The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-26
LAYS ALL BLAME
ON DEAD MAN
Spaniel, as Witness in His
Trial for Murder, Tells
Story Of the Double
Killing.
CASE IN JURY's HANDS
DlS Not Intentionally Kill His Wife
During the struggle In Automo-
bile, With Brain
CIouded.
CASE IN JURY's HANDS

limited Press Leased Wire Gervfce.l
SAN ANGELO. Texas. Jan. 20
The fate OF Harry J. Speaeu on trial
for the murder of his Wits nay be
In the hands Of the jury tefore
night.
SPANIEL. who was on the stsad
practically all day yesterday, occu-
pied several hours In describing the
events that led up to his shooting
Major NJ. C. Butler in an automobile
at Alpine last July and the death 0f
his wife from bullet wounds at 'ns
same time. He reached the nara
tive Of the actual shooting late in
the day and although his recountal
was at times incoherent, he told one
of the most dramatic stories in Texas
court. annals.
j Judge. jury, court attaches. the
aged father of his dead wife, specta-
tors and even the counsel for both
sides wept openly and SPANIEL. in
the midst Of his recital. collapsed on
the stand. When he had concluded
his story he was helped from the
sssud b. two court attaches.
Spaneil sprang distinct surprise
by stating that Butler himself start
ed the shooting. He said he believed
his wife had been insulted by But
Ter in the hotel and that he invited
the army officer out in his automo-
tile with Mrs. SPANIEL ito have 1t
out with him." Spaniel said he asked
Butler point blank what "he had
done upstairs" Butler replied he
had done nothing; that Mrs. Spaniel
was Just excited and had misunder-
stood him. Mrs. Spaniel. who was
riding In the rear seat with Butler.
Jumped up and started to say some
thing. SPANIEL declared Butler tried
to prevent her by putting his hands
over her mouth. Spaniel heard her
say 'he grabbed me and started to
Use words won't repeat" Then.
according to Spanell, she felt blow
o.. the back Of his head and Butler
tried to jam his head down on the
steering Wheel Spaniel drew Dig
revolver. CLOUD after cloud came
over me-" cried Spaniel. Il didn't
know who was acting-it wasn't me.
I heard one, shot. We wrestled on
the seat. knew II Butler got that
gun he would kill me and Crystal,
tco. I thought Of the little pistol IN
nv pocket don't remember his
finally getting the big gun out OF my
hand, AFTER QdO SOItSh IAO AAse
pistol out, think fred 1t couple
of times.
"I found myself next outside OF the
car. / came back quickly to the car
and Butler seemed to be right be.
hind Mrs. SPANIEL. rushed around
to the other side Of the car ana
fred at him don't know how many
times. Then / saw him fall and l
saw Mrs. Spaniel there in the door.
I grabbed her and called her. Crys-
tai. speak to me- But she didn't
speak. l tried to get her out OF the
car. I couldn't move her and put
the pistol up to my own head and
thought I would kill myself. but
baby came up before me and seemed
to saw. Don't daddy, Pm waiting for
Won, And something pulled my arm
down, and I started away. called
for help"
He next remembered being In jail
He might have hred
the big revolver in the car, he salc,
and he might have fred the small
pistol before he left the car. But
he did not Intentionally kill his wife.