Arizona republican., 1894-05-24
SORTILLON ON TRIAL.
Yuma Bill Arrives in Time to
Save the Case.
Vera, the Mother of the Buried
babe, Falls to Remember the
Evidence in the Former Trial.

The second trial of Sortillon, for MUIR
der. began yesterday in district court.
The interpreter, Yuma Bill, who has
DELAYED the proceedings two days was
brought in and if he had not appeared
yesterday morning the accused would
probably have been free man last
night.
The crime with which Sortillon is
charged is said to have been committed
at Mohave reservation on the river
several miles above Yuma in Novembe
of 1892.
The prisoner was living with Yuma
woman, Vera, who gave birth to babe
which was Immediately murdered, by
being buried alive. 1t is charged that
the deed was performed by Jose,
brother OF Vera, at the instigation of
Sortlllon, who said it WAS not his but
that its father was an American. Jose
was tried and convicted at Yuma for
the crime and was sentenced to the
penltentiary.
Sortillon denies any completely in the
burial of the babe, but on the contrary
says he interceded to save its life. He
was present at its birth and when Ma
ha, the mother OF Vera, was severing
the umbiiical cord in such a manner
as to insure the death of the child, he
lnterfered and thus prevented a murder
at that time. He was unable to save it
further or prevent its burial by Ma-ha
and Jose.
Sortillon at this trial is represented
by Messrs. KIbbey & Israel The pris-
oner was seated by mis- sister, a very
handsome young lady. and seemed to
take only a passing and not well sus
tanned interest in the proceedings. At
times be was amused and at other
times appeared to be worn with ennui.
At any rate ne offered no appearance OF
any strong personal interest in the is
sue OF the trial.
The first witness on the stand was the
mother of the murdered babe. Her
story set forth the incidents OF the MUIR
der as are briefly described above. Her
manner was animated and expressive
of strong feeling against Sortillon.
The cross examination was rigid and
occupied nearly the entire afternoon.
One answer to question by the defense
was good specimen of Indian sarcasm.
She was asked in what position she was
at the time of the birth. Her reply
through the interpreter was: "Mohave
women do not run around or stand up
when they have children" Sortillon
Joined in the merriment which followed
the answer.
The witness broke up badly under
the long and rigid cross examination
by Judge Israel upon one point, that
ralotfDy RI
Muzzy, dressmaker at Yuma, to whom
it is alleged she had said 81 am going
to Pn@aix to testify against Chimilee
(the Indian name for Sortillon) and
send him to the penitentisry for twenty
years; he had Jose sent there and he
called my family dog"
At the other trial she denied thu con-
versation but said she had bought q
ready made dress of Mrs. Muzzy. Yes
terday she denied the testimony at the
former tIial said she had not bought a
ready made dresa but had bought the
stuff and made it up herself. The ques-
lions and answers from the sBeno-
grapher's notes on this point were read
TO her and she denied that such ques-
tions had been asked her and that she
had so answered.
The result of the examination shows
the entire unreiability OF Mohave or
Apache on the witness stand when
swayed by revenge or prejudice. No
other witnesses than Vera were ex-
amined yesterday.
The case against Geo. 7. Beckers
charged with a violation of the Ed.
munds act was dismissed.
On the territorial side a decree Of
divorce on the ground of desertion was
granted in the case OF Hug uonot VS.
Huguonot.