir. .
E I Q Do you remember generally what kind of ring it was,
the general description of it?
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A Yes, Sir. It was a - - it looked like a home-made
ring.
Q was it silver or gold?
' -A It was silver looking.
' Q Did it have any marks or identification on it that .
you remember? . -
A Yes, Sir;
Q And what were they?
A 1943 was the date.
I Q 1943?. Did it have any other marks?
A Yes. It had May 5 I don't remember just what date
it was. -
Q Did it have any initials on it?
A L. T.
Q Did you see that ring on the deceased's finger be-
fore it was taken off his finger? '
A Yes, Sir. . -
Q And who took it off his finger?
A This Miller's helper. '
Q Do you know whether that was Chester's boy or not?
A I think his name is Simon Garrett. -
Q Did you see Simon when he took the ring off the.
f ; deCeased's finger?
A_ Yes, Sir.
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Q what was done with that ring ater Simon took it
off the body?
1 .J .
when did you see it again? _ - A He gave it to Mose'Wright.
Q D0 you know what Mose did with it?
A Yes, Sir.
Q What did he do with it?
A He carried it to his house.
Q Did you see the ring at any time thereafter?
A Yes, Sir. _ -
Q How long was it after that when you saw it again?
A He gave it to me as soon as that boy looked at it. .
_Q How is that? _ _
A He gave it back to me there at his house}
Q Did you go with him back to his home?
A I carried him back down there. '
Q You didn't drop him out there at Money?
A No. I carried him out there.
Q And when you took him back home, he returned that
same ring back to you? - '
} since?A Yes, Sir.
Q And have you had that same ring in your possession
A Yes, Sir.
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Q I will hand you this ring,-Mr. Cochran, and I ask
you if you can_identify it as the same ring that was taken
from the body there at that point on Tallahatchie River on
the day that you went over there? {A ring is shown to the
witness.!
A Itis. . -.
Q And have you given anybody else possession of tat
'ring since you have had it?
'A Nobody but you.
Q Nobody else except me?
A That's right.
Q Now, you were speaking from your recollection a few
'minutes ago when I asked you what marks of identification
were on the ring. And for the purposes of the record now,
and for the benefit of the jury. I would like for you to
read what marks, or initials, or figures are on that ring.
' A {Reading} "May 25, 1943." And then right underi
that it has got "L.T.".
' Q The initials "L.T."?
A Yes, Sir.
MR. CHATHAM: If the Court please, we at this time will
offer this ring in evidence as Exhibit 1 to the testimony '
1 of Mr. John Ed Cothran.
THE COURT; It will be received in evidence.
153
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{A ring was tagged and marked as Exhibit 1 to the
testimony of Mr. John Ed Cothran by the reporter.!
Q Now, John Ed, I wish you would step down off the
witness stand and look at this object lying on the floor
here in front of the jury, and if you can. I wish you
would tell the jury when was the first time you saw that
object? And will you tell what it is and the first time
you saw it?
A Well, the first time I saw it was out there at'that
~ river that morning, laying in a boat there. _ '
' Q was it in the boat with the body at the same time
you testified of your seeing the body? '
A Thats right.
Q And on that same day?
A Yes, Sir. - .
Q was it in the same boat with the body or was it in
a separate boat? ' - '
A It was in the same boat. -
I Q At the time you saw the fan and the body, was the
wire still attached to the fan and to the body or not?
A No, Sir, it wasn't.
Q The wire was not attached to the body when you saw
1 it?
A The wire was still on the body but it was not on
the tan. ' ' ' . 1 :1
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44A-JN-30112, 62DJN-30045-FD302
CwMwmmMFUN3 ]$@N$§RIPTfEMM§TT TlLLWI§lBL_§gpt_}Q§§.0"_i___ W__ -M5 158.
' Q Can you tell the court and jury where that fan has
been since that day? .
A It has been in the Sheriff's office down in Green-
wood. 1
who carried it there?Q .
A 1 did. '
Q And could you say that the object there on the_
floor is the same fan and that it is the same piece of
wire that you took from the boat that was at the river
that day? '
A Yes, Sir.
Q And it has been in your possession sincé then?
A Yes, Sir. '
Q Mr. Cothtan, you are familiar with the area around
Money where Uncle Mose Wright's house is situated or here
he was living in on August.2Bth of this the house is that
year, are you?
A Yes, Sir.
Q And is that house in LeFlore County, Mississippi?
