The Glenwood post., 1906-12-01
BUSY WEEK IN
DISTRICT COURT
Jury Disagreed on Cooley Case---
piunkett SenienCed---Duff AC-
quilted Of nurder Charge
Scene in Courtroom
D THE BEALS CASE NOW ON TRIAL

The most important cases in the
district court have been disposed of
since the last issue of the Post When
last weeks paper was printed the case
of o. W. Cooley had been started
The case wherein Cooley was charged
with rape WAS iried behind closed
doors The case was ably argued on
both sides and given to the jury Sat
urday evening. After being out near
ly all night they reported to Judge
Shumate that they could not agree.
Whether District Attorney Gentry
will try the case again is not known.
In the case of the People versus
Plunkett, the defendant entered a plea
of guilty aud threw himself on the
mercy of the court. Plunkett was
man of several aliases and in the
neighborhood of New Castle posed as
DR.. Bradley and claimed to be an ex-
pert on fruit trees and the diseases
peculiar thereto.
His oftense consisted in procuring
at Grand Valley horse and buggy,
driving same to Grand Junction and
selling the outfit.
The fellow told the judge that he
bought bottle of Grand Valley whis-
key which he drank and he said after
that everything was dream to him
and he said he didn't know what he
did while he was dreaming, Judge
Shumate thought he would let PUNK
ett finish his dream at Canon City
Y and gave him from two to three years
Z to complete the job. This is one of
the penalties OF drinking Grand Val
ley whskey according to Plunkett' 8
story.
The case of the People vs. James
This was murder case, Duff being
charged with numbering Otto H.
York about two months ago. The
case was peculiar and contrary to the
majority of murder cases in that the
widow of the murdered man appeared
as a witness for the defense instead
of the prosecution. During the first
day of the tlial this woman created
sensation in court by shouting you re
a liar'' to one of the witnesses as he
was repeating to the jury some of the
statements whicn York had made to
him concerning his wife. Judge
Shumate at once ordered the woman
put out of the courtroom, and she
WAS led out by UndersheriH Divelbiss.
AT the close of the day Judge Shu'
mate was very positive in his state
ment that he would not permit any
more such conduct saying that people
who could not behave themselves
would not be allowed to remain in the
courtroom. Judge N )onan apollo
gized for his witness and there was
no further trouble.
In this case the defendant admitted
the killing. but claimed self defense.
The testimony showed that York came
home drunk, broke in the door and
started to beat his wife, pastime
which he indulged in quite frequent
ly Duff was calle1 by neighbors and
checked York in his brutal diversion.
Then he went to his house nearby
took his gun and returned to the place
of the trouble. Mrs. York had sought
refuge in the house of MI. Wuensch.
neighbor, and when York was de
MED admittance he started down
town. Duff. with his gun in mis-
hand, followed, claiming he was going
to call an officer. AT the foot of Min
ter avenue York turned and struck
Duff on the head with a rock The
two clinched and then began life
and death struggle for the revolver.
In the scutfle the revolver was dis
charged three times, each bullet strik-
ing York, two of the wounds at least
being sufficiently serious to cause
death. Judge Noonan, attorney for
Duff, made good plea for his client.
setting forth the character of the de-
ceased which to certain extent had
been established by the testimony.
and claimed that whether ill self
defense or accidental, Duff was jus
tilted in the killing The jury found
the defendant not guilty.
The case uf the People vs.. Ross
Huffman was tried Wednesday. This
was a case in which the defendant
was charged with horse stealing, it be-
ing alleged that he drove stock off of
the range in the Bitter creek country.
]. 8. Carnahan OF Grand Junction
defended Huffman. and did 1t SO we'll