The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-02-05
Arguments Concluded About 3
O'clock this Afternoon After a
Flood Of 0rstory Lasting
Ten Hours or More
MAY BE MURDER
OR MANSLAUCHTER
Or Acquiital Under the Courts In
siructions = Attorneys Wax
Eloquent -Rebuttal Testi-
mony Offered by State

The fate OF Chas. Bashara, charged
with the murder OF Col. J. T. Selby in
Tuttle on December 90, was placed in
the hands Of the jury this afternoon,
after Oscar Simpson, county attorney
had fired the last volley for die state
IN the war Of words that has been
wagcd by the opposing attorneys for
the past ten hcIrs or more.
Never in Chickasha has more elo-
quence been displayed in the argument
OF Gaze All OF the lawyers acquitted
themselves well In their speeches. and
during the course Of the argument not
a bi. Of evidence, no matter how small
or how large. but was held up in the
brieit floodlight of oratory before
the jury.
During the entire length OF the
speeches, from the opening yesterday
afternoon about o'clock. the court
room has been crowded almost to its
capacity, and the closest attention has
been the rule rather than the excel,-
tion on the part OF the audience. Even
at the session last night, during the
speeches Of Moman Pruitt aad Alger
Melton. which lasted tin 1880 o'clock.
the court room was packed.
Judge B r. Holding opened the argu-
ment for the state. was followed by J,
d Carmichael for the defense. A re.
cess was then taken FOR supper and
when court re-convened at 1880. Mo-
man Prultt spoke for the state He
was followed by Alger Melton, who
spoke so minutes and completed his
speech this morning f. f. Riddle,
also for the defense. followed Mr. Mel
ten. and finished his speech at 1915
today. Oscar Simpson closed the argu-
men; finishing shortly after o'clock.
Following is the length Of the
speeches. Holding ! hour. 20 minutes,
Carmichael. hour, 25 minues: Pruitt,
hours 5 minues; Melton. ? hours.
Riddle. hours. minutes Simpson,
over ? hours.
The instructions OF Judge Bailey to
the jury were Of the usual nature.
though clear and explicit in every de-
tail Regarding the possible findings
IN the case. the jury was instructed
that II they found the defendant guilty
to return the following verdicts Muir
der. punishable by death or life Inn
prssonment: manslaugh,er in the first
degree. punishable by a term in the
state penitentiary for any period not
less than four years, or manslaughter
in the second degree. punishable by
Imprisonment in the state penitenuary
for a term OF years not less than two
years nor more than four years. The
first instructions carried the povision
that in the even the jury found the
defendant guilty and could not agree
on the punishment, they might return
their verdict in the degree decided up
on and leave the assessment Of pun
ishment to the court. However. upon
the request Of the defendant speaking
through his attorneys, other instruc-
items on that point were given. provid-
ing that in the event the jury found
the defendant guilty, they we're to de-
eide what punishment should be his
IN rebuttal testimony yesterday
afternoon. the state called Chas- Ba-
shara. defendant, back TO the witness
stand. and put him through a short
but rather rigid examination concern
ing the difficulty in Selbys office
when Bashara attempted to separate
two men who we're fighting.
Il will ask you. If at the time of tha.
difficulty. after, as You say, Selby hit
or kicked you in the jaw, you did or
did not say that you would get your
gun and kill selby?" asked Pruitt.
NO. sir" answ cred the witness.
4 will ask you If you did not get
the gun, and If Bartholomew did not
meet you in your store, lay his hnad
on your shoulder and keep you from
carrying out your threat2"
mo. sir"
Did or did you not have the pistol