Imperial Valley press., 1916-12-20


c. Lytle acid throwing case. The
prosecution brought out some start
ling declarations and during the morn
ing Attorney Joseph F. Seymour, for
tie defense, managed to confuse wit
nesses for the state.
A. w. Malone, formerly of Glen
dora, and who worked in the Thomas
Profits drug store following injury to
the proprietor last June, told of con-
!versations said to have been held with
iLytle, defendant in the case. Malone
said that Lytle had told him that
Potts was not managing the drug
store properly and that he Lytle)
would like very much to secure the
management of the business.
Malone related incidents during the
June inquiry, saying that Lytle had
rot worked that night, asking to be
relieved on account of illness. He said
that Lytle came to the Potts drug
store that night and went behind the
prescription counter and might have
passed by the shelf where such things
as nitric acid were stored.
Mrs. J. E. Armstrong, aunt Of
Thomas Potts, was the first witness
called by the state this morning. 1t
was at the Armstrong residence that
Potts received his disfiguration. The
witness testified that she had been
awakened on the night of June II
by screams made by her daughter,
Miss Ruth Armstrong. The cry of
"insane" was remembered by the wit
ress as being one of the words ut
tered by her daughter. She explained
this to mean that Tom Potts was ap-
parently insane on account of suffer-
ing.
( Deputy Sheriff E. E. Cummings,
who assisted in investigating the case,
again went on the stand and told of
Lytles actions when the officer had
requested samples of his handwriting
while Lytle was under ssupicion. The
witness stated that he had read a copy
of the note found on the Armstrong
premises and had Lytle copy it for
him. Cummings said that he had it
typewriter and had spelled out GER
tain misspelled words so that Lytle
&C uld get it approximately like it had
been originally written.
was discovered that the state had pro-
duced most precise witness. His
answers were clean-cut and apparent
ly convincing. Malone said that he
had been employed by Potts and had
been rooming at the Lytle home fol-
lowing the second injury to Potts. At
the request of Lytle. the witness said,
he had worked Lytle's shift that night
at the Potts drug store. Lytle claimed
claimed to be i'll and came to the drug
store about 10 or 1890 that night. He
is said to have gone back of the pres
scription counter, but for what pur
pose was not divulged.
Attorney Seymour secured the ad-
mission of Malone that he would like
t. have been running the Potts drug
store, at which time the cross examin-
alton abruptly ceased.
Clifford Ward alleged suitor of
Miss Cecile Smith, to whom Thomas
Potts is affianced, told of his calling
on Miss Smith, but had never ap-
pr cached even courtship stage. He
said that he was married and now
conducted a 900-acre bean ranch. II
was not attempted to show that Ware
was suspected of inflicting injuries
| to Potts. There was very little tt
Wards testimony.
Dan Oakley, residing near Holtvill'
| at the time of the accident, said thai
: Iyte had sent summons to hin
: after the second injury to Potts. Ly
tie is said to have requested Oakle.
80 stick around in case | am arrest
ed so that you can look after thing
: and notify my people
2 Attorney Seymour strenuously ob
iected to this Introduction, but wa
t not sustained by the court.
Sheriff Applestill told of employing
: Dave Matlock, Los Angeles detective
= on tn case. The sheriff stated tina
he had advised Matlock that the re
r ward offered by the supervisors ha
y been withdrawn, but that the count
and Thomas Potts had agreed to shar