The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-03-31
SLAYER OF MillIONAIRE'S SON
SAYS MCKENZIE DREW
GUN FIRST
PLEA OF COWBOY STEVENS
W. athe rworn From Years of Strenu-
Gus Plains Life, Penniless and
Deaf, Stevens Faces
Ordeal of Trial

sixty years or lire IN the catte co IL
try, penniless, almost entirely dcaf.
with few friends and no relatives to
come to his aid Bud" Stevens. fer
mer cowboy and bartender, is on trial
for his life before Judge J. H. E,S-
tum, charged with the murder of Da-
vid F. Mckenzie, known among the
people of the west by the name of
"Dode' Mckenzie, the son of M rdo
Mckenzie, of Trinidad, Col, a million
aire cattle king of not only Canada,
the United States, but of Mexico as
well.
The crime with which Stevens is
charged was committed in Phil Du
Fran's saloon at lie Beau, in the fore
moor of Dec. 1909, where Stevens was
working as bartender.
DR.. Olson of LIE Beau testified as to
the nature of the wounds. He was fol-
lowed by Walter Mcdonald, Jack Will
son, Billy Quinn, and Ambrose Ben
way all of whom were at the time Of
the shooting in the employ of the Ma
tabor Cattle company, n Of Murdo
McKenzie's numerous ranches. The
murdered man was foreman of the
ranch and was in town having a
time"
When it came to details, thewit-
nesses contradicted each other on
many points. The defense showed, ON
cross-eXamination by these witnesses.
that Mckenzie had had some trouble
with Stevens earlier in the morning,
and that they all went to Nolan's
harware store and stod out in front
while "Dode" went inside, and on his
temperance they imediatelv started
over to De Fran's saloon, headed by
''Dode:" The defense was also able
to show by Jack Wilson that he was
making for the door when Stevens
shot, which, undoubtedly, the defense
will make use of in showing that
"Dode" took his cowboys over to Du
Francs place with the intent of max
ing trouble, and Wilson, knowing
what was going on, got cold feet"
and was making for the door.
The state also called Tom NcGui-
gen and Leo Gregory. who were eye
witnesses. The defense, on cross-ex-
animation was able by these Witness
es to show that not one of the former
witnesses or themselves were in a TO
sitiOn to be real eye witnesses to all
the shooting. Not only from their
position, but from the fact that there
was a decided exodus towards thA
door after the first shot.
All the witnesses for the state tes-
tilted that Stevens was the aegressor,
as he was at the rear of the bar WREN
Dode and his men entered. AS Nc
Kenzie went forward he said: Il
don't want to have any trouble with
you ~whereupon Stevens. with an
oath, drew a gun from under the bar
and shot three times, Mckenzie get
ting as far as the sidewalk, where he
fell on his face dead.
The state, as a motive for the crime.
endeavored to prove that there had
been a feud between the men. dating
back to about five years ago when
"Dode" discharged Stevens from a OBJ
as a cowboy on the Matador ranch:
also that the old man was Quarrel
some and. on account of his deafness.
belived the cowboys Wee taking ad-
vantage of him and making him a
butt of their jokes.
The defense will also try TO show
that Mckenzie went into the saloon
either with the intention of shooting
TWINS Vi ldhll MN udlCt. IL
will also try to show that Mckenzie
began to abuse Stevens and pulled OFT
q revolver and pointed it towards
Stevens. The state rested it's case yes,
terday afternoon.
Much sympathy is felt for the de-
PENDANT evcept among the cowboys.
With them Mckenzie was alwavs a
good fellow, seldom Cua~rels0me and
whatever he bad was his fri-nds' if
'hev were in need. In fact. he WIS a
lyrical cowboy of the old school.
which is fast becoming e,ti~ct.
Jim Burns. present foreman o. the
Natador Cattle comrany, is here as
listing the prosecution in every ros.i-
HE way, and is undorbteSls re re-
eenting Murdo Mckenzie personally.
Who is row in Scotland.
TIE etate is confident o. a verdict
If murder in the first degree. While
he defense is equally ce~+ain of an
'"~uittal. or at most n light S nterce.
The defense has presented scve7tnen
"'+resses. and has pract cally all its
."Stimony in.
Stevens. the defendant. wae one OF
20 lost 10 Re nut IN the sand ond.
Notwithstanding a gr cling c~o-s-ex-
~~ination. his story did not way.
ne old man gave his v~rs'on in a
'et uni~nasioned wy. and tod or
IS greet liking for Mckenzie and the
'rierdship that lad evis'ed be wen
hem FOR years. The shooting. he a'd,
vas done only when he believes it WIS
necessary 10 preserve his own life.
md he testified positively to Mckenzie