Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-16
AGED CHAMPION WITNESS TO
FRATRICIDE
AFFAIR OF HONOR, HE SAYS
Prisoner Charged With Staying HIS
Brother Takes the stand in His
Own Behalf-Much Inter-
est Taken in Case

its feuds and duels, and it's fearless
men, was vividly portrayed yesterday
in Judge Smiths department of the
superior court when c. G. Champion,
who stands charged with the murder
of his brother, Thomas d. Champion,
closed his fight for freedom.
Every available inch of standing
room was taken in the court room,
and the throng of curious onlookers
listened almost breathlessly to the tes-
timony.
In so far as the evidence was con-
cerned, it was Champion against
Champion, and few outsiders ventured
to enter the lists in behalf of either
faction.
Intense and dramatic was the spec
tacle presented when Thomas Cham
pion, the father of the defendant and
the deceased, took the stand and testi-
fled in behalf of his living son, who
stands charged with fratricide.
Aged Father Testifies
Broad shoudered and of sturdy
physique, old Thomas Champion pre-
sented the picture of the Alabama
mountaineer that he is, and in an un-
faltering tone of voice he told of the
troubles between his sons.
He asserted that he had always en-
deavored to maintain peace in the
Champion household, but at times this
appears to have been almost impos-
sible.
In speaking of his deceased son the
old man told the jury that he had al
ways been quiet in his manner, though
fearless of heart, and always ready
to do battle for his rights.
Zone day Thomas said to me, He
has been after me for these three years,
and now, by I am after him. They
uuarreled and Thomas dared Lum' to
come out Of the house, but I would
not let him go, and told him that he
could not leave the house except over
my dead body" testified the witness.
Challenged to Duel
In a dramatic manner he told the
judy that on one occasion Thomas
Champion had advanced toward his
house and, after removing his coat, had
challenged the defendant to measure
swords with him on the field of honor.
In answer to a question propounded
TO him by one of the jurors, the old
man was unable to explain the cause
of the trouble, other than to say it was
a southern feud, and Thomas D.
Champions disposition was such that
he was unable to discriminate between
his relatives and strangers when af-
fairs of honor pressed themselves up
on him for settlement.
C. c. Champion, the defendant, next
took the stand in his own behalf, and
told the jury of the duel in which his
brother was slain.
He told the jury he had not seen
his brother from the time that they
were boys together in the mountains
of Alabama until the deceased came to
his home in Arizona.
Several years ago in front of the
house of the deceased Champion, the
defendant testified, Thomas called
to him to ask him If 'he was after him
with a gum" and added that if he was
he (meaning Thomas D. Champion)
would fix" him. At this Thomas D.
Champion ran into the house and re-
turned with an automatic rifle, but his
wife and daughter prevented a dis
charge of the weapon.
1T was standing in the road and I
spread out my arms like this defend
ant arose from the witness stand and
held out his arms, and called to him:
Here am; shoot and then 1 turned
and went into my house."
The witness then told of trouble
which took place on the following day,
which led up to the trouble which re-
suited in the death of Thomas Cham
pion.
II never wanted to fight the man or
hurt him, because 1 knew what it
would mean, that one or the other of
us would go down." explained the de-
fendant.
Trouble Between Brothers
On December 27, the day of the
tragedy, the defendant told the jury,
he saw his brother twice, and on
both occasions it appears that the men
ndu liOupiC'
II saw Thomas about o'clock that
evening and he stopped near my stone
wall. I walked out to the wall and
said, ID, l would like to have talk
with you but he replied, You go to
49,, you're - coward
The witness then stepped down from
the stand and illustrated the action Of
his deceased brother just prior to the
fatal shot.
Champion told his brother that he
wanted peace, but according to the de-
fendant's testimony Thomas replied:
Il want to whip you or settle it with
a gun"
Il knew what had to be done" said
the defendant; Il knew my life was in
danger. l went In and got my gun.
lContinued Oh Page TwO.l