A Yes,
Q -Now,Sir.
John Ed, how long have you been a peace office
A Almost eight years. .
i Q And during that time I want you to tell the court
and jury whether or not you have had numerous occasions.toI?
155
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see bodies that have been maimed and beaten and shot or
wounded?
A Yes, Sir, I have.
Q And_since you have, I would like for you to describe
- for the court and jury the condition of this boy's body
that you saw there in the boat that you have testified to
and about, with reerenoe to any wounds or abrasions on or
about his head or body? And describe them, if you can,
please, Sit? _ _ _
left
eye was about out, it was all gouged odt in there. you92 A Well, his head was torn up pretty bad.t And his
know. And right up in the top of his head, well, there was
a hole knocked in the fiont of it there.
And then right over his right ear - - well, I '
wouldn't say it was a bullet hole, but some of them said it
was - - -
MR. BRELAND= we object to what they said it was.
THE COURT: The objection is sustained.
Q But there was a hole there on that side of his head92
_ _ _ J -
MR. BRELAND: We object to the leading form of the
question. -
COURT: I believe he said there was a hole in his, THE
head there-92_.
- 92
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Q And I believe you said there was a hole there, and
you indicated with your finger that it was about one inch
above the right ear, is that right? _
A Yes, Sir.
Q And could you describe the dimensions of that hole
by an illustration with a dime or a penny, or anything of
that sort?
I A No - - it wasn't anything like that big. It was just
a small hole.
Q Could you tell whether or not that hole penetrated
the skull? .
A No. Sir-
what portion of the left side of his head was caved
in?
A Right above his ear, on that side indicating with
his hand!. _
Q do you mean at a point next to the left temple?
At this point, one of the jurors stated that he could
not hear the witness's answer.! .
THE WITNESS: I said it was on the left side of his
head, right alongside his left ear and above his ear. '
Q From the way you indicated with your finger. you
began at a point on the left temple, about an inch above {E
the left eye and his left ear, and extending back to a
l57I
'_'!..'j{!',{;| Rev. I0-6--
!
. 1'
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point about an inch or an inch and a half behind the left
ear, is that correct? '
MR. BRELAND: I thing we should let the witness make
his own statement about that; Your Honor.
THE COURT: was that right, Mr. Cothran? Did Mr.
Chatham state it correctly? . -
WITNESS: I think I have got confused myself, rms
Judge. .
- THE COURT: Then suppose you tell it to the jury, your-
1J1 self, Mr. Cothran. Just state it to them in your own words, -
and show on your head, as best you can where it was, and
just what the condition looked to you. _
THE WITNESS: There as a small hole in his head right.
above the ear over on the right side of his head, over here '
~ - - and that was all tore up. The witness hesitated in
his answer at this point! Now the reason I hesitated there,
I wanted to be sure I was getting it on the right side.
Q And what about the front part of his head, and on
his forehead?
A There was a place knocked in on his forehead.
Q Did that seem to penetrate the skull?
A well, it looked like it did.
'§ 1 , Q with reference to other parts of his body being
_ maimed or mutilated, did you notice that?
1C
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nu-nuuIIIII-IIInIIIIIIIInIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
¥[!-302a Rev IU-6-95!
44A-JN-30112, 62D-JN-30045-FD302
Cominualivn of FD-302 of J_BA,NSCRL,P_:1;-TEMMETT III 1.11.: TR pt, ,1 Q§_5 ,Or| ,_ _ , .P:|gc 52 ,
A_ There wasn't any. "
Q Did you notice anything at all other than about-the
head? -
A No, Sir.
MR. CHATHAM: Take the witness.
CROSS EXAMINATION
BY MR. CARLTON: -
Q Mri Cothran, I believe you ran for Sheriff of
=1 LeFlore County this last summer, is that right?
A Yes. Sir. -
' Q That is, this summer?
A Thats right.
" Q And in that campaign, I believe that Mr. Mi1am's
brother-in-law over at Minter City, Mr. Campbell, supported
you in that race, is that right?
A Yes, Sir.
Q And Mr. Milam supported you in that race?
A Yes, Sir. -
Q And Mr. Roy Bryant, from Money, supported you, is
that right? '
A Yes, Sir.
! 5 Q And Mr. Beaner {?!, a full brother of Mr. J.w.
Milam. also supported you, I believe?
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.; - '
h A Yes, Sir. .
