Imperial Valley press., 1922-05-23
IRELAND FEEL S BRITISH LASH
Breedloue Recalls
Everything But Act
OfShooting Enemy

Testifying in his own defense on the
charge of numbering Rex Samples Feb
ruary ) in Ell Centre, Phil BreedlOve
late yesterday told the jury, under
cross examination by District Attorney
Simon, that he did not remember firing
either of the asserted two shots into the
body of Samples and had little recollec-
tion of events following the tragedy.
In his testimony Breedlove told of
the evening of February 5 when he
came to FL Centre and found his wife
had left her apartments, leaving the
two small children peacefully sleeping.
81 decided | was going to find that
man. He had to leave my wife and
family alone. ! resolved L was going
to make him leave them alone. l just
had to see him. / couldn't stand it
any longer Breedlove declared.
He then related going to the pool hall
owned by Andy Vie and arranging for
shotgun. He had found picture Of
Rex Samples in his wife s trunk and
knew he could positively identify
Samples. With the picture in one hand
and the shotgun in the other, Breedlove
testified he waited in the lobby Of the
Oregon hotel for Samples. When he
entered the lobby man yelled "Rex"
and he knew that was his man, he said.
"When Samples came out of the law
atory into the lobby my eyes were like
balls of fire. 1 don't know what hap
pened after that,'' Breedlove testified.
"Did you go to the hotel to kill
Samples?' his counsel asked.
81 had no intentions of killing him.
No L did not, / felt he was going
to make an ASSAULT was the reply.
Breedlove was on the stand the en-
tire afternoon yesterday. He told of
sending his wife and family to FL Cen
tro after he and his brother and father
| in-law had been awarded levee con-
tract at Indio. Housing accommoda-
tions were limited in the town and
therefore sent his family here. That
was soon after January l. The follow
ing day after returning to Brawley he
found four letters written by Samples
in his wife s purse. Mrs. BreedlOve re-
monstrated against reading them.
"YOu will never live with ME again
if you read them,N she said.
Up to this time Breedlove testified
he had never suspected his wife. He
read the four letters at the Barbara
Worth hotel. The letters revealed the
relations between his wife and Samples,
he said. cit was almost impossible for
me to face my wife and babies after
reading such letter as that he
stated.
Breedlove said his wife told him if
Samples had had money he would not
have found those letters because
Samples was going to take her and the
children to a foreign land.
The couple were recOnciled however,
and they burned the letters in the back
yard. She resolved to forget Samples
and go back to Indio. Unable to find
a house at Indio, the husband decided
to send his wife and family to either
Riverside, San BernardinO or Los An
geles. Mrs. Breedlove desired to go
back to FL Centric, he said, to live with
friends and relatives where she would
not be lonely. The husband acquiesced
and they came to Ell Centre, rented an
apartment and bought clothing and nec-
essary articles for the family. The
small daughter, Louise, was placed in
kindergarten.
Breedlove returned to Indio. Later
he came to Brawley on business mis-
sion. He said he had subconscious
feeling that Samples was still in the
valley. Through the owner of Mag
nolia apartments at Brawley, Breed
love learned the last name of the man
who had caused friction in his family.
He came down to Ell Centre once after
phoning q number of time to get in
communication with his wife. He test
flied to the following conversation with
his wife then:
Catherine, is Rex Samples in Ell
Centro?"
"How do know she replied.
You know [ know where he is,'
the husband declared.
''How did you know his name?'
asked Mrs. Breedlove, adding, "Phil,
| do not know if / can make a promise
to keep away from Samples - the wife
said after Il long talk in the night.
Breedlove testified leaving town
early the next morning for Brawley and
lndio. In the week following he slept
little, and accomplished little on the
grading contract. Saturday, February
4, he went to Brawley to make settle
ment for a carload of hay. Sunday he
came to Ell Centre for visit with his
family and found his wife gone He
made number of visits at the apart
ments that afternoon and evening.
Breedlove said he then resolved to
| make Samples leave his wife and fam
lily alone.
The case is being argued this after
noon, Charles E. Scott, deputy district
attorney opened for the state