Imperial Valley press., 1927-12-20
MORRISON GETS
FIVE YEARS TO
LIFE IN PRISON
Slayer of Cecil A. Gibson
Sentenced This Morning
By Judge Finney.

y
hand of Calipatria district, was
sentenced to San Quentin state pen
itentiary for term of five years
to life by Judge A. c. Finney in
superior court, department two, this
morning. Morrison yesterday plead
ed guilty to a charge of murder and
the court later found a verdict of
second degree murder against him.
The ease grows out of the shooting
to death of Cecil A. Gibson, Cali
patria district rancher on the af-
tcrnoon of September 23, last.
District Attorney Head recon-
mendcd that the defendant be COM
nitted to the penitentiary for life.
The court, however, had made no
recommendation in the case up un-
til noon today.
"I shot him. | did not mean to
do it. He was fighting with Eas-
sou and | fired the gun in an at
tempt to scare him. ! did not mean
to hit him. was the manner in
which Morrison described the death
of Gibson. The testimony was TAX
en- before Judge Finney yesterday
afternoon following the plea OF gull
tv entered by Morrison to a charge
of murder.
The hearing was held IN order
tLat the court might decide whether
iEe conviction against Morrison
would stand as first degree or sec
ond degree murder. At the close of
the hearing the judge returned a
verdict of second degree murder.
While there was some evidence en-
tered to show that Morrison and
Gibson had not at all times agreed,
there was no evidence produced to
show that the crime had been pre-
meditated.
Morrison when first arrested
charged Easson with the crime, say
ing that Easson had killed Gibson
during fight and that he had then
helped him dispose of the body by
throwing it in an irrigation ditch.
I!o said that he had helped Easson
to get away. Easson was traced TO
Los Angeles where his trail was lost
and he has never been apprehended.
Morrison was questioned at length
relative to his movements on the
day in question. He told of the
events leading up TO the return OF
him and Easson to the ranch and Of
Gibson arguing with Easson because
he had bceA drinking. The fight
followed and Morrison said that he
then fired in the general direction
in his effort to scare Gibson.
He then described how the two of
them had taken the body to the ir-
riyation ditch and tossed it in the
water. Then the prisoner related
how he had helped Easson to get
away and finally returned to his
tent house on the Gibson ranch. He
stayed there until the following
morning, he said, when he was or
dcred to come out by the officers
VINO had kept an all-night vigil over
the place.
The Hindu, who was responsible
fpI the early discovery of the crime,
took the stand just before Morrison.
Ike told of having been in a field
near the irrigation ditch on the aft
ernoon of the murder, when he saw
Il big closed ear drive up to a point
near the ditch. Two men got out and
threw something into the ditch.
He waited until they were gone
then went to the place. He found
the body of Gibson. Hhe Hindu i'm
mcditelv went to Calipatria, where
hc reported the matter to Chief of
J oliee |. Holmes.
After all the testimony had been
taken, Judge Finncy returned mis-
verdict, deferring sentence until
this morning. Edgar b, Hervey ap-
pcared as attorney for the defend
ant, while Elmer Heald, district at
torney, was in charge of the prose
Cution.