Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1910-04-28
Acquitted of Murder Charqe
William c. And Roy Trompeter Now Free--Jury Out Two
Hours And Forty Five Minutes.
Much Interest Manifested During Entire Proceed;n,.
Was Hard Fought Legal Battle.

peared as attorneys for the defense and
States Attorney s. E. Wilson, of this
city, and Ed L. Grantham, of Custer
! for the prosecution.
Among the first witnesses To ha
questioned Tuesday for the state were
hoss Lambert, Joe Lefors and Wayne
haliem. Mr.. Lambert was owner Of
Tue sneep wagon and employer of the
sheep herder Mr.. Lefors. the detectiva
who caused the arrest of the Trompeters
ana Wayne Hallem, in the employ Of
Mr' Lambert and the man who dis.
covered the murdered man and tha
burned wagon. Their examination
was much the same as at the prelimin-
ary hearing. The main facts broueht
out were to the effect that strong
feeilng had existed between Lambert
ana the Irompeters on account of tho
range used by MIR. Lambert for his
sheep. Sheriff O. l.. Jensen and a
number of other witnesses we're then
called, men who were at the inouest
held on the body of Gordon, and who
described thenature of the wound csus.
ing the death of the herder One piece of
evidence offered at this time was a 30 30
she'll picked up BY Mr.. Lambert at the
scene OF the murder with peculiar
marking caused by q defective breech
bl0ck IN rifle. A rifle owned nv the
irompeters and secured by Lefors was
also offered as evidence. the prosecn.
tion attempting to show connection
between the ahsll fonnd aud the rif,,5
as defect in the breech block cor.
responds with the marking on the shell.
On Saturday, Henry Borgeson, Of
Cheyenne. the gun expert who OK.
ahmed the gun and she'll was placed
on the stand. His examination lasted
during the greater part of the next
three days, being recalled several times
oy the state and GROSS examined by the
defense. His examination consisted
mostly In stating to the jury how he
had formed his opinion that the she'll
had been shot from this particular gun.
ne explained the markings on the
smell and breech block of the gun stst-
ing that the defect in the gun was ao.
cidental and could be found In M
other gun.
Numerous other witnesses who had
oeen at the scene Of the murder later
and some who had had conversation
with the Trompeters regarding the
moving of the sheep wagon prior to the
murder we're called by the state to ex.
taolish the fact that bitter feeling
existed. Robert Blackney, who was in
the employ of the Trompeters was
Questioned as to the actions Of the 40.
cused on the 18th day Of July relative
20 their being away from the place. He
also stated that in company with Roy
rrompeter they had tried to form q
party previous to the unfortunate
affair to drive the sheep and herder of
the range. Monday night, after OK.
amining between thirty and forty
witnesses, the state rested their oasa
and the defense put on witnesses in
their behalf.
One of the first witnesses for the de.
tense was one Lee Knapp, gun expert
from Denver, who contradicted the OK.
pert Tor the state in several instances.
Mr.. Knapp took an entirely different
gun from the one in evidence and
demonstrated that mark could be
made which was nearly Identical with
the one on the shell used in evidence
and on which was based the strongest
claim of the prosecution for verdict
of guilty. His answers were verv
plausible and 1t is thought the evidence
furnished by him had tendency
to discredit the other experts testi.
mony.
A number Of other witnesses wore
called by the defense up to Wednesday
when Mr.. Trompeter. ST., Roy from.
peter and Mrs. Trompeter took the
stand in behalf of the defense. They
stated their actions during the entire
day OF July 18th. 1909. and upon being
questioned directly stated that they
A" A" ,'"cuiHk VI tu0 mufder Until day
or perhaps two days following. At tho
conclusion OF their testimony the do.
Tense rested hnt States Attorney Wilson
asked to be allowed Thursday morn.
ing to call number of witnesses in =.
tuttal
All evidence used In rebuttal vas
taken during Wednesday forenoon and
the case ready to be argued at l:9O 4. n.
when court ndiOurnnd Ahnvn 4.
short review Of tho pleas.