Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-27
WITNESS REFUTES
SPANELL'S STORY
Man Who Saw Shooting Testi-
fies Defendant Fired Into
Tonneau of Car.
HE HEARD WOMAN CRY OUT
Severely Cross-EXamined, Ad-
mits Receiving Liberal
Funds for Expenses.

Associated Press Leased Wire
san ANGELO, Texas, Jan. 20 --
Another story OF the killing of Lieut..
Col. VI. g. Butler and Mrs. CRYSTAL
Holland SPANIEL at Alpine. Texas. on
the night of last July 20 was told in
district court here this afternoon by
X. y. Pittman of Meridian. Miss. n
states witness. whose testimony was
offered in rebuttal
The defense rested its case at the
morning session.
Harry j. spaniel who is on trial
Tor the killing of his wife. also is
under Indictment for the killing of
Colonel Butler. 5oth met death by
gunshots while in Spanelps automo-
bile.
Pittman's story.
The defendant. testifying in his own
behalf yesterday said the shot that
killed Mrs. Spaniel was fired by
Colonel Butler. Witness Pittman tes-
TITLED he lived near where the shoot
ing occurred. on the night of July
20 he heard shots ana saw a man
on his knees in the front seat of an
automobile firing into the back of the
car. \ man and a women were in the
rear seat. He saw this man and
woman fall in the seat, the man fall
ing first. witness said The automo-
bile, which had been running slowly,
ran into "A fence and stopped. Pitt
man testified he then saw the man
m the front seat climb on the run
nng board and fire several more shots
into the rear of the car and heard "A
mans voice say: Crystal why did
YOU make nc do it?" The man, who
looked like he was staggering" then
hurried away. Witness was then
about twenty feet from the car
saw Shooting From Porch.
Pittman testified he went TO the
automobile. picked up the woman's
hand. felt no pulse and hurried back
home, where he had left his wife sick.
lie had witnessed part OF the shoot
ing from "A screened sleeping porch.
where Mrs. Pittman was I'm bed. Mrs.
Pittman had told him she heard the
names of Crystal and Harry
called out by occupants of the car
during the shooting.
Witness at tho time did net know
who composed the automobile party
Cross examined. Pittman said the
shooting occurred about SEQ p. m.
hut It was not dark. He said while
the man was shooting at the woman
shc nut her hands to her head ana
cried
Heard Woman's Scream.
Harry Harry, my God. don't do
that" a moment before. he said he
heard the woman say Harry. Harry,
what did you do that for?''
Pittman admitted col John Hol-
land. father of Mrs. Crystal Spaniel
furnished transportation for himself
and little son from Meridian, whittier
he had removed to testify in the case.
He said Holland sent him dEaft for
$175 and since arriving at San Angelo
he had borrowed 500 more from Hol-
laad. He intended paying this back.
lie had no interest in the trial
on redirect examination Pitiman
said he was unable to bear the expense
Of the trip here; owing to expense
incident to the illness and recent death
of his wife.
COrrobOraton.
The last witness for the day was
Robert bod of Alpine. He testified
TO hearing shots and finding the two
bodies in the automobile. lie did not
know who they were. but II. y. Pitt
man came up and said he saw maii
step on the running board, fire into
the toureau and then leave hurriedly
The state had not completed its re
huttal testimony when court ad-
Journed.