American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-06-24
SLAYER ACQUITTED
AFTER FOUR DAY TRIAL

until min o'clock Wednesday morn
ing. At that time a jury was secured
from outlying districts OF Landing and
Roy and the case began. First witt
ness for the state, Sheriff George Han
son, was called at II A. VI.
case was under way.
DIR. Schiltz then testified for the
state stating in effect that the deceas-
ed officer was shot from both front
and rear and stating the nature and
seriousness Of the wounds. Eyewit-
nesses Secrist, Kawalis and Swim and
Erie Young were then called in the
order named and stated in effect that
they with Deputy Torrance went to
Balls ranch, watched his actions for
two hours, approached his place while
he was away and prepared to arrest
him upon his return. They testified
in addition that Mr.. Ball left his house
armed with a gun and that he went
away in the direction OF Joe Dawson
who was riding horseback across the
reservation west of the Ball house.
Upon Balls return they testified In
The Attempted Arrest.
effect that Secrlst and Torrance halt
ed Ball and ordered his hands up.
Secrist stated that he stated TO Ball
that he (BallD was under arrest.
Kawalis testified that deputy Torrance
told Ball at the time he was halted
that he was an officer. The eyewit-
nesses further testified that Ball open
ed fire mortally wounding Torrance
and slightly w%oundlng Kawalis and
Swim. Counsel for the defense in
cross examination brought out the
fact that In the testimony of the eye
witnesses Secrlst and Kawalis at the
preliminary hearing May 9Th, they
failed to state that Bail was informed
that officers had come TO arrest Ball.
Counsei for state and the defense
tangled at length over this point which
eventually proved TO be n OF the
most important issues of the case.
( divers Testimony
Deputy Oliver testified that he
found Balls shotgun and shells loaded
with buck shot at the Polling place and
they we're introduced as evlence. At
ter calling a few minor witnesses the
state rested.
The defense called Mrs. Polling to
the stand Wednesday evening In an
attempt to lmpeach Secrist following
which the court adjourned until Thurs
day morning.
Blshoff and Verne Mum were called
TO the stand by the defense TO testify
that there was n mob Of fifteen men,
more or less, c%ongregated about the
Ball ranch besides the deputy sheriff
and his posse. Here a small bomb
burst In the defense testimony when
Mum further testified that the fifteen
r,tnV, mona gxfa fKun fYnilqu nNUuU nj the |
Pauline store.
Ball Takes Stand.
Ball was then called TO the stand In
his own behalf. He was evidently
nervous, his fingers drumming a rapid
tattoo on his shnir and his face con
siderably drawn by the strain OF many
sleepless nights. He told q simple
and colorlesa story some OF II seeming
20 be contrary TO the instructions of
his counsel Judge Stevens who inter-
posed frequently 10 direct the answers
of his client, Ball testified that he
saw no one prior to the time that he
left his house. He stated that he car
rIed his shotgun loaded with buckshot
Because Il was the only kind that he
had and that, though expecting an
officer TO arrest him he had gone
hunting onto the reservation. When
he returned, according to his testl-
mony. he had his gun across his left
arm with the right hand ON the breech.
lie stated that he was ordered to halt
and did 30 placing the butt of his gun
on the ground. He testified that he
then asked II there were officers In
she crowd and wal answered by n
shot; that he then began shooting
and fired several shots at his adver-
saries whom he supposed had come
90 do him bodily injury.
Trouble with Brandt
BAH also testified that Eric Young
was a hrother-in-law to Ed Brandt
whom ne had shot with u pistol earl
1er IN the day n mile or 80 from the