Amador ledger., 1907-04-05
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.
Spiro Gurovich for the Killing Of
Jesus Acuneo.

The trial of Spiro Gurovich for tn
murder OF Jesus Acuneo was com
menced in the superior court on Wed
nesday morning. The prosecution
was conducted by district attorney
Vicini. W. q. Snyder, assisted by hl.
brohter, Jake Snyder OF San Andreas
appeared for the defendant. But
little difficulty was experienced in
securing jury, the panel being com
plete early Wednesday afternoon.
The following named persons were
sworn in to try the issue: James
loop, j. ID. Nichols, ID. Glannini, Fl.
G. Hamrick, d. Gilchrist, N. Horn
berger, M. s. Carbine, E A. Laurence,
j. L.. Tubbs, Louis Miller, and w.
o. Green.
The following witnesses we're ex-
amlned for the prosecution: Il. K.
Norman, ID. b. Kay, Mike Marston,
John Raylia, L. s. TuttIe, Drs. Endi-
colt and W.. A. Norman, who con-
Quoted the post mortem examination,
and Lucio Aouneo, son of the de-
ceased, who was the only witness
of the tragedy, which occurred on the
9th of September, 1906, midway
between the defendants cabin, and
the home OF the deceased, near the
Black hills, about mile east of Dry
town. Deceased had lived there for
many years, with his wife and family.
Defendant had also lived thereabouts
for over twenty years. Defendant
lived alone, except that he harbored
a numerous colony of dogs. These
dogs were a source of annoyance to
the deceased, and were really the
contributing cause of the homicide.
Acuneo was 81 years old at. the
time of his death, native of Mexico.
The, story of. the crime as.vdetailed
by Acuneo, a young man Of 80 odd
years, was as follows: On the after
noon of Septem ber 9, about 2 o'clock,
deceased. accompanied by his son,
left home to go to DIytown. They
went Dy the regular wagon road,
which necessltated their passing by
the defendants cabin, the two places
being about 300 yards distant. When
opposite the cabin of Gurovich, the
elder Acuneo, seeing Gurovich IN the
front of his cabin, called to him from
the roadway, complaining that his
dogs had killed his chickens. De-
fendant thereupon called him aviIe
name, and denied that the dogs had
killed any of his chickens. Defend
ant got out his shotgun at this time,
and aimed it twice at deceased, but
did not shoot. The two then pro-
ceeded on their way to the little
village. They started to make the
home trip together about 5 o 'clock in
the afternoon. Before reaching the
Gurovieh place the deceased picked
up a couple of rocks from the road
way, to protect himself from the dogs
IN case they should attack. The dogs
were mean, and would bite. There
were l3 of them. Nearing the de-
tendant's cabin, pack of six dogs
ran out barking at the deceased. The
younger Acuneo was some distance
ahead. and did not arm himself with
rocks. Deceased threw rock at one
of the most aggressive of the CANNES, |
and missed him.
Gurovich, who was out in his vine
yard. picked up rock and threw it
at Acuneo and missed him. Acuneo
returned the stone salute, and also
missed Gurovich. The defendant |
thereupcn went to. his cabin, and
returned Immediately with a double
barrelied shotgun and from behind
the grape vines, standing about four
feet high, deliberately flied at the
deceased. Acuneo fell dead in the |
roadway. Defendant was about Is |
feet from deceased when he fired the |
fatal shot. Lucio and his father
stopped in the roadway during the
time that Gurovich went to his cabin !
for the gun. They did not proceedI
on their homeward way, wanting to
know what Gurovich would do. After
the shooting L4ucio ran to the Ere
mont mine to send word to the
sheriff's office by telephone.
The testimony of Drs. Erdicott and
Norman went to prove that the gun
shot wounds were necessarily fatal.
The aorta, or main artery leading
from the heart, was found punctured
by several shots, and death resulted
from hemorrhage from these ipunc-
lures. The shot was birdshot, about
No. Z. About fifty shot marks we're
found on the body. Each eyebaIl has
been perforated, and the face was
pitted with the missiles. The vital
organs were found in normal cen
dition otherwise.
The case in chief of the prosecution
was finished before noon yesterday.
In the afternoon the defense opened
their case. Only two witnesses were
examined on that side.
A. j.. Carley was called to prove
that he met the defendant about 5
O'Clock on the fatal afternoon. He
was then cutting wood several hun
dred yards from defendants home.
This was before the shooting. Saw
him again that evening between six