Arizona republican., 1903-08-21
THE CRIME WAS LESSENED
William C. Moore Allowed to Plead
 Guilty to Simple Assault.

A funny turn was taken yesterday at the trial of William G. Moore, charged with stabbing R. w. Parker in a saloon Cn Tuesday night. Parker seemed unwilling to prosecute the case and all the witnesses said outside Of court that they did not really know what had happened. There was some trouble and a fight in which Moore had been knocked down but no man could be found who saw the knife. Moore said that he had none and he was unable to account for the incis- ions which were found to have been made in Parker's corporation when the excitement d.ed away. Moore. who is an old resident If the valley, is we'll liked and ha is the postmaster at tine station owned by him on the banks of the Agua Fria. The court unwilling to interfere with the postal service. which has already been greatly inter- fered with reelased the old man on his own recogniZance.
 In the meantime all who knew any thing about the affair including Park CT expressed a desire that things should be made as easy as possible for Moore. Before the case was called yesterday most of them had seen the court and the district attorney and there was a sort of an understanding that Moore would be let off with q light punishment.
 It was expected that the testimony would not be very damaging for so far none had leaked out: it had even been suggested by some of the witnesses that the wounds on Parker, had been made by the old mans finger nails. But there was one man who would never have subscribed to that theory if all the witnesses had sworn to it on stack of bibles; that was the physician who examined Parker after the quarrel Was over
 But when the case was begun in court the matter began at once b lock so serious that it was not clear to the court how Moore could be favored q great deal.
 Parker. testifying regarding the cut ting said tEat he saw the knife in the hands of Moore and all that the cross-examination could get him to take back was that he had not seen the handle: lie was sure though of the blade. F.. A. Murphy. an employe of the saloon. said that he heard Parker say: Hes got knife,' and looking he saw the knife in the hands of the old man. He and another man took it away from him.
 When the case began there was no attorney present for the defendant and it was not understood that there would be one. But while the first wit ness was being examined Captain AL exander came in and asked for con- tinuance. It was not granted and the attorney for the defendant proceeded 10 cross examine the witnesses.
 Tha testimony left no doubt of the presence of the knife in the affray. It was shown though that Parker had been the asgressor throughout and that before any cutting had been done he had knocked Moore down. It was after he got on his feet that the knife was seen. There was an element Of self-Gefense and though there was testimony sufficient to hold him to the grand jury it was reasonably certain that he could never be indicted. and if he were he could not be convicted.
 A proposition by the defense there fore. for the dismissal of the case and the bringing in of a charge of simple assault was entertained. The defend- ant pleaded guilty and was fined S25
 After it was all over Moore rait=rat- ed his statement that he had no knife when he went into the saloon. had none at the beginning of the fight and did not recollect that he had one at any time. He said he believed that the someone had given him knife as ne was rising from the floor after he had been knocked down.