Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1921-10-23
WALKER CASE COMES
SUDDENLY TO END.

SUDDENLY TO END.
Bringing to a sudden end. although
not unexpected by those in close
touch with the case. the trial of W. p.
Walker. charged with embezzlement,
was suddenly terminated when court
opened this morning. when the de-
Tense announced they wished to with
draw the plea of not guilty and enter
a plea of guilty.
shortly after court opened at 8: 80
this morning. Geo. W. Brown, chief
expert witness for the state, who has
played a prominent part in gathering
evidence since the arrest OF Walker,
resumed the stand TO continue intro
duction of documentary evidence to
show shortages attributed TO the de-
fendant
Pleads Guilty.
No sooner had County Attorney
Ross began his first question. how
ever, when Attorney J. T. Kingsbury.
chief counsel for the defense. address
ed the eour, saying: Your Honor,
we wish to withdraw our plea in this
case and enter plea OF guilty.
Judge Lockwood, addressing Walk
er. asked him if such was his desire,
and being advised by the defendant
tha: he wished to change his plea 10 a
plea of guilty. same was recorded and
the case was over.
The court then turned to the jury.
thanked them for their painstaking
services in the case so far as it had
gone and excused them for the term.
A general handshaking between mem
bers Of the jury with the county attor-
ney and his forces followed. and the
news spread quickly about the city
and over the county. that the newt
able had occurred.
History Of the Case.
The trial of Walker started on the
10th Of the present month, following
a day spent in the selection of the
jury. Walker had been arrested De
cember 3rd, 1920. charged with en-
bezzlement Of funds from the treasur.
er's office, the sum OF s2344s, which
was the first case filed. and subse-
uuent charges totalling IS were filed
against him by County Attorney Ross
following a complete audit of the
books Of the once, conducted by Geo
W. Brown A total shortage of s35.
.o2.5s was piled up against the de
fendant out of 6l5 items discovered
by the auditor.
Connection of Walker with the
shortage was no small matter. how
ever, and il took over eight months
OF more on the part Of Brown and
County Attorney Ross to link up the
chain Of damaging evidence and be
prepared to go to trial in a manner
that would convince the jury that
Walker was the guilty party.
Evidence Linked.
Months Of combing the county fol
tax receipts issued by the defendant
which was the principle method by
which dates Of payment Of the vari
GUS items could be established. were
spent by the county attorney and hi:
force, as most Of the shortages were
entered in the handwriting Of the de
fendant, without any dates. Finally
the trial on the first information
against Walker was set for the frs
part Of September. Illness on thu
part Of Jas. Smith. expert witness fol
the defense, caused postponemen
until last week.
Plan Long Trial.
Plans had been laid by both side,
for a long drawn out trial, second il
lenth Of time only to that OF the fam
Gus deportation trial held in Tomb
stone last year. But the case had no
progressed a week until those in at
tendance daily at the trial. and thos'
connected with the case on the sid