, 1935-04-25
STATE TRACES
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04G18A 44AAV~
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before Judge Bryce Ferguson in the
92nd district court.
Defense testimony is expected to
take up most Of the day Friday.
Wife on Stand
Testimony was opened Wednesday
afternoon In the trial Of James D..
McAlister. Texas ex-convict. for the
hitch-hiking Staying on March 30 Of
Percy Calkins, Houston salesman,
after selection OF q jury In Judge
Bryce Ferguson's end Criminal dis
trict court had occupied two full
days.
Mrs. Elva Cockrell Calkins. the
victims blonde bride Of one month,
was the first witness. Calmly and
quietly, she told of last seeing her
husband in Houston on the morning
of Friday, March 20 as he left for
Corpus Christi and the Lower Rio
Grande Valley on a sales trip for the
company he represented. She
identified photos Of her husband
and his car, as well as numerous per-
sonal belongings which the state
presented for Identification over de-
tense objections which were overrul-
ed. She quickly identified the suit
he wore when she last saw him, his
wrist watch, her gift to him, his
Shrine ring engraved with his name,
the latter fact assisting in immediate
Identification when Calkins' body
was found in the brush IL miles
north of Edinburg-and other arti-
Giles.
On the stapd more than an hour,
Mrs. CalkinS was not croSs-examin-
ed by defense counsel.
McAlister Slumps
The next witness was the victims
aged father, John X. Calkins OF
Houston, who also identified his sons
personal belongings.
McAliSter slumped far down In
his chair between two deputy sher-
ifs scarcely ~glancing at the two
witnesses.
r. X. Patton, who operates a gar
age about Is miles north Of Edln-
burg. was the next witness. He told
Of hunting javelinas northeast OF ms
home in company with his wife about
three and a half miles east Of the Red
Gate on State Highway SIS. IS miles
north Of Edinburg. He testified the
road leads TO Raymondville, In VIII
lacy county. He related that he and
his wife drove their car into an old
deer camp several hundred yards
north of the road, then walked
through the brush In search OF hogs.
In regaining his directions. he walk
ed to the Red Gate road. then began
walking toward his a several hun
bred feet east.
Finds Body
Patton asserted he passed an open
ing leading into the brush and saw al
a distance OF IS feet an arm and leg
%protruding from a patch OF cactus.
He went to the spot and was forced
to walk around 1t to obtain q view
OF the body he found there. He teStl-
field the body was dressed only In
underclothing, a blue necktie and a
ring. He positively identified the tie,
which he said was pulled tighter
than al ordinary man would have
tied il. but was not certain about the
underclothing, except that the shorts
we're a pink color. He drove TO a
nearby filling station and called OIL
GERS to the scene. the witness testl-
fled.
Patton,s croSs-examination wa
under way late Wednesday.
The jury was completed o
noon Wednesday after the special
panel OF $50 veniremen had been x
hausted and ten taleSmen had been
examined. 1t includes r. II. WtnStead,
John St. Claire. Fred Chambers and
w. L. Petit. all Donna farmers, John
Gernentz of Edinburg, Oscar Per-
kins Of Mission, Albert Curtis OF
Sdn Judlls iii AdAAAACASf u
ter. Weslaco electrician, Phil Hogue'
Weslaco city employe, Guy johnson,
McAllen realtor. Grant Morrison,
Mercedes water district employe and
Clark Miller Of WeSlatco.
All witnesses we're placed under
the rule and excluded from y
courtroom, the state swearing IN 5S
witnesses. Defense counsel announc-
Cd that two witnesses had been sub
poenaed but had not arrived.
After the jury had been selected.
District Attorney Rogers Kelley read
the indictment and Judge Ferguson
asked for McAlister's plea. He an
swered:
IL don't think I'll plea. Ill just
listen to the Squabble."
other Witnesses
Late wednesday afternoon, five
other witnesses were presented III
swift succession by the state, KEEL