Semi-weekly herald., 1908-05-04
The MaSon=
Vanderweide Trial
(From Thursdays Daily)

'''f'' W tN''hs W tiC hiad vi pow
der that was used in firing the shoti
from the guns that had been brough
from the hardware store. His testi
mony showed that Lee Knapp. the
gun expert from Denver, was right II
ten cases out OF IL.
Mrs. Mason corroborated the story
OF her husband that he wanted TO Dor
row the gun In the saloon to take
home with him for protection because
he had quite a sum of money, by say
ing that she had given Mr.. Mason a
pocketbook that afternoon contain
ing $40 or $50.
George Shields. ranchman, testi-
fed that a neighbor OF his. Tom Hunt.
had informed him that Harper and
q Others were blasting and digging coal
in the vicinity. and Shields told Ma
son. The men had taken dinner at
Shields house and after hearing OF
The matter Mason went to Shields
house and asked Mrs. Shields for a
description of the men. Shields did
not tell Mason the men with Harper
We're government agents.
w. p. Reed, of Hesperus. was put
on the stand for the puI pose of con-
firming Vanderweide's claim that he
had bought the shotgun over year
ago. Witness said he had sold the
gun to Vanderweide and got $50 for
IL. Had also sold some shells.
Courado Steckles. ranchman, al
so confirmed this story.
John Roberts was placed on the
stand to confirm the story that Mason
aud Vanderweide frequently went
hunting. He testified that he knew OF
them going out for that purpose fre-
quently.
jim Struthers testified to having
gone to the entrance OF the mine TO
stand guard. Dunbar went too. Both
were armed. Their instructions were
that II the men came out they were
TO hold them prisoners until the sher-
III came. Expected 10 have them ar
rested for trespass. After they had
stood guard little while they bar
li'ddth INC doOi inc cnti ~
The mine. Then went 10 dinner. Here
Ihe prosecution asked the witness II
he would have kept the men In had
they come TO the door, and he said
no. Was then asked If he did not af-
terward tell Callaghan that he in
tended TO keep him in, and he said no.
On cross examination Struthers
admitted that Sheriff Clark had asked
him for the gun that the killing was
done with and he told him he didn't
have it-didn't know anything about
II. But the sheriff told him Mason
said he had il, and then witness ad-
mitted to the sheriff that he had
gun but did not know whether 1t was
not
Asked what Instructions Mason
gave about the body of Walker, Struth-
ers said he told them to see that no.
thing touched it. Witness was asked
by Mr.. Pulliam what he took his gun
along for when he went to the air
shaft-if he took 1t for protection, and
he answered no. Was asked what he
did take it along for, then, and he said
lie Just took it along" Was asked
by Mr.. Pulliam how he expected the
men to get out of the mine when he
had the door barricaded. Said they
might go out at the shaft if they were
good climbers
On cross examination Mason ad-
mitted he had had some drinks in
the saloon the night before the shoot
ing, but did not remember how many.
Had heard that some of the Italians
at the mine were hunting chickens on
Fort Lewis mesa.
AT this point Mr.. Pulliam wanted to
know whether Mason went over to
see who was doing the blasting or to
see who was hunting the prairie
chickens
In answer to questions by Mr.. Pu'
Ham MIR. Mason said he saw Tom TUT
ley at Porter Fuel office and Oh the
street the afternoon of the shooting.
Tulley wanted to get a statement and
Mason would not give him one. Said
a he told Tulley TO publish the truth.
Denied that he told Tulley there would
be II hereafter. and said he never told
him that he was walking up the gulch
when Walker called to him to halt.
When court convened this morning
Mason was called to the stand to
answer two or three questions pro
pounded by the district attorney.
Dan u. kight was the first witness
called by the defense, Said he was
son-in-law OF Mr.. Mason. Witness was
In sheriff's office when the sheriff re
turned from Hesperus. Heard Clark
ask Mason: What does this mean?
Mason replied that he didn't know
Clark asked, How did you know gov
ernment people were there?" Mason
said, Didn't know" Witness said
Clark replied in a sarcastic manner
Think you did" Witness said he