Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1915-06-16
JURY FAILS TO
AGREE IN COOPER CASE


upon George Michael, was still de-
liberating, It evidently being impossi-
bic to reach a verdict The jury was
given its instructions by Judge Smith
at o'clock in the evening and five
hours later, at II o'clock, was still
arguing with no sign of verdict,
each ballot resulting in disagreement.
With the completion of the testi-
mony OF ten witnesses and the argu-
ments OF Deputy County Attorney
Morgan, Attorney Morrison and
County Attorney O'Sullivan, the case
was given to the jury by Judge Smith
at o'clock yesterday evening.
Probably the most sensational tes-
timony OF the trial was when Mrs. Ida
Ford, who said she was a second cou-
sin OF Cooper's took the witness stand
and testified that A. ]. Laswell, one
OF the participants in the three-cor-
nered land dispute, attempted to bribe
her. She said he approached her last
Monday in front of the Head hotel
and said, according to her testimony,
that there would be a few dollars in
II for her if she would testify against
the defendant This was substantial
ed by Miss Alice Fernando who took
the stand and said that she was with
Mrs. Ford when Laswell made the
offer.
Laswell in refutation OF the state
ment testified that he had talked with
Mrs. Ford and had asked her to tes-
tify, but had never offered her any
money for it. He said that Miss Fer
nandez. who was with Mrs. Ford,
suggested at the time that Mrs. Ford
might make a little money out OF it
If she would testify against Cooper.
This last statement of Laswell's IS
denied by Miss Fernandez.
The first exhibit entered by the
prosecution was map which had
been drawn by w H Merritt. one OF
the witnesses OF the day before. All
OF the testimony which followed cen
tered around the map which showed
Cooper. Laswell and William Roberts
land. a section OF which is claimed by
Roberts and Cooper on the one side
and Laswell on the other.
". H. Merritt was the first witness
on the stand yesterday and he was
cross-examined by Morrison. The at
torney tried to get him to admit that
after the shooting had occurred, he
went to the depot in Skull valley to
return home and there said that
Cooper had told him to keep off his
land before he shot at him. Merritt
denied having said it. Richard Nc
Carrick, OF Skull valley, in opposition
to this took the stand for the defense
and said that Merritt while talking to
him at the depot had said that Cooper
had ordered him off his land and that
he did not so until after the shot was
fired.
George Michaels, the young man
whom Cooper is charged with having
assaulted, while on the stand gave
the following story. On the morning
Of March the 10Th, he. Merritt and his
son George. went on with the survey
ing they had started the day before
He was sent down towards Cooper's
house with flag by the cider Merritt
As he neared the house. Cooper shout
ed get off OF my land or I'll blow
your head of" Michacls then re
turned to where Merritt and his son
were on top OF small ridge about
400 feet away. While they were con
versing Cooper again shouted for
them to get off the property The
defendant then went into his home
and got rifle with which he shot at
the party. In REORGANIZATION
Michacls admitted that they were on
Coopcr's premises.
George Merritt was the last wit
ness to be placed on the stand by the
State and he related how Michac1s
had returned to the ridge and had
told them what Cooper said. A few
moments afterwards Cooper came out
Of the house and shot at them.
VIM. L. Roberts. the first witness
for the defense, told how he had
agreed with Cooper and Laswell to
have line run through their land TO
settle the dispute between them. He
said that after Merritt had finished
surveying the first day on the line, he
had enough OF him. telling him the
next morning that he would not pay
for any more work. Roberts held
that Merritt did not do his surveying
right and if he would have let him
90 on the piece of land on which his
house stood would have been given
to Laswell
Cooper, the defendant, was then
called to the stand in his own behalf
| and testified that he had hired Mcr-
rift to come out and run a line
through his property and settle the
dispute OF long standing The party