Arizona republican., 1922-05-25
VICTIM Of LEH| WHIPPING
EPISODE TEST|F|ES K. K. K,
COMMANDS GIVEN MEMBERS
Lehi School Teacher Describes Whipping He
Charges Was Administered By Walters;
Ku Klux Klan Assumed Full Response
bility for Assault AT Preliminary Hearing

After the examination of % venire
men in Judge r. C. Stanford's divi-
sion of the superior court yesterday
morning, jury was selected to hear
the first criminal trial directly in
volving the Ku Klux Klan that has
ever passed above the jurisdiction of
a Justice court, when J. y. Waller
and B. f. Waller appeared to face
charges of aggravated assault upon
Rollin z. Jones, principal of the Lehi
school.
County Attorney r. E. L. Shepherd,
directing the prosecution for the
state. questioned each yenireman as
to his affiliation withs or belief in
the Ku Klux Klan or any of its
teachings.
j. n. Waller and his son. B. f.
Waller, both of Mesa, are being tried
jointly on charges WHICH have grown
out of whipping administered 10
Principal Jones on the night of
March 20 near Lehi. During the pre-
liminary hearing of these defendants.
evidence was introduced to show that
the Ku Klux Klan had taken full
responsibility for the assault and it
is expected that the state will bring
this evidence into the trial today.
Jones, star witness for the state.
was the first to take the witness
stand when the trial opened yester-
day. He told of having had three KS
painted upon his face, two on his
cheeks and one on his forehead. and
asserted that at one time he heard
command for members of the ku
Klux klan to assemble.
Both on direct and cross examina
tion Jones declared he was positive
of the identity of several of his as
sailants, including the two defen-
dants. He said he was certain that
J. Y. Waller was the one who welded
the whip and that he had had sever
al opportunities during that memoir
able night to satisfy himself that r.
| f. Waller was taking part in the
outrage.
Under the fire Of cross examination
Jones allowed his remarks TO assume
a direct personal challenge at several
times. Asked concerning visit
which J. y. Waller made TO him at
the schoolhouse. Jones replied. that
he remembered the occasion and that
he was present when Waller talked.
When questioned regarding charges
that he had subjected the daughter
of j. N Waller TO indignities, Jones
snapped:
The justice court cleared me OF
that frame-up.D
Something OF a sensation was
sprung by the state when Mrs. |. f.
Lewis of Mesa took the stand and
testified that j. y. Waller had
threatened her with revolver be-
cause of evidence she gave during
the preliminary hearing on the charge
of aggravated assault
He told me / had lied she said,
and then produced revolver
which he called a play pretty He
said he got the revolver in Texas 4
long time ago and that he had fired
only one shell with it but that he
had plenty more Shells
Mrs. Lewis told the court that she
owned the ranch upon which the
Waller family lives and that it adj
joins her own. that before the Jones
whipping episode she had protested
to ]. y. Waller about the number of
men congregating on her place, de-
claring she was of the opinion they
were not there for any good purpose.
Mrs. Lewis explained that a road
which passes her place serves as
private driveway to the Waller home
and that on the evening of March 20
two cars passed her place, one carry
ing the three sons of j. N. Waller.
She said the cars went west, the
direction they would travel to get
to the home of Rollin Jones. Mrs.
Lewis testimony regarding the cars
was later corroborated by her small
son, George who also testified that
he had seen j. n. Waller draw the
revolver in front of his mother.
Case to Jury Today
About two thirds of the states
testimony was introduced ut the trial
yesterday afternoon and viii be con-
Guided this morning, according to
County Attorney Shepherd. The de-
Tense will then present its side of the
case.
Despite the warmth of the court
room not even standing room was
available for all those who sought 10
hear the testimony yesterday. The
case will probably so to the jury this
afternoon.
Philip Waller. also a son OF j. y.
Waller. and Herbert Neal are await
ing trial on similar charges growing
out Of the same assault.
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