The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-05-10
STATE WITNESSES
PLACEDON STAND
Evidence i'm Prosecution
of A. C. Mullins Begun
in District Court
MURDER IS CHARGED
State Attempting to Prove
Defendant Knew Victim
Was Not Highwayman

The state introduced its first wit
r---r- Monday at the trial of a. c.
Mullins. charged with murder, and
made telling onslaughts against the
defense Mullins is charged with
shooting Sharrick j. Duke, railroad
suitchman. who was mortally
wounded on the night Of January iS,
on North Main street, when he was
sho. In tho abdomen.
In the opening statement Tor tho
gtsto. John Goldsberry assistant
county attorney, summed up the en-
tire history OF the case, He gave a
review from the time Mullins. in
company with Mrs, Duke and Mrs
Ira Da!ton entered taxiCab, drove
10 "Uhoc' Joint and back to town
to the point where Duke was shot
Goldsborry said that the state would
offer evidence to prove that Mullins
and Mrs Duke had framed up
story 10 the effect that they thought
Duke was a hi-iacker. Mrs. Duke is
said to have later told officials this
story was untrue.
j. X. Springer, in his opening
statement for the defense referred
10 Mrs Duke as a famous police
character and attacked the reputa-
ton Of the woman and her husband
4le said that the defense would
prove that she was not the wife of
Duke but Of a Harry Shaw.
Here a. T. Moss rose to his feet
with emphatic objections but he was
Interrupted by Mrs. Margaret Cod
dard Mrs. Dukes sister, who leaped
TO her feet, her eyes filled with tears
and screaming:
You lie, Springer you lie"
Mrs. Goddard was finally calmed
and pursuaded to leave the court
room and Miss renewed his objec-
tons. Judge Redmond S. Cole sus-
tanned the objection and admonished
Springer to refrain from such utter
anceS. Springer also claimed that
the defense would prove that Mrs.
Duke, her husband. Mrs. Dalton and
y. G. Iarkin. taXicab driver, had
framed up to take Mullins out and
hi-JacN him and that at the time he
shot, Mullins thought 1t was hi
laCkers.
The first witness for the state was
Robert Ezelle, taxi driver, with
whom Duke was riding at the time
he was shot. EZelle said he had
been hired by Duke, drove to n
"choc' Joint north of town, hunted
for the latters wife and then came
back TO town. He told of passing
the car occupied by Mullins and Mrs,
Duke. slowed up and let it pass and
then drove alongside. Duke, he
sad stepped on the running board
and called out to his wife to wait
minute. At that time. Ezelle said,
one shot was fired, Duke fell back
into the seat with "A groan, slipped
To the floor of the car and EZelle
then drove to the Oklahoma hos
pital.
The taxi driver was submitted 70
grucliing cross examination but
) attorneys for the defense failed to
snake him from his original story.
- Inc next witness for the state was
Dr' Fred S. Clinton who attended
Huhe his testimony dealt with tho
nature OF the wound and he was not
cross examined.
Ihe dead mans wife was the next
on the stand. At the time court ad-
Jouined she was being cross ex-
ahmed by the defense. Her testi-
mony was TO the point and although
springer in his cross examination
n"' "ll'n oToW-DeatlnP, the woman
SUCK TO her original story. She told
now she had gone out with Mullins
restaurant and then back TO
nef motel where she got her coat and
,et word with the porter to tell her
husband that she was at "Esther.s''
choc Joint. Then she, Mrs Dalton
tha Mullins drove in a taxi to the
tace named where they stayed an
hwn. '"'N "
Her testimony about Dukes car.
hN actions and the shooting were
p.aCtlca!ly the same as that of
nIeie s. After the shooting she
sald Mullins drove to the police sta.
u,h uoh where he reported the affair.
nhat report he gave. she claims
sne docs not know.
,,u is probable that the state will
use its case today. The defense
i'aS long list of witnesses which IL
s.a nas summoned and attorneys for the
sea Sc announce that they will use
S,,,eral Witnesses in rebuttaI. Court
iL'l!clals believe that the case will
@s several days. "