The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-09-19

Fort Worth, Sept. 19.-"He reached
for his gun--I beat him to it."
These were the words of Bob Bra
zlel when he took the witness stand
in his own behalf Friday afternoon
and testified why he had shot ana
killed Les L. Sigler, former chief OF
police at Ardmore, Oklahoma, at Fiji
teenth and Main streets, Dec. g.
Brazlel denied that he killed Siger
because Sigler had killed his brother,
Dow Braziel, in an Ardmore restaur-
ant.
In demonstrating the movement Sig
Ter made Just before he was shot,
scabbard was seen on BraZieFs hip
when he was on the witness stand.
Why He Carried Weapon
He then admitted that he had car
ried a pistol since he had killed Sigier
because, he said. he had received
warning that his life might be in
danger. He also testified that his
witnesses had received letters threat
ening them with violence if they took
the stand for him.
Were threats made to kill you dur
ing this trial?" asked his attorney.
"Yes, there were five of them here
before" he said, not naming who the
five" We're.
Braziel testified that he had known
Sigler for eight or ten years when
they both lived at Ardmore.
Death to Stay in Ardmore
81 was notified / would be killed
if | stayed there, so ! got up and
left" he said. Il moved to Fort
Worth"
He said that Sigler had been charg-
ed with killing his brother, but that
he was never tried and that Bud Bal
lew was charged with the same Of
fense and found not guilty.
He testified that he did not know
sigler was in Fort Worth until the
night Of the shooting. when they
met at Fifteenth and Main streets.
II saw Sigler go for his gun he
said. and / got mine and shot him.
"Why did you shoot him. asked
his attorneys.
BECAUSE I knew he would kill me
!, II he got TO his gun first
Used Brothers Gun
He said that he killed Slgler with
The same gun which was carried by
Dow Rrazel when the latter was
killed at Ardmore.
On cross-examination Braziel stat
ed that he had n sore" feeling toward
Sigler. but that he would not have
shot him had he not made for his
gun"
Since he murdered my brother. !
had no use for him." he added.
He admitted that when Ballew was
tried for killing Dow Braziel Sgler
testified that he (Slgler) did not fire
shot.
Braziel said that he had been con-
vlcted in the federal court for al
legged implication with transporting
liauor into oklahoma In 1915, and
was also convicted on another federal
charge which involved the sale OF
liquor. He said he had served nine
teen months and six days In the peni-
tentiary for the offense.
Defendants wife Testihes
Mrs. Brazel. wife Of the defendant,
testified that she and her husband
had been married for about eighteen
years. She said they left Ardmore
and had sold their home there because
threats had been made against Bra
aiel.
Miss Helen Braziel, daughter OF the
defendant. said that her father start
ed to carry a pistol after the death
Of his brother and after he had been
threatened and feared that his life
would be taken. She said that he
with his family lived az i70S Nickory
Boulevard AZ the time Slgler was
Killed.
THE man who reached for his gun
was the man who got shot" testified
Mrs. Jimmie Glllham. eyewitness "a
the shooting here. she said that she
did not know either Sigler or Braziel.
Look Out. Woman"
She testified that just before the
shots were fired she heard someone
say:
Look out. woman; I'm going tc
shoot"
H. Y. story of Denton county testi-
fled that no words passed between
Slgier and Brazicl just before the
tnuouUks
r. T. Adams Of Ardmore said that
slrler had told him to tell Brazie
that II Braziel did not leave Ardmor'
he would be killed. He said he told
Braziei what sigler had said.
Testimony Of state Witnesses
state witnesses stated that Sigler
,iid not draw his pistol just before
he was slain.
c. A. Tarkin testified that the
"rnan who did the shooting" just
before the shots were fired said tc
woman. Lady. YOU had bet,ei
get out of the way for there's goinE
TO I've a shooting here"
81 Am Going io KIN You"
He said that BraAel asked Sigler