Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-11
JURY'S VERDICT IS
MANSLAUGHTER
VELA ANXI0USLY AWAITS THE
DECISION
Young Mexican Will Receive Prison
Sentence of From Two to Ten
Years for Shooting
CoralIes

After deliberating more than three
hours yesterday afternoon a jury in
Judge Smiths department of the su-
perior court returned a verdict of
guilty of manslaughter" to the mur-
der charge brought against Ascension
Vela by District Attorney Fredericks
Vela, handsome and wealthy men,
Der of the Mexican colony at Chats
worth Park, appeared nervous through
out the trial yesterday. He tugged at
his dainty mustache and from time to
time turned aside and spoke hurriedly
t. his mother, who sat beside him.
Mother he would say will they
send me to PRISON." 1t was the ap-
peal of a frightened child, and the
young Mexican was depending heavily
on his aged parent for support. And
the mother gently stroked his hand
and smiled at him.
and laughed with his attorney, but all
the while the flush of excitement
showed in his cheek and it was evil
dent he was attempting to forget his
trouble
Back among the spectators sat the
accused mans father, Don Lopez Vela
of Sonora state. The old man had hur-
ried to Los Angeles in answer to the
telegram telling of the trouble of his
SUI. e5leIudy lie TeIuSGu To dcCOlIl-
pany his son within the court railing,
and it was the little old mother who
was with her boy. 1t had been a sad
home coming for Don Lopez. For
many months he had planned to come
to Los Angeles. Then the little family
was to have reunion and a grand
celebration and the old man thought
of that as he sat there and SObbed out
his misery.
Embraces His Father
AS the knock came upon the door of
the jury room Vela started and looked
toward the men who had heard his
case. The young man Strengthened as
the foreman started to read the verdict.
The color came ana vert in his face
and he seemed to hold his breath
The full import of the manSlaughter
verdict did not impress him; several
years in state prison would pass
quickly. 1t was with the relief of a
child that he turned and patted his
old mother on the back and then start
ed out in the hall with Deputy Sheriff
Harrington.
Outside the courtroom where none
could see the young man met his
father. The old man looked at him
and smiled through his tears. The ver-
dict had been explained to Don Lopez
anu Ills lcllCl was do & cat eto tildt VI
his little son.
Wide he held his arms and with a
scream of joy the boy dashed to him.
The deputy did not even attempt to
follow his prisoner.
Papa" cried the man, speaking in
the Spanish language, they are not
going to hang me; shall be saved"
Again and again the father and son
embraced and then Deputy Harrington
took the prisoner back to his cell.
The crime for which Vela was con-
victed was the shooting and killing of
Jesus Coralles during a drunken bout
at Chatsworth Park, August 5. "'
Castillo, member of the Mexican
colony, and Vela met by chance IN a
tent and fought. Vela drew his re-
volver and fired to scare Castillo and
the bullet killed Coralles, who was
hidden in the tent.
Vela will be sentenced Tuesday
morning. The maximum sentence for
the crime of manslaughter is ten years
Imprisonment and the minimum two
years. 1t is left to the discretion of the
court to fix the term