Arizona republican., 1920-08-20
BARBOA Is CLEARED
 IF ALL CONNECTION
 WITH ERHARDT CRIME

Following a hearing of the case yes terday before Justice Mckee in the West Phoenix precinct justice court, Jesus Maria Barboa was found not guilty of the charges of murdering MT. and Mrs. Jacob Erhardt on the night of June 6 and was released from custody. He was turned over to his brother and mother who live at Litch- field and was taken to their home last night Today he will be sent by his brother to Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. from whence he came April 9 of this morning of June II, it was for the purpose of going back there where he has wife and family.
 The first witness on the stand at the hearing yesterday was Jake Err
 hardr, eldest son of the murdered couple, who testified to finding the bodies on the morning of June ' and to calling the officers. Officer c. L.. Strathy, of the city police department was the next witness and told of the alleged confession of the Mexican on the night of June 20 in the Erhardt home. Officer Strathy filed the formal Icomplaint on which the Mexican was tried yesterday.
 Officer John Blea of the police de- partment was the next witness. MT. BIea acted as interpreter the night of the alleged confession and told of talk | ing Barboa to the Erhardt home about 1:30 o'clock on the morning of June 26. MT. Blea said that Barboa said as | he stood by the bed where the aged couple slept, God help us," thinking,
 he said that the pillows covered with sheets was evidently dead bodies.
 Barboa. he said acted as though he were tired out during the confession and frequently had to be aroused so that the investigation could be con-
 tinued Officer Blea stated that the
 statements of the Mexican on that
 night were of a rambling nature and
 not connected.
 K. w. Stepp, foreman of the Central
 ranch at Litchfield for whom Barboa worked for a time, told of firing Barboa from the works because of his ap-
 parent insanity. He stated that Bar boa was at work on the morning oi
 June and showed by his time book l that he was checked in at o'clocl
 in the morning. Others employed or
 the ranch also testified as to the pres ence of the Mexican in Litchfieldf or that day. S. F. Terry of the ranci said that he saw Barhoa in swimming in the afternoon of June 6 which h' said was Sunday.
 E. T. Bledsoe. stated that he ant Fred Wright took the finger prints il
 the house after the murder and stated 1 that the finger prints taken of Barbo;
 after his capture did not correspont
 in any way to any found in the house
 Mir. BledSoe said that neither did tn prints of Gibson correspond to any il the house He said that the only un known prints in the house were palm print on a fIashlight and a finge print on tho screen. Neither of thes
 prints, he said, correspond to eithe
 the prints of Barboa or Gibson. Al lr<l !, q crfry1f Q
 for. Mr. Bledsoe said that their worl
 was somewhat handicapped becaus so many officers and citizens has
 handled articles in the house.
 Epemenio Barboa, brother of tn
 defendant. stated that since the de tention of his brother in jail, he ha improved a great deal. He said h bought the ticket for him to leav Phoenix for Cananea on June Il. H said his brother did not work Iol Sunday, June 6, because he was sicl Sheriff Montgomery said he ha i conducted the investigation of tn movements of the Mexican in con nection with the alleged confessic and was convinced that the man di not commit the crime. MT. Montgom cry also unidentified a written comics | sion of Nose Gibson stating that h committed the crime, as being a state ment signed in his presence in tn | California state prison at San Quenti on August '.
 | The hearing was conducted by ] | M. Laney, county attorney. Barbo | was defended by Attorney W. J. Fel | lows. The interpreting was done b | the official court interpreter, Fran | Orduna. The court room was crowde with spectators who were draw | through curiosity to the place. BaI boa sat during the entire hearin I without raising his head or appearin to notice or hear any of the testimon offered.