Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-04-21
A. B, Renehan, Attorney for
Friday Harbor Youth, Out
lines Defense in His Pre-
Iirninay Statement,
BLANCETT TAKES STAND
AND TELLS OF JOURNEY
Reaches Point Just Before
Killing Took Place When
! Court Is Adjourned, Post
poning His Narrative


Santa Fe, April 2O.--That Elbert
Blancett while under the Influence OF
intoxicants accidentally shot ana
killed clyde Armour near Glorieta on
october 23. 1916. was the defense
that Attorney A. b. Renehan pro-
pounded this evening in his opening
statement at the Blancett murder
trial.
That Blancett on his first impulse
intended to summon help, but was
frightened by the thought that being
IA stranger in a strange country he
would be accused of murder, aban-
doned the body and came to Santa Fe,
was the next step, as explained by the
defense That Blancett, finding him
self without means to reach his home
in Washington, then telegraphed for
money and sold the automobile, was
the inevitable third step which eX-
planned his conduct, was the conclu-
sion drawn.
The defense summoned only two
minor witnesses before placing Blan-
cett himself on the stand These were
w H. Kerr and Robert Scott, BARRIERS,
who testified that on the day OF the
killing late in the afternoon, Blancett
came to the barber shop apparently
intoxicated, and was shaved.
a,aneett SeiT-nossessed.
Blancett was quite self-possessed
ls or nd t,t. npc tn
a clear, low voice and with brevity.
He told of his meeting Armour in
Denver and accompanying him into
New Mexico with Fresno, Calf, their
intended destination. Mile by mile
and city by city the incidents of the
journey were told. He asserted that
whiskey and whiskey and beer We're
bought whenever opportunity offered
and that they both drank freely.
BIancett admitted, however that he
drank more than twice as much as
Armour.
When asked what effect intoXicants
had upon him, Blancett replied that
he could stand good deal of drink
ing, that it never affected his feet,
was quite clear in his recollections OF
the incidents of the journey until af-
ter Las Vegas was left. He told of a
lunch under the pine trees half a mile
east of Rowe, where he partook of
so much beer and whiskey that his
recollection of subsequent events be-
came more hazy.
The examination had carried to the
point where the killing took place
when the attorney suggested to the
court that the jurors were tired, that
he also was pretty we'll worn out, and
that he would be grateful If the court
would adjourn until tomorrow morn
ing.
Mother May Go on Stand.
Judge Abbott, after some thought,
granted the request, leaving Blancetts
testimony at the climax for tomorrow.
However Attorney Renehan had stat
ed that the defense would show that
while Blancett was still under the in
fluence of intoxicants, he had slipped
and in falling discharged a gun acci-
dentally, killing Armour. He said
that he would have but one more wit
ness who, it is believed, will be Blan-
cett's mother. It is possible that the
case will go to the jury tomorrow
night.
Unprecedented in the court history
of Santa Fe county was the scene to-
night at the opening of the evening
session in the Blancett trial. AS ear
ly as half-past seven there was not a
vacant seat in the court room, and by
o'clock even a football squad could
not have forced it's way through the !
throngs of humanity that stood in the |
aisles and even choked the lobby |
downstairs and upstairs.
The cross-examination of NJ. M.
Hamman occupied the greater part OF
the day. and it was not until tonight |
that the witnesses for the defense
were called.