Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-12
Testimony as to the Charac-
ter of Cook.
A Number of Witnesses State
That it Was Bad.
Evidence for the Prosecution Flatly
COntradicted.
nlanr. a., Ilnc srrnot
Corroborative Testimony Being Piled Ur
by the Observation-Disclosures in the
Course of the Trial.

murder of G. w. Walton and Dolores
Cook, in the Castac canon, on February
2Sth last, which has been pending be-
fore Judge Cheney and jury in depart
ment of the superior court since the
9th ult., is slowly drawing to close,
yesterday being almost entirely devoted
to the taking of testimony relative to
the reputation for,peace and quiet borne
by Cook during his lifetime.
The examination of the witness
Thomas MARBLE, who was called to the
stand just before court adjourned Tues
day afternoon, was resumed yesterday
morning. He stated that w. w. jenkins
and Dolores Cook had, to his knowledge,
been very intimate for five or six years
past. On every occasion in which
jenkins had taken his disputes into the
courts, Dime and Cook had appeared as
his witnesses. Several times jenkins,
in his capacity as justice of the peace,
had caused Chormicle and his wife to be
arrested and taken before him. When
they went upon the witness stand he at
tempted to bulldoze them by threaten
ing to send them to jail for contempt of
court, and he had done the same thing
to the witness.
Upon cross-eXamination the witness
stated that he had contributed $1O0 to
defray expenses for the defense That
he bad done so because he wanted to see
justice done. Not only himself, but the
balance of the settlers in that section
had done the same thing.
Being recalled, the witness stated that
in company with several other gentle
men he made careful inspection from
the point where Walton and Cook were
shot and found that it would be an utter
impossibility for person to be seen in
side of the house through the window,
provided he stood back the distance that
would be required by person having a
gun to his shoulder, the end of the bar
rel only protruding six inches from the
window.
James b. Rhodes, brother-in-law of
Jenkins, who is employed on the New
hall ranch, knew Cook in his lifetime,
and never saw him with weapon of
any kind. Shortly before the shooting
he stated that he had a conversation
with Jenkins, but the prosecution OBJ
jected to the introduction of this testi-
mony.
The defense stated that they desired
to prove by the witness that Jenkins at
that time made the remark that Cook
was 50 under his control that he would
run his neck into halter if Jenkins so
ordered, but the court sustained the OBJ
lection, and the witness was excused.
At this juncture the court adjourned for
the noon recess.
At the afternoon session John Powell,
OF Newhall, stated that upon one occa-
sion he had a conversation with Cook,
and that he asked him why he did not
leave the Chronicles and Jenkins to fight
out their own land troubles. Cook re-
piled: 81 am a friend of Jenkins, and
am going to have that land if | have to
kill the Chormicles and Gardeners to get
it." Witness further said that Cooks
reputation for peace and quiet was bad
George M. Gardener was called by the
prosecution for the purpose of impeach-
ment. He was asked if he did not tell
some parties that he knew nothing of
the shooting until he heard of it in New
hall some time after. He stated that he
did deny seeing the shooting to certain
persons, and his reason for so doing was
that they belonged to the Jenkins gang
and he did not care to tell them what he
knew or what he had seen.
Michael A. Powell, of this city, but
formerly resident of the Castac for
nine years, had known Cook for fifteen
years he generally carried a revolver ;
and his reputation for peace and quiet
was decidedly bad.
Doroteo Lopez, who resides at Cor
mans station, stated that he was at
Miguel Duron's house, in Newhall
shortly before the shooting, when Cook
called there, and talked to Duron on the
back porch. The witness then corrob-
GRATED the testimony of former wit
nesses as to the conversation that was
held.
John T. Wilson, justice of the peace of
San Fernando, and superintendent of
the Porter Land and Water Company's
ranch, testified that he knew Cook, and
saw him at his own Office shortly before
the shooting. During the conversation
between them, the witness remarked
that he understood the land trouble was
all settled, to which Cook replied: 81
will fight as long as | live" Cooks
reputation at San Fernando for peace
and quiet was not good.
James II. Kearns, constable of Justice
Wilson's court, knew Cook during his
lilO LII iOpultsolOil IVA PS1CC ollt
quiet was bad.
On cross-examination Kearns stated
that four or five days after the shooting
he went to the scene of the tragedy, and
met Sheriff Riley, of Ventura, there
He experimental with Riley, and when
the sheriff stood at the place. where Wal
toms body was found, he was unable to
see him from the interior of the cabin,
where he stood.
p. H. Gavan, OF Newhall, stated that
Cooks reputation for peace and quiet
was very bad.
Jesus Tapia, who had lived within
four miles of Cook for five and half
years past, made a similar statement, as
did also his brother, Juan Tapia, who
used to live there three years ago.
Coroner Meredith was then called, and
testified to having held an inquest upon
the bodies of Walton and Cook on March
LIST last. He was then questioned as to
Dimes testimony about the number of
pistols picked up on the scene of the
tragedy but no foundation having been
laid for the questions, the court sustained
the objection of the prosecution and
ruled it out
Joaquin Martinez, resident of the
Castac, knew Cook in his lifetime, and
saw him at the gate leading to section