Weekly journal-miner., 1918-03-27
W|NSOR CLEARED IN C[ARKDALE
 MURDER CASE
JURY TAKES BUT SHORT
 TIME TO ACQUIT SMELT- FER GUARD WHO WAS AC- CUSED OF KILLING MEX ICAN IN STREET FIGHT.
(From Saturdays Daiiy)

B. F. Winsor, who for the past
 three days lad been on trial in the ' Superior court on a charge of mur- | der growing out of the killing of Mexican named Manuel Orosco at | Clarkdale on January 2S, was ac- | quilted at seven o'clock yesterday
 evening, the jury having required little more than one hour in which to reach its conclusion.
 The verdict marks the end of one
 of the hardest-fought trials ever con
 ducted in the county, and during the
 entire three days the case was in court. seats in the courtroom were at Ia premium, the audiences having on every occasion been made up largely of women and girls who had for some reason been taking a great i'm terest in the matter.
 Attorneys O'Sullivan and Nor gan, who conducted the defense, based their appeals to the jury on self-de- fcnse, and were apparently able to
 prove to the jury's satisfaction that
 the Mexican had made threats against
 the life of the defendant, and that the
 latter was justified in shooting him down in the street in Clarkdale. Rob- ert Morrison of Prescott, had been
 hired by the friends of Orosco to act as special prosecutor to assist
 County Attorney Haworth,' and Win sor's right to acquittal was hotly con tested all through the trial.
 The submission of testimony ended shortly before the noon hour, and the arguments were opened when court convened at 1 30 The defense presented several witnesses during the morning who testified to the good character of the defendant Among those who were placed on the stand
 for this purpose were the following named: Ben Sogue, NJ. T. Broadcd.
 Fred Hawkins, Deputy Sheriff F. F.
 Bartlett, (. w. Bennett, and Joe
 Cook. The State thereupon intro duced witnesses in rebuttal of the testimony offered by the defense. A large part of the testimony showing Orosco's connection with an alleged bootlcgging plot was ruled out of the case by Judge Sweeney, and one of the main points which the de- fense hoped to introduce-the manner in which Winsor had first become ac-
 quainted with the dead man-was kept out of the records.
 The arguments by the respective counsel occupied all of the afternoon session. Attorney Morrison opened for the State. He said in his opening remarks that the Mexican had been shot down in cold blood while on his way home, and that the defense had been unable to show that Winsor had been threatened on the night of the killing. Morrison was followed by Attorney Morgan of the defense, who emphasized the point that at least two Mexicans had visited the dead body of Orosco before the off ccrs reached the spot, and that in all probability any weapon which the man might have carried had been taken away by the MeXicans in order to make a strong case against Win sor. Even the mans pocket knife had been carried off, 1t was pointed out, Orosco having been known to usually carry large knife. While the bootlegging escapade was not mentioned. the defense made quite plain the fact that bad blood had existed between the officer and his victim, and that the Mexican had un- doubtedly made threats to take the life of the defendant Morgan was followed by County Attorney Ha- worth. who spoke for some time, and then P. J. O'Sullivan took the floor in behalf of the defense. He cited the case of the recent death of three of the Graham county officers to bear out his theory that an officer must shoot and shoot first when he has reason to suspect that bad man IS about to draw gun or a knlte on him. It was either case of Wlnsor firing the fatal shots or himself be- ing a target for the Mexican's bull lets, said Mir. O'Sullivan. Had Win sor waited before shooting, he might have been the victim, just as Sher- if McBride had been shot while face to face with a party of criminals because he was not quick enough on the trigger.
 The arguments were closed little after five o'clock, and Judge Sweeney then read his instructions to the jury. It is stated that the jury took but one ballot in reaching its conclusion, and then adjourned for dinner. Judge Sweeney and the attorneys and court were notified at 6:D that verdict had been reached, and court was opened at seven o'clock, at which time the defendant learned that Inc had been cleared in a remarkably short time.