The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-16
RuFAS WHEATLY NEVER SPOKE TO ROBBINS UNTIL MOMENT
 BEFORE KILLING.
Does Not Know Why He Called Him a Liar, Which Provoked Blow. and Led to the Double
 Tragedy.

Rufas Wheatley, defendant. Nick Whcatley. jointly indicted with him for the double killing of Bud Robbins and Murt Waycasey, and Herbert Wheatley, young son of the defendant who was with him the night of the. tragedy in South Hot Springs, were principal witnesses for the defense in iihe trial which was more than half closed at the court house last night
 Interest centefed chiefly in the story that Rufas wheatley told to the jury, It was this brother that fired the three shots which almost in d flash snuffe cut the lives of the men with whose murder both broth cts are answering in circuit court. He did not make as good witness Lefore the jury as did Nick Wheatley or the s!xteen.year old son. but ne told practically the same story thai had been rectted to the jury by the lsevious witnesses.
 There is little variance to the tes- timony between the witnesses for state and defense The facts generally agreed on are thar Hillreth Nheatley. son of Rrfas Wheatley. together with his brosheg' had trouble with Murt Way casey the afternoon before rne 1T; gedy and were put out of the place
 Fearful of punishnem from their father. the boys carried their story to their uncle, Nick Wheatley about o'clock the night of the tragedy Nick was busy about his saloon, put had the boys wait until he attended ru some business. and then told them hc vctld take them to their father they would go and investigate the trouble together and that he (Nick1 would see they were not whipped if they were not wrong in the trouble or the afternoon.
 fo the Rufe Whaatley saloon, where to the Rufe heatley saloon, where they all together went 10 get q car for South Hot Springs. Rufas Wheat ley testified he was playing pool when Nick came for him. that he went ana picked up coat when he started out, and that his revolver was in the cust. He testified he did not intend to go armed. or did not think of be ing armed, but that be was in the haiti of carrying a weapon to and from home. and when he Jeff the sa. loon with the coat and felt the re- volver, he placed it in his belt.
 Both Wheatleys agree there had been no plans for trouble. and that they had not anticipated any. Rufas Wheatley went first into she billiard and poca parlor where the trouble of the afternoon had occurred, and spoke tt Ed. Ed Wa ;'esssassy asking him about the affair. Rufas Wheatley stated he did not know which waycasey fl was. nor that there had been but one t2ef son interested in the affair.
 Ed. Waycasev denied having trou ble with the Wheatley boy. and sen him on to the brother. Murt Way casey. who denied hurting the boy but sta.ed he had ant him out in a quiet and innoffensive manner
 It was then that Robbins who was standing near talking to Nick Wheat. ley. sryolxe up. The Wheatley boy had just denied the statement of Way casey to his father. and when Rob bins volunteered that we had pu. the boy out and treated him like white mans child'' that Rufas Wheatley called him a damned liar.
 That sentence, according to Rufas W1heatleys testimony. is the first word that ever took place between them in their Hives and they did nc know each other.
 Rufas Wheatley eays that no sooner than he had spoken the words than Robbins i'apped him over the head with heavy six shooter and then turned and struck his br'other, Nick, whap Rufas whaatley pulled his pis' fol and fired two shct.