El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-02-09
WHITE I6FREED
IN 10 MINUTES
U. S. Line Rider Found Not
Guilty Of the Murder of
Francisco FereZ.

Wheels of justice moved fast
Wednesday morning when United
States customs inspector J. d.
White was acquitted by the jury in the
Sith district court Of the charge of kill
ing Francisco Perez. at Ysleta, Jan. 2S.
The jury retired at 11:15 a. m. and re-
turned the verdict of not guilty at
1870, being out of the court room a
total of only 10 minutes
whites Hair cut.
White took the stand in his own de-
fence at o'clock. 1t was a different
looking man who answered the attor-
neys questions Wednesday than the
man who shot Perez on Jan. % at
: 1Sleta- White was a figure along the
frontier because Of his striking appear
ance. He wore his hair almost to his
shoulders. a big. pure white hat and
high cowboy boots. Wednesday when
he was called to testify in his own case
I he had had his hair cut close to his
head his neck shaved and his white
| hat was missing His neck was several
shades lighter than his brOnZed face
as his long hair had protected his neck
/ from the sun while he rode the customs
line He declared he shot Perez in self
defence.
Arguments Started.
The evidence was completed at 10
o'clock and arguments were then start
ed by the attorneys for the state and
D defence. Perez was arrested by inspec-
tor White and II. y. Carnes at the
! Ysleta ford and taven to the Ysleta jail
on the morning of Jan. %. and the kill
ing occurred at noon at the jail.
White on stand.
The cross examination Of White was
conducted by Del Harrington. assistant
I district attorney Mr. Harrington asked
why he did not search Perez when he
was arrested.
7 didn't think he had anything on
him" White replied.
"Yo had no intention of searching
| hin them"
I'VE had no intention of searching
him before we placed him in Jail. l was
going to search him after we got him
inside. It was my intention to search
him when ! called for him to stop"
How the Killing Occurred.
He never got his pistol out far
enough to point it at YOU did he?
NO sir"
White then illustrated. on the body
of Mr.. Harrington. how he grabbed
= Perez as he turned 7 grabbed his
right hand which held his pistol, with
my LETT Then / fired with my pistol.
Perez then shot. As he did not fall. I
shot again"
you don't think it was absolutely
/ necessary TO kill that Mexican
Yes. sir. ] had 10 kill him or he
would have killed me-
White was asked if he did not arrest
| Perez because he answered the descrip-
on of one Of two men who he and
Carnes had been told we're carrying
rifles White replied that he arrested
Perez because he was riding a Mexican
horse.
"shOf When Tore Sleeve"
Filiberta Garcia, of Ysleta, testified
she knew White. but not Perez, q was
oe o. Yards fran the
jail, and / heard the shots fired" she
testified. There were three shots.
went out and asked this man If he had
7 killed him. He said he had. l asked
him why and he said. Because he tore
my sleeve The man was standing out
side the jail and the dead man was in
the jail. The man talked to me in
Spanish"
Perez Searched.
Carmen Romero, who said she lived
az San Jose, testified she knew Fran
cisco Perez, who on the day he was
killed, she had seen on a horse. She
knew both White and II. z. Carnes by
sight. she said. Il saw Perez and
White at san jose" she said. "All I
know is that when Perez came by Mr.
White asked him his name. Mr.. White
told him to get Off his horse. He
searched him but I didn't see him take
anything. Both Perez and White got
Asked if White searched the saddle
bags, the witness said: He searched
the one on the side near where he was
standing
Rode Away.
After the search. the witness stated,
the men mounted and rode away. That
night. she said, she heard that Perez
wa,s dead
To attorney Moore for the defence.
the witness stated she did not know
whether the officers saw her as she
was standing inside her house. The
horses were between her and the men,
she said.
Sister OF Romero.
you are a sister of Abel Romero.
aren't you2" Mr.. Moore asked.
Yes sir
Wasn't he arrested that same day"
Yes sir"
The witness was asked if she had
talked to the MeXicon consul She said
she had not but had signed a state
ment She signed the statement she
said, before she had seen Mr.. Bridgers
last Thursday.
The witness further stated or cross
examination that Mr.. Carnes did not
get of his horse.
Wasn't Mr.. White on his horse all
the time? Mr.. Moore asked
NO, he was on foot
Killing of Akers-
She stated that she did not see
Augustin Chavez there. Mr.. Moore then
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