Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-01-03
4THE CROwNER'S QUEST"
How Nextss keIsss Cane to Ms
Deatb.

The coroner's inquest into the shoo,ing
ARRAY OF Christmas Day by which New
ton Nelson came 10 his death was held
Saturday afternoon. The jury was con-
posed Of Geosve Hammond. T. y. God
ding. ST.. W. c. Warren. James Busson.
L. X. Feniason and J. =. s. Goblin. -Four
witnes&es were sworn. There were also
called Doctors Pollock. Sigusan and Fsn-
ton. who - physicians testified 70 the
nature and effect of Neisoa's wound.
Jesse Allen testified In substance that
on Christmas day about p. M. Mitchell.
,rsssurant. Mitchell carried . banjo.
and he began thsumming the strings Of
the instrument while the other two pro-
ceesied to cat their sandwiches Soon
Newton Nelson, the deceased, came In.
He went directly toward Mitchell and
grabbing the banjo tried to take Il FROM
him. While Allen was out Of the room
the trouble between Nelson and Mitchell
became intensified. He heard vile ep-
ithcss and the banjo battered against the
wooden wall partition. Stepping into
the front room Allen saw Mitchell strike
at Nelson with the banjo. and immediate
~ after the firing OF u revolver bcgan.
Where the revolver was drawn from he
could not sec. and the shots were in such
rapid succession that lie could not bc sure
how many were fired, but though, there
were five. A moment later the two men
went down on the floor together. the re-
volyrr being in Mitchcil's hand. Mitchell
being ON hi. hack on the floor and Mel
son or top OF him. The rest of the party
had vacated the premises. NJ. 5. Martin
was soon in the restaurant, taking the rv-
-. u
took Mitchell In charge aud Martin and
some other. helped Nelson out. aud find.
ing lie was shot took him in search Of
doctor. He testified that Nelson and
Mitchell both showed signs Of having
been drinking and that Nelson carried u
willow covered bottle or dcmilohn when
lie entered the restaurant.
The testimony of other witnesses cor
roboraict tho above.
The inquest was adjourned for supper
and on their return the jury went into
Dawicy's rhostuary and viewed the body
Of Nelson. The ghassiy wound wa. es-
posed and It's course through the body
explained by undcrsakcr Sprinkler.
All thacc physicians agreed that suci,
q wound was inevitably fatal. Dr. Fen.
ton testified that he found tho man in a
bcasily state OF intoxicatiou, and that
while he was able to talk somewhat, there
vas nothing said that was .intciiigible
enough to lay before jury.
The Jury rendered = verdict which was
to the effect that tho man Newton Nelson.
now lying dead, came to his death from
= gunshol wound from gun In tho hands
OF ono Robert Mitchell.
On Monday afternoon Mitchell was
brought up from In Junta by Sheriff
Barr and given his preliminary trial be-
Tore Judge Knapp. The same witnesses
as appeared before the coroncr'x jury
were examined aud practically the same
evidence was adduccd. +
Mitchell l. another young man like to
his companions, Stephenson and Ed
wards. In years. and the pity Of Il was, as
he sat In the prisoners chair. that he did
not show mnch appreciation Of the grav-
ity Of the situation his Christmas hilarity
had brought him to. He was comnittcd
for trial al the next session Of the county
court.