Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-22
DEFENSE TO PUT
B0WDRY ON STAND
Man Said to Be Owner of
death Car Called in Be
half Of Accused Officers.
NO COURT THIS MORNING
Hearing Will Be Resumed at
- 1870 This Afternoon; Trial
Developments Many.

Pen Bowdry, whose car Vernon
Hatfield is supposed to have been
driving when he was shot and killed,
will probably he the first witness in
troduccd by the defense at the re-
sumption OF the preliminary hearing
this afternoon OF the four police Off
GERS charged with murder. Bowdry
has been subpoenaed by the defense
and A. j. Biddison, attorney for the
accused policemen, said last night
that he expected Bowdry's testimony
to he the opening fire of the defense
I'm It's effort to prove that the officers
were Justified in shooting at the car
in which Hatfield and his young
brother were riding.
Police officers assert Bowdry has
been connected with the bootlegging
business in Tulsa for several years.
The officers are said To have been i'm
hidin. near Snake" Morris place
on the night of the shooting TO catch
the messenger whom they suspected
of having booze from Bowdry's place.
Self Defense. the Plea.
Despite the testimony of several
eve witnesses that no shots were fired
Hatfield boys were riding, the off
GERS attorney will maintain that fire
was opened on the car i'm self defense.
A. j. Biddison, who is defending the
policemen. said yesterday that that
was what the defense would endcavor
TO prove by the evidence which II will
Introduce today and tomorrow.
Bowdry was also subpOenaed by the
state but for some reason was not
called to the stand. Police officers as
sert Bowdry has been connected with
the bootleGging business in Tulsa for
several years
The accused officers spent Sunday
at home with .heir families All of
them came down town during the day
but returned home early. They were
released by Sheriff Mccullough Sat
urday night upon their promise 10 he
in the courtroom when the prelimi-
nary was resumed this afternoon.
To Use Many.
Several other witnesses have been
summoned by the defense, which
means that the preliminary will con-
tinue thru Tuesday II was at first
thot that the defense would call only
few witnesses for the preliminary
hearing so that their hand would not
he exposed in the event the officers
were bound over This new move in
calling number of witnesses indi-
Gates that the defense still has hopes
of clearing the accused men in the
preliminary.
The prosecution completed the in
PRODUCTION OF testimony and rested its
case late Saturday afternoon The
defense then moved that the charges
against II. II. Townsend. Carl Lewis
Dick Nelson and Ramcy Miller be dis
missed leaving w NJ Shue the only
defendant. Judge Standeven overruled
all the motions except the one per-
tanning to Lewis, who was given his
freedom There was no evidence,
Judge Standeven declared, that point
ed to the guilt of Lewis He ordered
that the preliminary OF Townsend,
Nelson. Miller and Shue proceed
Standcvcn to Broken Arrow
Judge Standeven will go to Broken
Arrow this morning To attend to other
county court matters He will return
at noon and the preliminary of the
five officers is scheduled to be re-
sumed at $50 o'clock.
Important points developed by the
prosecution during the first four days
OF the preliminary were:
states Strong Points.
. Positive statements of several eye
wNNessos that there were no shots
fired from the fleeing automobile.
Lee Mooneyham. barber and wit
ness of the shooting, testified that he
heard one of the firing squad say:
Come on boys we'll get him yet"
Tom Cooper, night patroman, said
he heard the five accused officers dis
cussing the affair at the police sta
ton on the night Of the shooting, He
testified that he heard Officer Town
send say; Lets set together and see
who fired the first shot"
W NJ. Shue and Ramey Miller
Nidentified by eye witnesses as two
hufnbers of tho party who fired upon
Nc Hatfield brothers