Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-22
GIVE DETAILS
OF3FICHTSI IN
CHURCH CASE
Witness Asserts Cow
an, Doctor Were In
volved In Three Sep
arate Rows

Three fist fights or scuffles. In
which Dr. j. Garitty Church and
Truwit Cowan were the participants
occurred az Point Isabel on the night
Of August H.. according to testi-
mony introduced By the state Sat
urdav morning AZ the trial Of Truwit
Cowan and Simon Celaya, charged
with murder in connection with the
death Of DR.. Church.
Details OF various incidents on the
night of August IL, when Or. Church
met his death. the finding Of the
body in an automobile were brought
out by the state
J.. h. Wells OF Brownsville testified
that he first noticed the trIo-Dr
Church, Truwit C0wan and Simon
Celaya-near his house about $3.50
y. m. They were scuffling near their
car. and were talking loud. Cowan
and Celaya finally got Church into
the car and drove OFF.
Wells On Stand
They returned in about an hour,
/ the witness said. land renewed their
loud talking and scuffling. Celaya
and COwan again got Church into the
ear and drove away
The witness stated that Celaya had
no part ia the afflays. During the
second fight or scuffle he ordered
4 Cowan to leave Church alone. ant
aided in putting DR.. Church in the
car.
The party returned the third timt
about ii o'clock Cowan and Church
got out Of the car and d third figh
ensued the witness stating Church
was knocked down three times
CeIaya again interfcred and th'
party rot into the ear. the boys push
lng Dr. Church into the vehicle. "A
this juncture Antonio NaIente. Poin
Isabel constable. appeared on th'
scene and ordered them 10 ceas'
their disturbance.
Nalcnte Tells of Affray
Nalente testified that DR.. Church
asked him not to arrest them I'VE
are all friendly now, and they arr
going 10 take me home" Church said
About twenty minutes later va
lente encountered the car neal
| Hockaday's drug store and Gowai
! asked him to arrest the man in ths
back seat. stating he was drunk ans
had attacked them.
I
crumpled down on the floor in the
back part Of the car with his heaG
resting on the back seat. Il told the
bows the man was dead" he said.
The witness testified that CowaI
said: "No. he's only drunk
other witnesses described the fiS
fight between Cowan and DR.. Churci
| in front Of Joe Wells residence, stat
/ IL IL IN
settled their differences when thel
got into the ear and drove off.
State Has N Witnesses
/ Selection Of jury started at l:3'
Friday afternoon and was completed
before o'clock. the defense passin.
several jurymen without interrogat
ing. Following are the jurors: L
4 VI. shaw, Combes; A. A. LedbctteT
Ia Feria: l.. A. Boory. Brownsville
J. VI. Lloyd, Rio Hondo; VI. n. Jes
sup. San Bcnito; n. T. Bean. RiS
I Hondo; y. -. Dean. Combes; Charlie
Lamon. C0mbes: j. +. Cooper, Sar
/ Bcnitu; Charles Bradshaw. San BE
nito; Clyde III Axtell, Harlingen
Dan Boots, Harlingcn.
Following the selection of the jury
I lT state witnesses were called anr
sworn. the defense stating they hac
no witnesses
Kelly Weisman, manager 0f ga
rage Ak Point Isabel. was the first
witness called. He stated that early
III the evening Of August iii. Dr
| Garitty Church accompanied by \
| woman. drove up to his place an
made arrangements for d motor b0ai
for a fishing trip the following
morning. About half an hour Later
he saw Church with Celaya and Cow.
an and the trio asked him to ride
around town with them. Church
entered the car with the boys. anc
the woman in Church's car drove Oft
toward Brownsville. He asserted al
three appeared in normal condition
and we're talking in a friendly man.
ner.
Trio Order Drinks
ii. c. Wood, owner Of lunch
room and cold drink establishment
testified the trio drove up 10 his es.
adjustment about 9:45 and ordered
nait glasses OF soda with cracked ice
lie served them, and also brought a
spoon ordered by one Of the men.
They showed signs of intoxica.
ton; Church was the worst; but
tney were not noisy or boistcrous,
the witness said.
About 80 minutes later they called
Tor another order Of soda and crack
ed ice. the witness said, and Church
paid for the drinks.
They were more noisy. but were
behaving themselves" Wood said
Church appeared befuddled. | did
not see any liquor"
The witness stated the trio lost A
spoon belonging 10 him and he in-
sisted upon payment. After some
argument they paid 50 cents, Cclaya
handing him the money.
They came back the third time
about li:l5," the witness said. ~This
time All three we're sitting IN INV
front scat. Church between Celaya
and Cowan. Church had his hand
n CoWan's hair, shaking Cowan's
head, and later he seized Cowan IN
both wrists. Cowan was protesting
end cursing. and Church was talk
ing in q shrill, hysterical tone,
Continued On page two.)