Continuing the trial of Frank Laswell, charged with the murder of George Seaver in 1887. This will conclude the court actions. All the people who had seen the murder had testified; doctors had made their reports. 26 Sept 1888: Barren Circuit Court, Commonwealth of Kentucky vs Frank Laswell. Discussion was held on the absence of W H PACE and T R MINOR. Minor hadn't been summoned as a witness; he was supposedly in Whitley County and no subpoena had been issued to him. When he was summoned, he was not found. Laswell stated that Minor (spelled Miner at times) could prove that a short time before Geo. Seaver was killed that Seaver was in Glasgow and that he and Minor were taking a drink together. Seaver told the witness that he intended to take his defendant's pistol? with a double barreled shot gun. Laswell believed he can procure his attendance at the next term of the court if given authority. Laswell also said that W H PACE can prove that a few days before the killing he had heard Seaver say that he intended to do the same as above. Pace had told Laswell that he had better watch Seaver. Pace had been summoned but was not in attendance because he was sick at home in bed. The statements of Minor and Pace will be true when known; both men were absent without consent. The above was sworn to by Laswell 26 Sept 1888 and attested by Jas B MARTIN, Clerk of Barren County Court. Commonwealth vs Frank Laswell for the charge of murder. Laswell came by his attorney and the County Attorney, G M Laswell. It was ordered that Nehemiah DARTER's deposition be taken and read as evidence. The file or "packet" ended here and the verdict is missing. However this murder haunted Laswell the rest of his life and, as noted at the beginning of this series, he killed another man and later his son, Frank Jr. did the same. For a little background: Neither Seaver or Laswell's name appear on the 1860 Barren Co census and no marriage is found in Barren Co for Laswell. There was a John Laswell who married Elizabeth Backs? here in 1802 and a William Laswell who married Nancy Reed in 1811. George Seaver is also buried at Glasgow Municipal Cemetery with dates showing 1 April 1838 - 8 Jan 1887. Beside him is Mattie B Seaver - 29 Jan 1871 - 18 Oct 1873, daughter of G Seaver and F. Seaver. F Seaver would be his wife Fannie Seaver - 1844-1921. There is also a A J Seaver shown 19 Feb 1868 - 5 Sept 1898. I've already given the dates and burials of the Laswells. If someone wants to do a little background on Frank Laswell or George Seaver, or read through newspaper reports at the time, it might be an interesting project and I'll post it to the list (or you can). Sandi Colonel Sandi Gorin President, South Central KY Historical & Genealogical Society Sandi's website: http://www.gensoup.org/gorin/index.html Sandi's puzzlers: http://www.gensoup.org/gorinpuzzles/index.php