92
Q And the entire family, generally, have been friendly
F, with you over a period of years, is that right? '
V A That's right. l
, Q And you have confidence in that family, and the
family has confidence in you?
rA Yes, Sir.
Q And you have known J.w. Milam or several years,
have you?
r"? A. For about two years.
' Q And he was friendly with you and you were friendly
with him?
A Yes, Sir. -
Q And they were right in treating you as a friend,
isn't that right?
A Yes, Sir. .
Q And they were right in feeling that you would treat
them fairly and properly?
A That's right.
Q Now, when this statement that Mr. Milam was supposed
to have made to you there in the courthouse in Greenwood on
Monday. the 28th - ~
1 { Mr, CHATHAM: We object to that statement that it was
supposed to have been made. He had already testified that
i 0
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u he_unequivoca1ly made a statement. _ '
Q Mr. Cothran, this statement to which you testified I
that Mr. Milam made to you on Monday, the 28th - - or I
believe it was the 29th - - of August, was anyone present
when that conversation was had between you all? ll
A No, Sir.
Q .
A
Q
, i A No, Sir.
Q
A
Q
Awas there anyone
There was no one
was he in a cell
we were going in
And he made this - Q
arrested him?
- A Well, he stopped
got to the jail.
Q And that is when
A
QYes, Sir.
And had you told
there-would
! A No, Sir.
Q Had you told himAnd where was it made?
Up in the jail there. -
was Mr- Roy Bryant present at that time?
be used against him?there and talked to me after we .else there at all?
but J.w. and myself.
at the time?
a_cell.
statement to you right after you
. !.92.
he made the statement to you?
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that he was under arrest? =$§qQQ%§%%%E
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1
A Well, no, Sir, I hadn't. 5
' i
Q_ Had you given him any reason to think that you were g
asking that question Eor the purpose of incriminating him? é
A well, I just asked the question. F
Q And you talked to him and asked him that just as
one friend would ask another friend, is that right? -
A Yes, that's right.
Q And just what was the exact question which you asked
him, John Ed?
A I asked him if they had carried that boy off.
Q You asked him if they had carried that boy off?
A That's right. . _
Q And you used the term or words, If they had carried
the boy off"? '
' A Yes, Sir.
Q And just what was his answer?
5 A He said that they carried him up to Roy Bryant's
é store, and they talked to him, and then they let him go.
é - Q Now, let's get over here and look at this gin fan
-5 or this object on the floor here. John Ed. will you tell
E?"
the jury just how that fan is made, and for the purpose
!"
E of the record, will you describe it so that the reporter
i§ J 1 can get it down here? will you give us a description of
E I u that fan?
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: the top.
I believeA what do you mean?
Well, how many blades are in it? Q
A I don't know.
Count them there, please, sir. Q
AEighteen.
Q It has eighteen blades?
A That's right. -
Q Are those blades flat or cupped?
AThey are cupped on the bottom and kind of flat at
Q And they are set in there between.the metal sides,
,,is that right?
A That's right.
Q Are the sides circular?
A Yes, Sir. , .
Q And of course, the fan is lying flat on the floor
now. is that right?
A' Yes, Sir.
Q And one side is lying flat on the floor, and then
come these eighteen blades, and then the next side is on top
of that,
ris that correct?
A That's right.
Q And there is a big, heavy hub in the center there,
is that right? ' .
163
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Q
A
Q
your car?
A
Q
A
Q
you took it
that right?
A
Q-who took it away from the scene there?
Two colored boys put it in my car.
Did it still have mud on it when they put it in
yes, Sir.
Did it get your car muddy?
Yes, Sir, it sure did.
And of course, it weighed considerably more when
out of the river there than it does now, is
Almost twice. '
Then you would say that the weight was somewhere
around one hundred and forty pounds when it came out of the
river, is that right? -
A Yes, Sir, I sure would.
Q Now; how long was this barbed wire that was wrapped
around the neck of this body in the boat? How long was that
wire, the length of it, from his neck?
I dont know how much of it they had off- But it
around the
it now - -
E0 me like zA
{indicatingThey had the wire off the fan_when I got up there.
was tied
fan before, and I would judge from the length of
well, I would say the length - - well, it looked»
it would have been a width of about that long
with his hands}.
165
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Q would you say that is about eighteen inches?
A Something like that]
» Q then about eighteen inches would have been the dis-
1
tance the body was from the fan, is that right? _
A Yes, Sir. '
Q Now, this wound over his right ear, the small wound,
was it round or what kind of a wound was it?
