Weekly Arizona journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1903-1908, 1907-06-05
(rYom Wednesdays Daily.)

killing of Louis Andre, December ii,
1905, was in doubt for just twenty
minutes after the jury retired to form.
ulatc its verdict, il this morning a free
man, the jury, yesterday afternoon,
having returned verdict Of aequittal
in the short space Of twenty minutes
after its retirement. Four ballots were
taken, the first resulting 10 to 9 70.
aequittal, the second II to I for nc.
4uittal, the third tnc same, and the
fourth. acauittai.
Although Michael Coyle swore point.
edly that he was behind Andre when
he latter received his death wound mt
The hands of Sparks, and saw Sparks
shoot down the Frenchman without n
word or overt act on toe part Of the
deceased, apparently the jury preferred
70 believe the story the defendant told
Of the shooting from the witness stand.
After the defense had called several
witnesses at yesterday mornings SEES.
sion, Sparks. the defendant, was placed
upon the stand in his own behalf.
lie testified he knew Louis Andre by
sight as the "Big Frcnchman," and
was also acquainted with the general
reputation Of the deceased for peace
and quctude, watch. he said, was not
good. On the night Of the shooting de-
HApAa,t
playing cards in the Wellington saloon.
The other two players quit, leaving
defendant and Andre in the game. AZ
ter n short time Andre accused lie.
fea,lant Of "fouling" his hand. DE.
PENDANT admitted his hand was fouled,
and later, when Andre drew, he fouled
his own hand, forfeiting the game TO
defendant. When defendant called
Andres attention TO the fact that he
lad fouled his hand, Andre pushed his
chair back and struck defendant three
or four heavy blows on the face and
head, and making his way around the
table, was continuing the assault when
bystandcrs interfered. Andre then went
IN the direction of tne bar while sew.
ersl others assisted in getting n basin
Ut water and towel and washing the
blood from witness face. While wit
nsss' face was being washed, Andre re.
turned and renewed the fight, calling
witness names and continually telling
him "I1 get you, you -----." "Hc
came mt me like mad bull for the sec.
ead time" said defendant, Shaking
Ais Asts, but was prevented from do
Jag further damage than knocking me
from q chair, when ne left, saying I'm
- you, you -----, the first time
nest you"
"When I had my face washed ! left
The saloon, very much frightened An
dHs was standing near the bar, and
walked around him 20 avoid meeting
hin. ! went 10 my room in the Palace
Astsl, whore I lit an alcohol stove
warmed some water and patched the
cuts on my. face, and took some medi'
cine, a. ! was under the doctor a caro-
1t that time. After that remembered
That had left my ove,coat in the Well.
ibgton saloon, besides ~ worth OF
chips, no ] picked up an old gun that
l found once, that was lying on the
bureau, and pu: 1t in my pocket for
the purpose OF protecting myself.
came down the stairway to the side
walk and did not pass through the
Palace saloon, and when | reached n
point on the sidewalk ! looked up and
noticed man coming towards me-
whom | recognized as Andre, as soon
as he said I've got YOU now, you
--- ----, and Immediately rusaed at
me, with his head down. ! backed up
against the railing in front of tho
Palace saloon doors, which | hit with
my side, and he still kept coming di.
rectly at me, ! drew my gun and fred
my intention being TO stop him and
keep him from beating me up any more.
When ] was backing away from him
was trying to get into the Palace
saloon through the doors. lie WINS with.
IN four feet Of me, VITA his head down,
when shot. He raised up to his full
height. appearing TO make n step OF
two backward, and fell 10 the sidewalk.
was standing about q foot or eighteen
inches from the railing and about one
foot north Of the end Of IL when Billy
Hoffman came out Of the Palace saloon
almost Immediately and putting his
hand on my arm, said, MY God, kid,
what has happcncdf ] pointed to the
body OF Andre, and taen started OF in