Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1921-05-08
ALLEN CLAIMS HE SHOT
IN SELF DEFENSE.

The chief testimony for the state
was given by J. A. Robertson. who
was arrested charged with completely
in the killing of Roper. He said that
the night of the killing of Roper by
Allen on his ranch. Allen sent for him
and when he arrived told him what he
had done. and asked him what ne
should do He advised him to give
himself up. but Allen did not want TO
DO il. he said. because he knew he
would be arrested for making whisky.
Alien told him. he said. that he should
no; tell of the killing. or he would kill
him Robertson. After Allen had
buried Roper body, Allen told Rob
ertson 10 go TO Lordsburg and tele
graph Roper's people. signing Roper's
name and say that he was alright
This would allay suspicion. Allen told
20 Douglas short time after the kill
,ny and the next he heard was OF Al
lens arrest The reason he did not
tell of the killing was his fear that
Alien would kill him. Robertson said.
That he shot in self defense and
OILY after he feared John Roper would
kill him. was the testimony of Baxter
Allen. charged with the killing of
John Roper OH his ranch in the Sui
phur Spring valley in February. who
is on trial today in the Superior court
County Attorney J. F. Ross started
the Introduction OF evidence for the
state this morning when court opened
and closed his case at $50 this AZ
ternoon. after he had placed ten WY
nesses on the stand.
IT. II. 4. Reese. for the state. tesyi-
fed as TO the nature of the wound.
which entered the head of Aoper al
the rear and tore off practically all
of the back OF his head.
Chas Martin. J. J. Sanders. and
Chas NJ. Stapleion. testified to hav-
ing made the search for Roper after
he had been missing for some time
and Vernon Lahore. II. II. Bohmfalk,
and Geo. E. Gipson. deputy sheriffs.
told OF the finding OF the body and
the subsequent arrest OF Allen. Mrs.
J. 4. Roper. wife OF the dead man,
and her daughter. Mrs. c. VI. Staple
ton identified the watch and chain OF
the dead man which was found on
Mrs. Allen after her husbands arrest
When The defense opened their case
Mrs. Allen, Mexican wife OF the de
PENDANT. was placed on the stand and
told Of having hard the men quarrel
ing that night followed by two shots.
and that her husband told her he had
killed Roper. She did not see the
hody. she said nor did NOT see Allen
bury the body.
Narcisco Torres. son Of Mrs. Allen.
was on the stand for considerable
length OF time, and although only a
youth Of 13. was an unwilling witness.
Only when pinned down by close
questioning would he give the desired
information even in answer TO ques-
lions OF the defense attorneys He
told of being awakened by Allen and
going after Robertson. seeing the
BODY of Roper the next day in the
room. with a rifle in the dead mans
hand. He demonstrated the exact po-
sition of Roper's body and the posi-
ton of the rifle By lying down on the
floor. Alien. he said. told him to dig
the grave, which he did, and they bur
led Roper the next night about 8
O'Clock.
The defendant was on the stand at
4:45 under severe cross examination
of County Attorney Ross. with indica-
tions that it would not be completed
until tomorrow morning when court
resumes.
Allen told the story of his being as
sociafed with Roper in the moon
shining business" for or 10 months,
first in Don Luis and next in the val
ley. He detailed his association with
the dead man. on direct examination
telling o events that lead to the kill
ing. He and Roper were on the front