The Cordova daily times., 1922-08-03
MILLIONAIRE'S SON GETS LIFE
 FOR MURDER

1 BARSTOW, Texas, Aug. 3.-William Meadors, eighteen, has been sentenced to ninety-nine years imprisonment on conviction of the murder of Asa Rawls, after the most sensational trial ever held in West Texas. Mead ors is the son of Andy Meadors, mil lionaire rancher, who. is jointly charged with the killing, but who has been granted separate hearing. Tn youth received his sentence without show of emotion
 The alleged murder occurred on the great Meadors ranch in Andrews County, where Rawls had been em- ployed as a ranch foreman. The chief witness for the prosecution was Rawls widow, who saw the killing, while Miss Ola Meadors was the prin- cipal defense witness.
 When Mrs. Rawls took the stand she testified that the men had quar- reled when she had accused the Mead ors of stealing her diamond ring. l According to her testimony Rawls was tied hand and foot and shot to death in the rear seat of the Meadors, automobile, while both she and her husband were begging for mercy.
 The Meadors, father and son, came to our home the day preceding the tragedy" testified the widow, land when I was struggling with the elder Meadors for possession of a gun my husband struck him. My husband re- signed on the spot and next day both father and son reappeared; both were armed
 "White standing on the porch, Mead- ors fired at my husband, and he went into the house in search of his wea- pon. We then started to walk to nearby ranch, but before we got there the two Meadors came up in their car again. They ordered us to stop and put up our hands, which we did I was ill but the .Meadors forced us to stand in the hot sun in the dusty road from 2:30 in the afternoon until o'clock. Twice they threatened to shoot nv husband, once when he start ed to adjust his hat and again when he started to roll a cigarette.
 "Then Andy Meadors said to my husband: T am going to hog tie you and take you in the car to Andrews
 ''My husband answered.: If you are going to kill me do it now, but if you will take me to Andrews l will let you do anything for my Wife's sake. Meadors then made my husband lie upon his stomach and ordered me to turn my head When I was allowed to look around he was tied hand and foot Ola Meadors and three smaller Meadors children then came up, and we were placed in the rear seat. Both my husband and I were struck several 1 times with a shotgun and a pair of pliers, the father using the gun and the son the pliers. He fractured my nose with them.
 q asked permission to pray, and my husband moaned: Please don't kill us! and for answer, Andy Meadors said Hit him again, son!' screamed, and Andy Meadors placed his foot on my husbands chest, with the gun-barrel placed against his stomach. Blood was streaming down my face William said: Papa, please piled: What is the use? We have already killed him. and William an swered, T know it, but I want satis- faction I screamed again, and Will jam hit me in the mouth, and heard a shot. Ola Meadors came up, and scratched my face, pulled my hair and spat at me-"
 When Ola Meadors took the stand she declared that after Rawls was placed in the car lie worked himself free from his ropes and attacked her father. She also said that Rawls and his wife were first to attack the Mead ors when they went to the Rawls home
 The defendant was placed on the stand the last day of the trial and confirmed his sisters statement. He admitted having struck Rawls with a pair of pliers, saying he did not do so until the latter went after his fath-