Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-24


PAST THREE DAYS.
County Surveyor Wilhoite of Sar
Juan county, New Mexico, was the
first called to the stand. After Civ
ing an account. of his eleven years
experience as civil engineer he pro.
duced a map drafted by himself OF
the Cox canon country and explained
how it was prepared. The same was
entered as evidence as defendants ex-
hibit "a"
Isaax Cox Testifies in His Own Behalf
Isaac Cox was called to the wit
ness stand shortly after IL o'clock.
He was born in Texas 43 years ago.
He moved to the Cedar Hill section
with his family thirty-five years ago.
His father was one of the pioneer
cattlemen of the southwest. At one
time his herds numbered between
$4,000 and 10000 head and they
ranged from the Cedar Hill section
to Bluff, Utah. The witness stated
that his knowledge of cattle herding
dates from the time he was years
old and he continued to acquire ex-
perience until he went into the sheep
business in 1904. He is a married
man, the father of five children, who
range in age from 10 years to %
years. He told of his first introduc-
tion to William TRULY, how he rode
through his camp and flock and start
ed to beat the owner over the head
with his bridal reins. Of various
other occurrences of unpleasant ma
ture. In one instance he told of an
effort on the part of the TRULY boys
to drown his sheep. He recited the
details of the gentlemen's agreement
as to the division of the range for
sheep and cattle and how, as far as
he was concerned, this had never been
broken. He told of the trouble with
the armed citizens regarding range
rights, and how he tried to comply
with the wishes of the property own
ers regarding the direction he should
take in getting his sheep out.
Cox admitted that he was in the
vicinity of the. homicide on Nov. 10.
That he fired the shot which cost Sam
Truby his life and that he did SO to
save his own life. He stated that Sam
Truby was riding along ON horseback
and had his gun aimed at him ready
to shoot. Before he could fire Cox
6red two shots at him; the first of
the two took effect.
Afternoon Session
Standing room was at premium
this afternoon. Every member of the
audience was anxious to hear Isaac
Cox testify in his own behalf. Mr..
Cox continued to recite the troubles
which occurred between himself and
the members of the TRULY family
References were also made to attacks
made upon sons of Mr.. Cox by certain
of the Truby family. The first trou-
in 1908. Special reference was made
to abuse heaped upon his 16-year-old
son in the year 1911. Just eight days
previous to the shooting of William
TRULY Mr.. Cox stated he met some of
the Truby boys in the vicinity of
Lewis Martinez lakes west of Ignacio.
The meeting was entirely friendly
one. The next day he again met Will
liam TRULY and wife and this meet
ing was also of friendly nature.
That afternoon he met Dave, Sam and
William TRULY over near the Joe
Lines cabin. Accompanying Cox was
Mr.. Burroughs and a Mexican, the
party having been after supplies for
their sheep camp. A quarrel ensued,
which according to the witness, Mr..
TRULY and his brothers were the ag
gressors. A fistic encounter followed.
After it ended William TRULY inform
ed Mr.. Cox if he did not have his
sheep camp moved by the next morn
ing they (the Trubys) would come
and move them and would not move
them single-handed either. Immedi-
ately Mr.. Cox left for Cedar Hill, his
sisters home. He attempted to phone
the sheriff of La Plata county to ask
for assistance in protecting his prop
erty. Not succeeding in reaching him,
he tried to phone the sheriff of San
Juan county, New Mexico. Not be-
ing successful in this some men from
his sisters ranch accompanied him,
But they or their sheep were not mo-
Tested. Continuing his testimony Mr..
Cox told of the events Immediately
preceding the fight which resulted in
the shooting of William TRULY and
in which Sam TRULY had an active
part. Mr.. Cox told of his efforts to
come to Durango to give himself up
to the authorities, and how Sam Tru-
by tried to kill him on the way
to prevent him doing SO. The details
of the affair were given in the trial
in which Mr.. Cox was acquitted OF
the murder of William TRULY, on the
plea of necessary self-defense. Mr..
Cox next recited the details of the at
tack made on him when as he was
walking up the streets of the city In
,,,,tb Denutv Sheriff VIII