East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-09-20

At the opening of the defense's tes-
timony in the Rhonimus case this af-
ternoon Rhonimus himself was plae-
ed on the stand. Carefully and in
detail he told of the occurrences the
afternoon of the killing.
He first told of having met Myers
and young Roberts. He said Myers
got off his horse to tighten his cinch.
According to the old man, Myers
horse had peculiar spots on its head.
He Indignantly denied that a horse
exhibited outside the court house to-
day was Myers mount. He then told
of quarreling with Myers about the
horse that had been shorn of its tail.
Myers had denied having sheared the
horse and called the old man a liar
and threatened to tie him to tree.
AS he was leaving Myers threw
rocks at him, some striking him and
some hitting his horse. The old
man then went home to do some
work. While he had his horse sad
died he thought he would go and
bring in his horses.
On going up the hill where Myers
| and Roberts were he found to his
surprise that they were driving off a
band of horses in which were several
Of his animals. According to Rho
minus he could easily have been seen
by Myers and the boy, as he neared
them. When he came up to them
Roberts took to flight, while Myers
dismounted and pulled his pistol.
He fired shot. which broke my
horses leg, though I didn't know it
then,' said he. He then fired sec
ond shot which struck my leg. A
moments pause occurred and l had
time to fire a shot to prevent a third
from him. He then went down over
the hill and / never saw him again"
At Judge Fees instance the old
man then told more in detail of the
tight and the incidents conneote&
with it. He said he could only see
Myers head and shoulders above his
horse and saddle. He said .e cuuId
easily tell Myers saddle and stutlv
claimed that the one In evidence was
not the one ridden by his enemy.
Did you expect to find those men
up there?" asked Judge Fee.
mo; l thought they were oyer
there" indicating another place on
the map, rounding up cattle, instead
OF trying to steal my horses" was the
answer.
According to Rhonimus 1t was his
custom to carry his shotgun when he
rode. But he was not expecting trou-
hle on the day he killed Myers. He
said If he had been hunting hors
thieves he would have loaded hin
gun with buckshot instead of tho
number six shot he did use. Accord
ing to the old man not a word was
said before the shooting began.
ut was hurry up fight" he said
Myers was in hurry and 1 had to
hurry, too" said the old man. There
was reason for his hurry: it was a
thiefs cowardice"
After the fight the old man
climbed back upon his horse with
an effort. and looked around to see
If the thieves had come back. he said.
But his horse could not move and
he got off, dragging himself down
the hill. Moody and Rhodes then
came along and they helped him on
to another horse. Willis Pee then
came along and he went down to
PEGS place.
AT 8 O'Clock Rhonimus was still ON
the stand.
Forenoon Session.
The witnesses called by the state
this forenoon were the same ones
who testified yesterday. Both Drs
Cole and Vincent were recalled and
questioned further as to the condition
of Myers body when the autopsy
was held.
Since last evening DIR. Cole had
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