A It wouldn't say because I don't know.
Q was it just a hole there?
{_,_.._ 1 AIt was just a little hole.
Q And as I understood from your testimony, there were
some gashes or cuts over his left ear?
A Thats right.
Q And these gashes over his left ear, what did they
look like?
A They was just gashes, is all I know.
Q And how many were there?
A I know there was two.
Q And how close together were they?
A Oh, they were pretty close together. -
Q was it possible for those gashes to have been made
by this fan dropping on that head, in your best judgement?
1 A You mean if they dropped that on his head?
Q well. the body was found in the river, I believe,
155
:D-30241 lRcv_ J0-6-95!
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is that right?
A Yes, Sir. - -
. Q Do you think the body went in the river under its
own power? -
A I don't know.
MR. SMITH: Your Honor, we object to what he thinks,
even if it is cross examination.
THE COURT: Yes - - don't ask the
Q Of course, you don't know, Mr.witness that-
Cothran, whether_the
body went in the river first or whether the fan went in the
river first, do you?
A No, Sir.
Q But those wounds on the 1efthand side of his head
were such that they could have-been made by this fan drop-
ping on the head, isn't that right?
A YES, Sir.- If it had hit him, it would have.
Q And the depressed place in the forehead of that
body, the gash there, that could have been made by the
fan blades or by the hub, too, couldn't it?
A Yes, Sir.
that . Q In your best judgement, was it possible for
place, the wound over his right ear, was it possible for
a snag in the river? { ; that to have been made by
A Yes, it could have been.
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innlilluklli ufFD-302 0| §CR_1PT~EMMETT ELL iteljit _L95S .On :f W7 _7_ :, Paga- 171
E Q John Ed, when you arrested Mr. Milam. did he ask
- you to be allowed to talk to counsel or to an attorney?
I A
Q And
I A
I Q And
E attorney?
M A
QwasYes, Sir.
what did you answer him?
I told him he could call in the office.
did you allow him to call his counsel or his
I dont know whether he did or not.
that before the statement which you testified
about was made or after? '
A It was before. we went in the office there, but I
I dont know whether he called or not.
I Q All right. Now, John Ed, I believe you testified
on direct examination that there was no mutilation of this
N body except around the head?
A That's rightj If there was, I didn't see any.
I Q Had
A NO .
1
Q Did
§ wounds at all on
A Now
That body was in
..fe@
boy's privates been mutilated? the
Sir.
his back show any signs of any bruises or any
the back?
you
pretty bad shape, and I couldn't hardly
_ tell. And I wouldn't want to answer that "Yes" or "No".
At least. you couldn't see any. -are asking me a pretty hard question there.
158
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Q Then you couldn't see any signs of that?
A You couldn't see any. -
Q Now, let's go down to the morning of Wednesday,
the 31st of August, when you left Greenwood - - I believe
-you said that dgputy sherif
Flore County, was with you?
A Yes, Sir.f Weber, from Itta Bena, Le-
Q was anybody else in the car with you?
A No, Sir. '
1 Q And efter you left there, where did you first stop? -
A At Mose Wright's. '
Q And did you pick up anybody there at Mose Wright's?
A We picked up Mose Wright. '
Q Did you pick up anybody else there at Mose Wright's?
A No, Sir.
Q And as I understand, you stopped again between there
and the river, is that right?
A I did.
Q And where did
A We stopped atyou stop?
Ray's Service Station in Philipp.
Q Did you pick up anybody there?
A Yes. Sir-
1 j Q .Who did you pickup there?
A I never did ask the man his name.
169
Q-39'-J3 '[Rc92'_ ii}-6-95}
V
92
44A-JN-30112, 620-Jw=3o04s-F0302
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E Q Did you at any time pick up Deputy Smith of
d Tallahatchie County?
9 A Not then. '
I
Q Not on that trip?
l- A 1 don't remember ever picking him up.
. Q when you got up there to the river, and after you
} parked your car, could you see the body in the boat in the
river down there? I
92 . _ .
A Not from where we parked the car.
¢: ! Q And why couldn't you see it?
A There was some bushes and trees between me and
92
¥ where the boat was.
Q After you stopped and parked the car there, did
Mose Wright get out of the car with you?
e A Yes, Sir.
Q And then you walked down towards the river, I be~
.
b lieve?
F ZThat's right.
