W W MATTHEWS, Sworn In For The State, 36th To Testify

Reading Time: 4 minutes [534 words]

W. W. MATTHEWS, sworn for the Defendant.

I work for the Georgia Railway & Electric Co. as a motorman. On

the 26th day of April I was running on English Avenue. Mary Phagan

got on my car at Lindsey Street at 11:50. Our route was from Bellwood

to English Avenue, down English Avenue to Kennedy, down Kennedy to

Gray, Gray to Jones Avenue, Jones Avenue to Marietta, Marietta to

Broad, and out Broad Street. From Lindsey Street to Broad Street is

about a mile and a half or two miles. We make frequent stops. We were

scheduled to arrive at Marietta and Broad at 12:071/2. We were on

schedule. We stayed on time all day. Our car turned up Broad St. Mary

Phagan got off at Hunter and Broad. It takes generally from two and a

half to three minutes to go from Broad and Marietta to Broad and Hunter.

That is a very congested street and you must go slow. I was relieved at Broad and Marietta by another motorman, but sat down in-the

same car one seat behind Mary Phagan. Another little girl was sitting

in the seat with her. We got to Broad and Hunter about 12:10. Mary

and the other little girl both got off and walked to the sidewalk and they

wheeled like they were going to turn around on Hunter Street, both of

them together. The pencil factory is about a block and a half from where

they got off at Hunter and Broad. Nobody got on with Mary at Lindsey

Street. There wasn't any little boy with her. The first time I noticed

the little girl sitting with Mary was when we left Broad and Marietta

Streets and I went back into the car and saw this little girl sitting with

her. I know the little Epps boy. I have seen him riding on my car. He

did not get on the car with her at Lindsey Street. I saw Mary's body at

the undertaker's. It was the same girl that got on my car.

CROSS EXAMINATION.

I did not tell one of the detectives that we might have been running

three or four minutes ahead of schedule that day. I remember that Mary

did not get off the car at Broad and Marietta because there was a street

car conductor sitting behind me, an ex-conductor and he had a badge on

his coat and I looked at it and it had a little girl's picture and I reached

over to where Mary was and said, "Little girl, here is your picture, " and

she said, "No, it is not. " I don't know who the other little girl was sitting

with her. The other little girl was dressed something like Mary. I

didn't pay much attention to their dresses, but they looked sort of alike.

Mary's dress wasn't black. It was light colored. I know Epps since this

case came up. I could identify him. I never paid much attention to her

hat. It was light colored I reckon but I am not sure. It just seemed that

way.

RE-DIRECT EXAMINATION.

I identified Mary's body Sunday afternoon after the murder at the

undertaker's. There was no doubt about her being the same girl. I

knew her well by sight. She rode on my car lots.

RE-CROSS EXAMINATION.

I can't tell you whether that is the hat or not she wore.