Imperial Valley press., 1923-04-10
GRUESOME
MURDER
TALE TOLD
CONTINUED from page II

Continued from page II
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XIII the man, and had also thrown
stones which crushed in Nichol $
head rs he lay helpless and dying
in the wildS of the desert. He as,
serted that all he had done was TO
throw one stone, which he claimed
he was forced TO do by Campbell.
SoIdid Details
beginning with his meeting with
Campbell at lndio, Davis followed
their course TO Yuma and then
back to INLAND where they met
Nichols, who offered them n ride
over the desert road, how Nichols
had given them cigarettes and
water, and did everything in his
power to make them feel comforta-
BILE.
The stop by :he roadside, osten-
siblv to get a DRINK of water from
Nichols canteen, and which was
the starting point for the real trag-
edy, was minutely described, Davis
narrating just where each of the
trio stood and what passed between
them. He told of Campbell shooting
Nichols, then of the trip further in
to the desert away from the road,
where Nichols was again shot and
his head smashed in with heavy
rocks. The sordid details concern
ing the removal of the dead man $
clothing and its appropriation by
the mrderers brought Il ''lump =
to the throats of many spectators,
but the young witness was absolute
ly unmoved.
Even when the torn and bloody
underclothing of the dead man was
offered to him for Identification,
he kept his composure and handled
the awe-inspiring garments rs nom
chalantlv as one would mop rag.
Tells of Arrest
lie continued on with his nara
tive, telling of their travels after
the murder in Nichols ear, and how
they tried to eliminate marks of
identity on the automobile, paint
ing out the signs of the company
for which Nichols worked and 9th
erwise altering its appearance.
Their arrest at Blythe by Deputy
Sheriff Barron of Riverside Coun-
~, who suspected them of stealing
the ear when they gave unsatisfae-
tory answers to his questions, and
their subsequent confinement in
Riverside county Jail where the
awful truth of their grewsome deed
slipped from their lips, seemed TO
cause only satisfaction to young
Davis, possibly from the belief that
his testimony will be the means of
making Campbell accompany him
to prison.
Campbell Worried
The latter sat beside his counsel,
pale and wan looking, flush OF
color coming to his face now and
again, as he heard Davis testimony
and apparently failed to agree with
the story as his partner told it. lie
gulped visibly when his navy uni
form was exposed to Davis for
Identification, and again when his
navy discharge was introduced as
evidence. Doubtless thoughts of
the disgrace he has brought on the
uniform filled his mind, for it has
been known among officials that
Campbell really liked the navy and
has stated that he was happy while
one of Uncle Sam s gobs. He evi-
IDENTIFY resented Davis statement
on the witness stand that he Camp
belD had been '.kieked out of tht
navy" though he made no sign
other man slight bow of his head
DR.. w. j. Lyons, county coroner
preceded Davis on the stand, tell
ing Of the finding of Nichols body
by the Riverside and Hmperia
county officials following the in
struetions of Davis and Campbell
! and the nature of the wounds whicl
! caused the unfortunate man.
deatl