The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-14
StathakOs Will EndeavOr to
Show He Killed COuntryman
in Self-Defense.
CONTENDS THAT P0ULAS
FIRED THE FIRST SHOT
Says killing Followed Quarrel
Over Gambling; Jury to
Get Case Soon.

With the intention Of proving that 2.
P. Stathakos, a Greek, on trial in Judge
T d. Lewis's division OF the Third Dis
trlct court. or the charge of murder in
the first degree, killed Louis Poulas.
n countryman. In self defense August %
of last year the defense will resume its
case Tuesday morning. The state closed
Its case last Friday. and number OF
witnesses for the defense already have
been examined
Major s. A. King, one OF the attor
neys for the defense. declares that he is
confident that IL will be established that
Pouias fired at Stathakos before Statha-
kos shot him Several witnesses FOR the
King says that he will produce other
witnesses 10 substantlate It,
The state claims that the FIRST shot WAS
fired by Stathakos. This is largely based
on the testimony OF Richard Beynon,
the police officer who arrested Stathskos
after the shooting, Patrolman Beynon
testified that only three shots were tircd,
aside from the one that he fired himself,
and that the reports were similar,
The Witnesses for the defense, how
ever say that four shots were fred. be
sides The one OF the police officer, the
first being fired by Pouas. three by Stat
hakos and the fifth by Patrolman Bey-
The killing Of Poulas grew out of q
quarrel over a gambling game between
Poulas and another Greek, named Paw
alas Polakas. according to Mr. King.
The two men were engaged in a game
At the Calayatra coffee house. Mr. King
says, when Poiakas drew a gun. Poakas
was got out OF the place and the row
ended. but StathalSos, according 10 Mr..
King, heard a0out 1t and. meeting Pou-
las later. told him that he should stop
having trouble of that sort,
Later Stathakos is alleged TO have seen
the proprietor of the coffee house. Peter
Bougas, with Polakas. and he asked what
the trouble was about. About this time
a Greek named Gallaneas was brought in.
sick, and a doctor who was summoned
told Stathakos to put a man In charge OF
him. Sta;hakos did this and. after put
ting the man into a room in the Polu :
mas rooming house, he stepped out into
the street where he met Poulas with Gus
Maritsas and his cousin. Girls Maritsas
a few words passed between Stathakos
and Pouas. and according 10 Mr.. King.
Poulas pulled his gun and fired at Statha-
kos, whereupon Stathakos returned the
FIRE, shooting Poulas in the neck, from
which wound he almost instantly died.
Five witnesses already have sworn thu
Poulas fired the first shot. and on this
testimony is based the plea OF self de-
fense on which Mr.. King hopes TO save
his client. After the shooting OF Poulas.
rum back. having walked UP the street
while Poulas and Stathakos were talk
inR and Stathakos called on them to
halt. When they refused TO do this, ac-
twice at them. inflicting a flesh wound
in the side OF Gus Maritsas. AT this
point Stathakos was placed under ar
rest by Patrolman Beynon, who also
fred a shot. according TO the story OF
MT. ling.
The case should go to the Jury not
later than Wednesday afternoon o,
Thursday morning.