Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-05-01
Attorneys for Both Defense
and Prosecution Make Sug-
geStionS to Presiding Judge
for Jury instructions,
CLOSING OF CASE is
SURPRISE TO PUBLIC
Accused Labor Leader Takes
Little Time, Though Spec
tatorS and Attorneys Had
Expected Lengthy Story.

ier MORNING JouRNAt SPECIAL LEASED wiRHl
Trinidad. Colo. April S0.--Evidence
for and against John Il. Lawson, labor
leader. charged with the murder OF
John Nimmo on October 25. 1913. was
closed late today. Tonight counsel
for both sides presented suggestions
to Judge CRANKY Hillyer for instruc-
tions to the jury.
Tomorrow morning the court will de-
liver the instructions and arguments
will begin. Both sides have agreed
to limit arguments so that the case
can so to the jury tomorrow night.
Unless verdict is reached before
time to lock up the jury for the night.
the case will go over until Monday,
as Judge Hillyer has stated that he
Will not receive verdict on Sunday
The closing Of the case came with a
promptness that overturned the pre-
dictions of attorneys and spectators
John X. lawson, slated TO take the
stand In the afternoon was put on at
IL o'clock in the morning, other wit
nesses having finished their testimony
more quickly than was expected.
Lawson's testimony closed the case
for the defense
-Four Rebuttal Witnesses.
The state then called four witnesses
in rebuttal James Wilson added de-
tails to his former testimony regard
ing the opening OF the battle of Oc-
tober 25. 1913. Charles O'Neil. mine
superintendent. told of the sending Of
guards from Tabasco and Berwind to
Ludlow. DR.. Ed M. Curry, COM
pany physician at Hastings, said he
and six more men were the only ones
who started from Hastings for Ludlow
on the day Of the battle and that they
got only as far as a high hill over
looking Hastings.
Mike Martino testified that on the
afternoon of October 25 he saw Law
son, armed with a rifle, enter the tent
colony by one of the gates. This was
in direct contradiction of the testi
mony of Lawson. who had sworn that
he did not leave camp that afternoon
al all, except to escort Miss Anna
Cameron past the danger zone and up
to the road toward Hastings.
Cross examination brought the
statement from Martino that he was
for the Colorado Fuel and
Iron company. that he had come TO
Trinidad during the day in company
with a mine clerk from Berwind and
that he had gone with James Fyler,
another witness for the state to the
office of Judge Jesse G.. Northcutt,
which he said, was used as tempo
rary office by counsel for the state.
Sur-rcbuttsl Is Denied.
Following the rebuttal testimony
The defense attempted to call Lawson
in sur-rebuttal to deny the story told
by Martino, but the court ruled that
this would be merely repetition of
The defendants former testimony and
therefore was not admissible as sur
Both sides then rested
The trial of John II. Lawson, Colo
'ado member of the international eX
scutive committee of the United Mine
Workers Of America. began April 2l.
A jury was secured April % and TAX
ng of testimony opened on April "a.
Evidence introduced by the state was
Intended to show:
That Nimmo was killed in a battle
between deputy sherffs and striking
,oa miners from the Ludlow tent col
my.
That the fight was started by strik-
RS who fired upon a party of depu
les who had started to the Ludlow
tation to meet a train.
That Nimmo was shot from a rail-
oad cut used as rampant by strik- |
RS.
That Lawson was at the railroad |
ut at approximately the time Nimmo !
vas shot
That arms and ammunition were |
lrought to the tent colony with the |
anction of Lawson.
The case for the defense was based |
Ipon the following alleged facts:
That the fight was started by the |
Icputies and that Lawson believed the !
trikers were defending the colony |
rom attack.
That Lawson was not at the rail- |
Dad cut and that the states witness |
s who swore they saw him there did |
ot themselves reach Ludlow until |
:30 or I o'clock in the evening
That Lawson did not leave the tent I
olony during the afternoon Of the |
attic except to escort Miss Anna
ameron toward Hastings.
That guns were purchased for de- |