The herald., 1898-03-27
LEE HILLS STORY
HOW PARVIN CAME TO DEATH
AT HIS HANDS
The Defendant Tells His Story Of the
Fatal Affray-The Evidence
. +.u Is Concluded

VENTURA, March 28.-Testimony was
concluded at 2 p. m. today in the case
of Lee Hill, who has been on trial for
the murder of Theodore Parvin, who
died from the effects of blow from
a club in the hands Of Hill on February
Sth. The argument commences Monday.
The prosecution has made out q strong
case, and a verdict of manslaughter is
probable.
A larger crowd than usual was at the
court house yesterday and today to hear
the murder trial of Lee Hill, every seat
being taken.
Mrs. Parvin, the wife 1.-THE man who
met death at Hills hands, was on the
stand yesterday, and stated that she
heard Hill order her husband from the
ranch before he struck the fatal blow.
Attorney Ewing, for the defense, worked
a long time concerning her husbands
position in the corral before the alterca-
tion. The attorneys wrangled for quite
while over this apparently unimport-
ant proposition. The. club supposed to
have been used was offered In evidence,
but was objected to, but the objection
was overruled. During the examination
Mrs. Parvin broke out into hysterical
sobbing several times, and on one acca-
| sion was led from the court room.
Today was mostly occupied by the tes.
timony of r. l.. Hill, the defendant in the
case.
According to this testimony on De-
cember /, 1897, Parvin gave note of
| $1O8O for property Hill sold to him, and
note for $700 as advance payment OF
| the rent for the first year on the Hill
place. These notes were secured by a
crop mortgage, in which all the crops
raised on the place were to be given to
Hill and wife; also chattel mortgage
in which all the farm machinery on the
Hill place, seven head of horses, one
tanning mill and all the hay in the barn.
amounting to about twenty tons, were
under mortgage.
On February 1st, according to Hill, he
met Mr.. Parvin at the Saticoy depot
with six sacks of corn. Parvin told Hill
he was going to sell it. Hill said he
shouldn't do that, as he had no right to
sell mortgaged property, the corn as
we'll as other crops on the Hill place
being mortgaged to him, r. L. Hill. Par
vim considered that he had a perfect
right to sell such mortgaged property Ii
advice Of District Attorney Poplin, who
said he might be able to buy Parvin of
by paying him $3.50 or $500 for his labor
from December 1, 1897, to February 1
1898. Hill was not willing to do this
but considered $100 fair price for the
two months work. On the 5th Of Feb
ruary Hill made the proposition of pay.
ing Parvin 500 for his work, provided
that he would return all the papers ir
his possession, and BY such return re.
lease the mortgages. Parvin refused te
| do 1t for less than $3.50. No definite un.
derstanding was reached on that day.
| On the Sth Of February Hill called
again, and found Parvin constructing a
wire fence. Hill asked Parvin If he had
thought of the proposition made to him
a few days previously. Parvin sai5 he
had, but was still Of the same mind;
1 would accept nothing less than $3.50.
| Hill then said that he would have tc
abide by the original contract and culti-
vate the land so that crop could be pro-
duced. Parvin answered that the land
couldn't very well be cultivated until
some rain fell. Hill said that II Parvir
wouldn't cultivate it he would try tc
get authority to put men on the ground
to cultivate 1t.
| Parvin replied: "And I'll put any mar
OF the ground as quick as you put them
| on" Nf
"well. aid Hill, IT don't think you're
doing the right thing by me. and don'i
know - you intend to- !,