Weekly journal-miner., 1917-05-02
(From Sundays Daily.)

| hgnlan, proprietor of general store there, was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon by jury in the Su- perior court, the verdict being return cd shortly after the jury reached the i jury room after dinner The verdict contained recommendation fo; mercy.
 It was shown in the short half day of trial that Pitts had become intoxi- cated, lost his head, and laboring un- der some hallucination, had discharg- ed a gun at J. B. Rodriguez, two bull lets taking effect in the hands of the latter
 Again, youngstcr has been the most interesting witness in case in the Superior court. Frank Riddle comb, aged IA, proved an interesting witness in the trial of James A. Pitts, Seligman postmaster, charged with assault with a deadly weapon. The day before, Jessie Wilcoxson, a l2- ycar-od girl, testified and freed her dad from a charge of first degree murder.
 The trial of the Pitts case, which took the entire afternoon, proved an interesting, and at times, an amusing one. J. B. Rodriguez, complaining witness, was the first to testify. He described himself as a cowpuncher. lately arrived from California. He happened into the Pitts general store on the afternoon of March l6, and was invited by Pitts to come into the rear room and share a drink. He had been asking Pitts about getting work with T COW outfit Pitts, according to the story, was considerably happilied by drink After they had consumed a couple of good sized drinks, Pitts asked Rodriguez his name and wher, told, wondered if his companion were Mexican. Rodriguez does not look, act nor speak like a Mexican. Ac- cording to the witness, Pitts then be- came abusive, finally stating that he believed he would extcrminate this Mcxicano. The defendant then pulled Colts automatic pistol and opened fire, discharging four shots. Rod riguez said he grappled with Pitts, getting hold of the business end of the gun and receiving three shots through his hand. He then held the gun with one hand and smashed Pitts in the face with his other, knocking the man out. He started to leave, then picked up the gun and placed it on a stool in the front store Getting out of that ncighborhood, Rodriguez said he took window with him, kicking the glass out in order to make his escape.
 F. II. Cartmell, who combines the duties of doctor and justice of the peace at Seligman, attended to Rod riguez' wounded body and his lacerat- cd mind by dressing the gunshot wounds and bruises and issuing a warrant for Pitts arrest. He was permitted over objection by J. E. Russell for the defense, to state that the wounds had been caused by bull lets. Asked on cross-examination if ne hadn't taken an eXeremely great interest in the case, even going so far as to urge Rodriguez to swear out a warrant, Dr. Cartmell said "No," and there ensued a lively tilt between counsel and witness.
 He said that when Pitts came in to arrange bail, he had said he didn't recall anything about the fight, be- cause he was too drunk to remember. He had taken a full quart of liquor between the hours of and 6 that afternoon. He was said to have adj mitted that Rodriguez hadn't assault ed him, nor had he tried to rob the store.
 Deputy Sheriff Fred Campbell told an interesting story of the TOW. He was told there was a shooting scrape and had met the injured man on his way to the store to investigate. Ac- companying Rodriguez to Cartmells office, he had concluded this stranger might have been the aggressor. On that theory. he submitted him to a search, but found nothing in the na- turc of a weapon. He then went to Pitts house and found the latter in bed. raving in delirium. with A. San ford, a neighbor, sitting on him to keep him quiet.
 Campbell produced the gun, four empty and three loaded shells. These were introduced in evidence, and the blood stains, where it was alleged Rodriguez wounded hand had grasp