The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-02-25
CRIME WAS COMMITTED
NOVEMBER IA, 1910
Jury Secured 10 Brief Time and
Hearing Q! Testimony Began
This Afternoon

Testimony against FfanK Thurs
ton, charged with killing George
Lyons, alias Hen McIraCkon, pn No
yember A. 1919, Was started tn lhe
district court this afternoon. THIS
case is interesting beyond amy eriml-
nal action in the stale courts here
III tho past few years, ana large
crowd was about, ntSn ;nr the pre-
liminares. Che morning Was CON
sumed in selecting julN and in max.
ing opening statements to the jury
Nine pcremptuY challenges we're
made on each side County Attorney
Adams and Arthur SWank appeared
for the state and f. VI. Aici;aiFe and
G. c. Smith tor the de:euse. The
first witnesses we're Dr. RALPH Smith
ana nr, w Vs. Rncks. The court
this morning allowed The calling OF
several additional state witnesses, ~
tuding Dr. Eucks, Chief Of Police
Mitchell John Mahoney, w. NJ Bar
ringer and Roe FELTON,. An attach
ment was issued for Amy Greer an
important witness missing today
Whag state Expects 70 Prove.
rhs jury is as follows: NJ NJ crow,
q w. Brown, 4 W. Hewett, w. Z.
Arnett, Peter Appleay, Albert Cutler
"A. " Kenyon, Lee Adair r. A Bu-
ford A. l.. Ridge, A. Dillenbaek anG
M L Feary
In the opening statement County
Attorney Adams said the state would
show that Lyons, or McCralken, had
changed his name for the purpose Of
getting a railroad job, having been
.uIacknsted as Lyons; that there was
a dispute Of some sort between
Thurston and Lyons on November
IA: that on that day they talked II
over at the Thurston place and that
Thurston told Lyons to come ana
borrow money and that they shook
hands: that later Lyons and ROY
Rnoads started for Lyons room
northeast of the Thurston place,
corner Of Second street and Cleye-
land avenue that Tburston fired
from the rear of the building, with a
shot gun, two loads hitting Lyons
one in the back, that Lyons had nc
particular grievance against Frank.
Elaborate Statement by Defense.
f. II. Mcclure made a very elabof
ate statement for the defense. show
ing theory of self-defense. AS lead
ling up to the tragedy he claimed tAal
Frank Thurston went west last .all
leaving Lyons in charge OF his ousl
mess. and that he returned about NO
vember 8 that his mother was badll
scared and did not at first let MIN u
the house. thinking it was net ne
that Lyons had earlier told her owe
the telephone that he and a part
Of friends in an automobile were com
inc up to clean out the dump ina
after Frank got home Lyons called VI
again and made insulting remark
about Mrs. Thurston; that there wa
about 5000 OF Thurston's money mss
ing. that note from Lyons askln
y conference was sent and that TN
lrow was pronounced settled and ina
! Lyons put N o. X. on the note ina
Lyons tried to rig up a scheme I
get some money a stranger wante
lto bet on the election of Cruce, Lyon
claiming that he knew CrRce wa
elected, but that he wanted Frank I
hold the money until the crowd coul
20 out and settle the bet and ma
Lyons, Thurston, ct al, were to kee
the money; that Thurston refused
that d $40 bill was dropped IN n
Thurston qllace and that Lyons p1
his foot on il and later picked it III
refusing to surrender it, that Lyon
tried to get Bob Stotson, the porte
and Ed Bruins, to go away from tn
place on fake" errands; that he she
at Bob and chased Burns.
Says Lyons Displayed "Gun."
Then followed a statement thi
, Lyons turned gun on Thurston an
: stuck him up for q long perio'
making many threats; that he ais
threatened Thurston's mother; thf
later he tried to get through tn
house and threatened to shoot pa
ttion fun OF holes and that Bhur
ton ran. II was then that all land
went out aud commenced firing. ~
C defense claims that Lyons fired fol
: shots and that possibly Roy @oao
Q fired from a blacksmith shop nef
: by
A claim was made that the sh'
I did not strike Lyons as describe
and that he had a habit of carryin
I his head ION one side particular
= when mad or drunk. and that q
e counts for the peculiar aBpeaiant
: of the first wound 1t was elaine
that Lyons was a 'gun man. cont
uanp flourishing pistols and talSir
tut tf,.4 tVaef.5a Vi.alsasl