And when you were about fifteen or twenty yards
I away from the boat, did Mose make any statement about
_ whether the body in the boat was that of Emmett Till or
' not? .
l E A Yes, Sir. He said, "1 believe that's him."
Q And when he made that statement to you, where was
170E
FiJ3'J'.'..| Rev. 19-54951
44AJN3Ol12, 62DJN-30045-F9302
c.»..qn..=1.M or!-'|:>-30201 T_R.A_N__S_CRIET-EMMETJ :rILL _IRJIAL_%Q§. _1_g_5§ .on_,, _, s _; _.I*=§<= i174 _, '
the body at the time?
A It was in the boat.
Q And where was the boat then? _
A It was setting on the river bank about - - I would
say. about twenty feet from us.
Q The
or would you say
A Feet
Q And
i on its stomach?boat was about fiiteen or twenty feet £rom.you
it was fifteen or twenty yards away? _ '
was the body lying on its back or was the body
A It was on its stomach.
Q And
A The
Q Now
to the ring thatwhich end of the body was towards you and Mose?
head.
there at the boat, was Moss's attention directed
was on this boy's hand?
A Well, I don't know just how ~ - I don't know who
first saw that ring. '
Q But
ring?was Mose asked any questions there about the
A That's right.
Qima what did Mose say there about the ring?
A He said he didn't know about the ring at the time.
. : but he said he would carry it out to his house and ask his
boy about it. that he would know.I
I
1
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!rmmwwuWDJMof TEQNSCR1EI;EM§IT TILL TRlAL_§ggt1;g§51h_ *_ Wt_ili.ne 175,
Q And Mose said at that time that he didn't know
! anything about the ring? -
! A That s right.
Q What hand of the body was the ring on?
l A
QIt was on his right hand.
_ Do you know which finger it was on?
! A I think it was on his middle finger.
Q
Awas there any tape wrapped around the ring?
I didn't see any.
Q Did the ring come off the hand or finger easily
was it hard to get off?
! A It wasn't any trouble to get off.
I didn't lookQ Beg pardon?
A The ring didnft seem any trouble to get off, or
like it was. I think the undertaker took it off
Q Now, when Mose got up close to the boat and saw
I body-there, did he make any statement to you such as, "I
could be mistaken that it might could not be him ?
I" A He did. -
l Q At the time this ring was taken off his finger,
the skin come off with the ring? "
l .
' " Q And how about the finger nails?I * .A Yes, Sir. '
A L didn't notice about that.OI."
it
the
did
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Did you examine his left hand?
No, Sir.
was the skin slipped badly all over'his body?
I didn't notice that, but when they pulled that
off, it slipped off.
scene?And you didn't look at the left hand at all?
No. Sir. 'ring
what was the position of his tongue there at the
it was swelled out of his mouth. _
And what was the condition of the body all over as
regards swelling?
when he was
IIt was bad.
And was he a well developed body?
Yes, Sir.
And what was the condition of his privates there
turned over?
It was in bad shape.
were they swelled or stiff?
Well; swelled or stiff.
And were they well developed privates?
Yes, Sir? .
How old would you estimate this body to be?
I wouldn't.
1?3 I,
92 ,.r
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. MR. CARLTON: That is all, Your Honor.'
l THE COURT: Any further questions, Mr. Chatham?
MR. CHATHAM: Just one minute, Your Honor, please. we
I .
want.to offer - ~ well, I am not in a condition right now
92 - - or I can't lift this object here, this gin fan, but we
92 want to offer it as Exhibit 2 to Mr. Cochran's testimony.
THE COURT; All right, sir- I think we will just let
M the Court Reporter take care of that-
z REDIRECT EXAMINATION
BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Q John Ed, during the cross examination by Mr. Carlton,
at one point there with reference to Uncle Mose Wright's
statement, I believe he asked you if Uncle Mose at that
time expressed any doubt that his identification of the body.
and I believe you answered at that time that Uncle Mose
said he might be mistaken; is that right?
A Yes, Sir. '
Q And at that particular time, I want you to tell the
court and jury whether the corpse was lying on its stomach
or on its back?
A Mr. Chatham, as well as I remember it was still on
{ - its stomach. Now I wouldn't say for sure whether it had
. been turned over or not. But I think it was on its stomach.
174
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iFD-3018 Rev. IO-6-95}
-ma-an-30112, 62D-JN-30045-FD302
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MR. CHATHAM: We would like to now introduce these
photographs, if we may. _The writing has been covered up
now. '
THE COURT: I think the picture of the body was re-'
ceived in evidence this orning as an exhibit to Mr.
