Imperial Valley press., 1927-05-03
TAYLOR DRUNK
WHEN SHOT IS
DEFENSE CLAIM
Three Policemen State
Lettuce Buyer Was
intoxicated.

w. A. Taylor, Los Angeles let
tuce buyer, was in an intoxicated
condition when he was shot BY Chief
of Police Joe Hardw:ck of Calexico
on the night of February 8, last,
according to testimony offered by
witnesses for the defense this morn
ing. Three members Of the Calex-
leo police department so testified
when called to the stand this morn
ing
The defense in questioning the
witnesses sought to bring out that
the Taylor party had come across
the border from Mexico IN highly
excitable state Of mind due to par
taking of intoxicating liquor while
in MeXicali. 1t further sought to
show that Taylor was still in an in
toXicated condition when treated by
Dr. Mcfarland in Mexicali some
time after the shooting.
In telling of a conversation be
tween the doctor and Tavlor, Roy
Sactalicn. the last patrolman TO take
the stand, said that Taylor had
talked to the doctor relative to he
pain caused by the injury.
"lt viii be a lot worse tomorrow
when some of that booze gets ont
of your system. - the doctor is SAID
to have replied.
Further delving into conversat ions
was to the effect that at one time
Taylor had admitted that che Il
had plenty to drink - while in Mex.
cali.
Lawrence Brewer and F. L. ST.
John were the other two members
Of the Calexico police department
called. Questioning brought out the
efforts made by the police to give
TAYLOR medical attention and TO his
being docketed at headquarters on
n charge of resisting an officer. -
j. Liebernon, Los Angeles attor-
ney who has been sitting with the
prosecution during the trial. took
up the questioning of the de-
fense witnesses this morning, Dis
trict Attorney Heald intervening at
times to ask questions.
Completing its questioning of FL.
mer Seprs and turning the witness
over to the defense for cross exam,
ination, the state brought tn close
the presentation of it's case against
Hardwiek, early yesterday after
noon.
In presenting the ease District
Attorney Heald called more than 20
witnesses to the stand and a like
number of exhibits were entered.
Physicians. photographers, members
of the party that accompanied Tav-
lor to CaleNico on February 3 and
others present at the time were on
the stand during the five days in
which the ease of the people was
presented
William Won Muller, newspaper
reporter for the Calexico Chronicle
was the first witness called BY At.
torney Hervcy.
In direct examination Won Muller
told his story of what took place il
Calcxico.
The reporter said that he ha6
been standing at the corner of Hef-
fernan avenue and First street
shortly before 9 o'clock. He not
iced . party of persons crossing the
street and their antics attraeted his
attention. He said he remark
Cd to policeman that if some
of the town people carried on in
that manner they would be arrested.
He said that the policeman started
up the street in the direction taken
bv the persons in question and
that he went toward the interna-
tional boundary line. He was un-
able to say whether or not the per-
sons he referred to were members
of the Taylor party.
Heard Shot
He testified that while at the
boundary line he heard what he be
lieved now to be the shot that was
fired by Hardwick. He said that
he returned and then described his
efforts to get the story of the shoot
ing.
Won Muller testified to part of
n conversation between Taylor and
Chief Hardwick in which he said
that Tavlor remarked to the chief
that "That's once You fired too
quick He said that Hardwick re-
piled, "And that's the last time
you'll reach for your hip pocket,
too.'
The witness testified to accom-
panying the party across to MeNi-
cali when Taylor was taken into
nj
clan. He also tried to enter testi-
mony relative to efforts Of friends
of Taylor to keep the story out of
the papers but the conversations
were ruled out Of order by the court
in that neither the defendant or the
complainant was present at the
time of these conversations.