, 1897-03-06
PLEA OF TRAMMELL.
DEFENDANT CLAIMS THE KILLING
OF STABLER WAS IN SELF
DEFENSE.
Large Crowd in Attendance and In
terest is Increasingly Grinning
Skeleton in CONFESSIONAL Wit
nesses for the Defense Were Elk
amined.

Yesterday was the fifth day OF tn
Trammell murder trial and the cour
room was more crowded than any pre-
vious day of the trial. says the Cheyenn
Tribune. A large number of ladies wer
present and were eager listeners to tn
proceedings.
The greater part OF the morning Wa
consumed by Mr.. Stoll in his opening
statement for the defense. He announc
ed the theory of his client to be self
defense, and he stated that the evidenc
produced would disclose that Trammel
was justified in killing Stabler.
1t was that the testimon,
would show unmistably that the de
PENDANT possessed a good reputation fol
peace and quietude in both Texas anC
Alabama. 1t was further stated tina
Stnbler, on the contrary, was OF a quar-.
relsome. v!ndictive nature, and thai he
had. on several occasions, directly
threatened to take the life of Trammell
'S'Nio feall Clo Auu luheu UldSS De-
tween the men, and in each Of them
Stabler had been the aggressor. He
used violent language always towards
the defendant.
The story of the fatal day, as Mr.. Stoll
claimed it occurred, was about as fol-
lows: Trammell had expressed a desire
to be changed to another run. but had
hesitated about making the request from
the officials. Up to 1:25 on Oct. II he
did not know that his run was 10 be
changed. He had told Conductor Wood
mansee that he would kill Stabler.
Somewhere about 1870 Murphy relieved
him at the round house and at the re-
quest of the latter, Trammell went up
TO the east end Of the yards with the
engine, he riding on the pilot. McFar-
lane, the fireman, running the engine.
On the way up, Stabler jumped on the
engine, and, in conversation with Nc
Farlane, said something to him about
'Trammeli's looking down the barrel Of
a forty-four." Previous to this time
Stabler had seen the defendant and had
used abusive language. As Trammell
left the engine, at the east end OF the
yards, on the way west to the caboose.
McFarlane told him to look out, as Stab
Ter carried a gun.
When Trammell reached the caboose
west OF the viaduct he found that he
had left his gloves on the engine, and
taking the balance OF his working
clothes under his arm, he started back.
He met Stabler, and after Il few words
Stabler being very abusive, the defend
ant called Stabler "a damned liar"
Stabler retorted angrily, and, making a
step forward, moved his right hand Jack
to his hip pocket. Trammell believed
his life was in danger, and fired twice.
This, in substance, was the story up
on which the defendant will rely.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Stoll's re-
marks Engineer Patten was called 10
the stand. being accompanied by a map
OF tho Union Pacific yards, which he
had drawn and which he compared with
the map presented by the prosecution.
The maps differed only in that the scale
other 20 feet to the inch.
DR.. Wyman took the stand and stated
that he knew Frederick Stabler, having
called at his house several times on pro
fessional business. The deceased, he
said, was about five feet seven inches in
height. The doctor then explained that
there was nothing to divert the coarse
of the bullet, which was fired into Stab
ler's body until it reached the spinal VOL
umn. 1t had entered the body. he aid,
between the eighth and ninth ribs, pass
ing through the liver.
DR.. Barber was called to the stand
and stated that the bullet which killed
Stabler had struck nothing during it's
course. The doctor was asked to pro-
duce a skeleton and explain, with the
aid OF a pointer, the course taken by the
bullet after entering Stabler's body,
which he did. When the grinning excl
eton was produced a number OF ladies
among the spectators turned their heads
to one side and some actually shivered.
DR.. Barber placed the skeleton in a lean
ing position and In answer to questions
stated that Stabler's body must have
been in about the same position when
shot. Judging from the course Of the
bullet. The cross-examination showed
that Stabler was considerably lower than
Trammell when the shot was fired.
Arthur f. Spaulding was then called
TO the stand and testified to seeing the
defendant the day OF the murder
Spaulding was on the Alert hose wagon
and saw Trammell running, waving his
hat. etc. Trammell stopped and said
There is no fire, but a man has been
shot" Trammell asked the direction O
the jail, which place he seemed dead
anxious to reach.
Rufus Stabler was called. Mr.. Stol,
asked, Did you know Of the relations
existing between your brother and the
defendant" Stabler answered NO.
%whereupon Mr.. Stoll asked, But have
you not stated previous to this time
that you did know Of the relations OK.