El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-16
Vivid Tales Of
Wilson Killing
Told In Court
Widow Of Ranchman and
Son OfDefendant, John
son, Chief Witnesses.

cember 90. last. Vivid testimony re-
rarding incidents Of the killing was
given yesterday
Mrs. Arthur Wilson, wife Of the de-
ceased. gave detailed testimony in re-
Z gard TO the incidents leading up 10
the killing. She stated that ner nus
band had been off on trapping Trip
the day and night Of the 18Th and re-
turned to the ranch on the afternoon
81 the 20th about $3.50: that the John
sons. father and son, came 10 the rancn
house about 4, AR. Johnson getting
out Of their truck below the house 10
shut a gate. Deceased came out OF
shed i'm which he was working, she
Z said. and asked Earl Johnson. son or
! the defendant. why he had driven MS
sheen out on the railroad She did not
hear the reply OF the boy Her hus-
4 band had a club in his hand at the
time
says Wilson Hit Young Johnson
They talked for a few minutes and
Wilson struck young Johnson in the
| face with his left fist twice and then
Ihft him on the left arm with the club
which he held in his right hand John
son senior. came from the corral gate,
according to the witness, ana M
/ Wilson said to him;
wait a minute. ar Johnson want
Z to talk TO you. too
I Defendant did not stop. said the wit
mess. but hurried into the house and
returned in a short time with shot-
/ gun and started in the direction OF
I Wilson and his SON She said she at
tempted 10 persuade the defendant not
{ to 20 out with the gun and that ben
! Frazier. another witness OF the kill
/ ing. also drew a pistol on the detend-
T ant and told him not to kill that boy.
3 Witness testified that Johnson re-
piled he would kill her, too, and
Ihastened on out the gate toward VII
Z som that she screamed to her husband
land he turned around and took two
steps toward the defendant " nen me
latter fired. the charge striking Wiz
son in the left side. ana he pitched
I forward on his face at the defendants
Z feet
( She then rushed out to Johnson. she
said. and Erasped the gun in an EFFORT
Ito disarm him and he struck her across
/ the forehead or temple with the gun,
Z knocking her 70 the ground She SAID
/ she then got hold OF the barrel or the
gun fin some manner and struggled
with the defendant and that FRAZER
came TO her assistance. The son OF
defendant then came ID and took the
gun from his father and they went
. in the house. Later they returned, the
defendant having the shotgun ana a
Winchester in his hands, she said he
4 and his son tier. got in their truck
land drove off The witness then ran
Ito her husband. who never spoke a
word after he fell
sister CorroborafeS.
] Miss Belle Fenley. sister OF MIS-
] Wilson. who was living with her at
1.-THE time testified substantially the
same as the wife OF the deceased
/ Ben Frazier testified he came 10 the
ranch shortly before the shooting and
was in the shed with Wilson assisting
him to stretch a hide. when young
johnson drove up in the truck BE
7 said Wilson walked out 70 the trl k.
y first saving Hello Earl" TO John
son. Frazier said Johnson replied.
then the deceased asked w hat the
he'll do YOU mean turning ny sheep
out on the railroadt
l Witness testified he did not hear any
further conversation me IesL on
his testimony corroborated that OF
! Mrs. Wilson
Frazier testified the gun OF Wilson
was on his horse which was standing
tied near the scene OF the killing All
1.-The witnesses for the state gave testi-
Imonv which remained mistaken under
3 severe cross examination by the de-
fence.
! Fl PasOans Testify.
1 Charles B. stevens, DR.. Hugh s.
I White Frank Coles and r. It. Pons-
ford. OF FL Paso. testified as TO the
I character OF the defendant Dr. White
also testified 10 having dressed the
! wounds on the head and face Of Earl
johnson shortly after the alteration.
Testimony OF these witnesses was
taken out Of the regular order in or
der that they might return TO Fl Paso
by the Afternoon train
Young johnson Testifies for Futher.
Earl Johnson then took the stand in
his fathers defence He told Of the
buying Of the ranch by the defendant
and moving their cattle on the place
and also said the sheep OF the de-
q he rFT
I contaminated the water in some OF
their pastures and said he had driven
them out Of the Johnson pastures sew
eral times a week. Witness testified
that the deceased told him there was
no herd law and that he did not have
Ito hire a herder for his flock. but il
Johnson would furnish the material he
would assist in making a fence 20 KEEP
j his sneep out OF Johnson's pasture
Part OF Testimony Ruled out.
Judge Howe ruled out this portion
iof his evidence. with the exception OF
that relating TO the construction OF
the fence The witness then detailed
the incidents leading up to the shoot
ing. He said Wilson called him many
IVile names and struck the first blow
u with the club, afterwards using his
fist Witness did not know how many
blows were struck. but felt sure there
were five or six. He said he attempt
ed 10 get out OF the truck on the right
hand side, away from Wilson, but that
Il Wilson would grab his jumper with
his left hand and pull him back and
strike him again He said he was also
4 impeded by his spurs. which became
4 entanElcd in the brake and gear shift,
I FINALLY. he said. his father came M
and Wilson also cursed him and told
him he could have some OF 1T. too. he
said his father did not stop but went
into the house. Witness was not sure
that he saw his father coming from
the house with the gun. as his eyes
were fun OF blood
saw the Killing.
Later he wiped off his face and
saw his father coming out the gate
) with the gun in his hands. Wilson
meantime had disappeared. young
p johnson said. and he did not see VIII
son until after his father fired. when
o. he saw deceased falling TO the ground
y later he went 10 where his father
Mrs Wilson and Frazier were strug-
Cling over the gun and old his father
. iant replied that when Frazier put ur
his pistol. he would Frazier put his
pistol away and the defendant gave
the gun TO his son. they going to the
. house and getting Winchester rifle
Returning, they took their truck and
. went to Valentine and the defendant
Surrendered to deputy sheriff Cole Be.
fore leaving the ranch. witness said
Z The picked up the club used by Wilson
and hid it, later sending by friends t.
recover it. The club was introduced IN
evidence
said Blow Dazed Him.
On cross examination. witness wal
mot positive about portions OF his ties