Strickland'e testimony. But the other ones had not been
properly identified at the time. as I recall.
MR. CHATHAM: Then can we introduce both of these
photographs now? We have had the testimony about the fan
now. ri
MR. CARLTON: we have no objection.
THE COURT: All right. There has been no objection,
and the picture of this wheel or fan will be received as
Exhibit 2 to the testimony of Mr. Strickland.
' A photograph was then marked as Exhibit 2 to the
testimony.of Mr. Strickland by the reporter.!
{WITNESS EXCUSBD!
THE COURT: We will now recess until ten o'clock to-
morrow morning. -
1-ti-in-ir
z4
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il.
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R
92
92
44AJN301l2,-62DJN~30045FD302
i
1
1 VS.STATE OF MISSISSIPPI } -
} In the Circuit Court
TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY }
§EPTEMBER I§,_}955
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI '
J.W. MILAN and ROY BRYANT
Presiding:itgtlmsmr TQMQRDER
Hon. Curtis M. Swango, Jr., Circuit Judge,
Seventeenth Judicial District of the State.
Appearances:
For the State:
Hon. Gerald Chatham, District Attorney;
Hon. Robert B. Smith, III, Special Assistant
to the District Attorney;
Hon. Hamilton Caldwell, County Attorney.
For the Defendants;
HOD .
HOD .
Hon
Hon
HonJ. J. Breland, of Sumner, Mississippi;
C. Sidney Carlton, of Sumner, Mississippi:
J- W. Kellum, of Sumner, Mississippi; I.
John N. whitten, Jr., of Sumner, Miss.;
Harvey Henderson, of Sumner, Mississippi.
'&t***'kbnIima92'wnofF~3l12 at ggnggax PjEM¥EIT TILL__'I_¥_{IAL_ Sept 1955 .0 .Pa@= iilifii
176i
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I
1
r
i
02:! Riv I9-6-95!
44A-JN-30112, 62D-JN-3004S~PD3D2
i ,P:1g¬ 180 nmmmnwfbdwuf_TRAESQRIEI-EMMQIT_I1ld;j1RlgL_§§Qt 19§§,o» ___
-FOURTH DAY
This day, this cause having been continued for
hearing, on this the 22nd day of September, 1955, comes
District Attorney, came also the defendants, each in his
own_proper person and represented by counsel ano announc
ready to proceed herein. whereupon, came the same jury,
composed of J. A. Shaw, Jr., and eleven others, being
specially sworn to try the issue. Thereupon, the cause
proceeded to further trial before the Judge aforesaid,
and the jury, when and where the following proceedings
were had, as follows:
.C. F. CHICK! NELSONfurther
the
ed
A witness introduced for and on behalf of the State, being
first duly sworn, upon his oath testified as follows;
' DI ascr EXAMINATION -
BY MR. SMITH;
Q will you state your name, please, sir?
A C. F. Nelson.
Q And I believe they call you "Chick", is
A Yes, Sir.
Q Mr. Nelson, what is your occupation?
A I have a furniture store for one thing.that right?
177ind
-302: Rcv. I0-6-95!
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44A-JN~30112. 63D-JN-30045-FD302
...|..,..=.l.mrm_m.,r Tn,g;ascR1.PT-EMMETT IILILL 'rR1A_;,_ §gQ_!;__ t 13515 .0» ll l-__..Pa:= fol 8;
Q
home?
A
' Q
A
Q
Tutwiler?
A
Q
AI
O
part of Aug
to Greenwoo
A
QAnd are you also manager and operator of a funeral
That's right.
where is the funeral home?
At Tutwiler, Mississippi.
Do you hold any official position in the town of
Yes, Sir. I am Mayor.
You are the Mayor of the town?
Yes, Sir.
Mr; Nelson, directing your attention to the last
ust, were you called upon or requested to come
d to pick up a body?
Yes, Sir.
And who were you advised that the person would be
that your were to pick up? what was the name?
MR. BRELAND: We object to that, Your Honor.
THE COURT: The objection is overruled.
THE WITNESS: Emmett Till.
Q And did you go or send someone to Greenwood to pick
up that body?
A Yes, Sir, I did.
- Q
that body?
A The Century Funeral Home, I think they call it. 173And to what funeral home did they go to pick up
I
E