Imperial Valley press., 1932-03-16
HENDRIX JURY
LIKELY TO GET
VERDICT TONIGHT
Brief Trial Expected To
Be Concluded AS Both
Sides End Testimony.

Judge Vaughn N. Thompson this
afternoon was reading his instruc-
tions to the jury trying A. L.
Hendrix for the murder of w. H.
Mccoy near Holtville. January 10.
The case will D. given to the
jury Immediately, and it is pos
sible verdict will be returned this
afternoon or tonight, following a
murder trial which has taken only
four days, ranking as one of the
shortest ever heard here.
Both defense and prosecution
rested yesterday afternoon after
several defense witnesses, includ-
ing Hendrix, were summoned to
the stand to tell of the fight north
of Holtville which resulted in Nc
Coy's death, and OF events leading
up to the battle.
Arguments by attorneys opened
late yesterday when d. H. Wolford
presented the states case in brief
summary of evidence. His talk was
followed this morning by that of
Fred Thompson and Clarence B.
Smith defense attorneys. Wolford
again took the floor to make the
closing argument for the prose-
cution.
Wolford, in his opening argu-
ment, described Hendrix as
man who can't get along with
anybody-who doesn't intend to
get along with anybody"
Defense attorneys argued that
Mccoy was the aggressor in the
tragic fist fight, and that he had
threatened to run Hendrix out of
the country. This had been borne
out by testimony earlier yesterday
afternoon.
Hendrix took the witness stand
yesterday to tell his own version
of the fight which eventually re-
suited in his trial on a charge of
murder. He had previously been
warned that Mccoy carried a gun
in his car, the defendant said.
On the afternoon of the killing,
when Mccoy came to shut off
water in a ditch near Hendrix
ranch, the latter went to him and
handed him a water order for the
next day, he said. Mccoy was
zanjero for the Imperial Irrigation
district.
Relates Threat
At that time, and referring to
previous troubles, Mccoy asked why
Hendrix keeps showing Shelton
on me-" the defendant testified.
The reference is to Luther Shelton,
who was entangled inextricabiy
with the affairs of Mccoy and
Hendrix.
Mccoy then threatened to "get
him." Hendrix said, and said that
if he, Mccoy, did not get"
Hendrix, his friends would. Nc
Coy then struck him, according to
Hendrix. Hendrix struck back,
knocking Mccoy down. The latter
got up and again struck al
Hendrix. Hendrix hit him once
more, knocking him down again.
The defendant asserted he struck
Mccoy only two times.
OhSSOy icpCtbCu llc WOulu get
Hendrix, and started for his car.
remembering what he had
heard of McCoy's gun, raced him
to the car and would not let him
get in, he said. Mccoy finally sat
down on ditch bank for five or
10 minutes. 1t was then Sam
Stanley, who was a prosecution
came along
Mccoy called to Stanley to take
him away, and started to get into
the latters car. Hendrix was
afraid to let the two go away to-
gether. fearing they would make |
good McCoy's threat, he said. !
Stanley drove away to get help. 1t |
was shortly after this Mccoy died. !
Other testimony given yesterday |
afternoon related to constant |
trouble between Mccoy, Hendrix |
and Luther Shelton for several |
learS.