El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-31
8. 6. CARPENTER ON STAND IN HIS
BEHALF TODAY IN MURDER TRIAL
Continued From Page One.)

cant land on the east Beyond that is
the Simpson ranch.
In June, 1909. I was delivering some
cattle TO the Carpenter ranch. was in
control Of the Polvo wells and Colston
wells by authority Of the owners.
1 lived at the Simpson ranch from No
vember, 1907, TO July, 1908 Mrs. Simp-
son and Miss Laura Blevins lived there
at the time L was in charge of the cattle
for Mr. Rossin- Mr.. Simpson and / look
ed after the cattle and wells. 1 lived in
the ranch house on the Headquarters
ranch.
The Simpson ranch comprises $50 to
200 sections; there are three permanent
wells 1t runs 10 the river south of the
railroad. There were no division fences
through it. I judge there were five sec
tions in the house pasture north and
west Of the house The main gate to
this is through the corral.
June /, 1909, I was at the Ardoin
ranch. On June 2 I was at the Polvo
wells and did nor go to the Headquarters
ranch. I spent the night of June at
the Polvo wells with Otis Cans, Tom
Sneugrove. a Mexican and Kent Stein.
Tom Snellgrove and Otis Cans have
never been In my employ.
Went to Simpsons Armed.
They had no water at the Simpson
ranch. 1 went there from the Polvo
: wells the morning of June 3. 1 started
with Kent Stein that morning. I had
some cattle there. 1 was armed when 1
started. My gun had three cartridges
in it. Kent Stein was not armed. did
not say anything TO Snellgrove about
arming himself.
I had not cleaned my pistol for sew
eral months prior
When 1 approached saw some one
took to be Mr.. Simpson standing on the
fence
Snellgrove gave me a drink with
cup do not remember where he got
II from He was on the outside of the
fence. Simpson was also there. Simpson
was west of Snellgrove. 1 was on my
horse Snellgrove was on the ground.
Stein was near me. 1 never saw him dis
mount. He started for his horse little
before I did
Greeted by Simpson
When 1 rode up 1 said: Good morn
ing, Bert"
Simpson said: Hello, Shanks."
1 asked him where his stag was 1 ask
ed him about some cows. 1 also asked
him where the COW was that I had Dor
rowed from Mr.. Ross and said: I I'M
derstand she had a calf and he ought to
pay for her" Then he said something
about people riding up on horseback
He was outside the corral The next
time saw him he was II or 10 feet De- |
hind me.
Tells of the killing.
had gone through the gate and was |
in the act of turning He had gun. !
called to him to drop his gun and !
spurred my horse toward him. He was /
trying to shoot, pulling back the ham !
mer- 1 remember saying twice for him /
TO drop his gun. He raised it and 1 /
shot. My horse was scared and 1 called |
1t. -
and i shot again 1 then came back be- |
cause my back was turned toward him
and L was afraid he would shoot me in
the back. = few seconds elapsed be-
tween the first and second shots. My
horse was scared and shied again. Simp-
son fell after the third shot. I shot him
70 save my life and would rot have done
so except for that I was afraid he would
kill me-
he cross corral when I fired the first
shot He was II or Is feet away when
fired the second shot. He was trying
o shoot all the time
Visited Simpson Home In May.
The last time had been by the Simp-
;on house was the last day in May.
vent to see if Escontrias had gone by
With some horses
Otis Cans. Tom Snellgrove, Virgil !
Hunt and Henry Cert were there. did
lot see Simpson that night
I incurred about the boy. He was not
here.
I reached the Simpson ranch about an
1our or two after dark. / was there
.bout half an hour. l was not looking
or Mr.. simpson nor was Ifdodging him. {
did not expect any trouble with Simp-
on.
I was talking with Otis Cans; he $
wanted TO know about moving the cat
le. because water had given out at 8
he Simpson ranch 1 told him he could
move those cattle and he did so June 2
was not going there for any cattle q
hat did not belong to me. '
There was stag there which we had G
fought from Giron- There were some :
attic we were taking from FL Paso
o the Ardoin ranch and they had been y
ost on the Giron place. {
Miss BIevins With Gun. O
Very soon after the shooting, I saw
Hiss Blevins: she had some kind of h
un. 1 though 1t was rifle. She Y
ointed it toward me. I threw my gun c
n her and told her to drop her gun.
had no cartridges in my gun and got o
way as quick as I could. e
Simpsons body was about 80 feet s.
rom the little gate to the left, as 1 T;
rent out. This gate was in the south
rest corner of the big corral f,
After the shooting as 1 rode by Il