, 1935-05-31

I've l~CHuCnCACb H1NG AOuk M&uC uIm y
It'll American Federation of Labor. r
it was David Gomez who fired at
him.
"Viva Los Guerras"
A second attack on him at the
school house at La Grulla was de-
scribed by Elizondo, who said a
young nan named Soliz, relative Of
Pablo Soiiz. had exchanged shots
with him. He said the youth fired
the first shot and that he drew his
pistol and shot, also. He said each
fired xix shots.
A third attempt on his life was
made in 1881. Elizondo testified.
when he left a ranch near La
Grulla and eight or nine shots we're
fled at him. tearing up his car and
grazing him tyice.
He gave testimony similar to that
Of preceding witnesses regarding
the disturbance which ended in the
shooting Of Gomez and Soliz. told
Of the interruption Of j. II. Canales'
speech from the balcony OF the
Plaza hotel. Of the shouts Of viva
Los G~uerrasl". and Canales' subse-
quent appointment Of men to keep
peace at the rally. He said when
Julio Guerra started toward Cane
ales. he interviewed with the idea
OF stopping any trouble, that he
turned around and saw David
Gomez. that Gomez grabbed him.
tried to stick him with a knife and
caught his hand in an effort to
take his gun.
Saw Knife
He said he felt the knife cut
him. and shot Gomez because he
knew he'd kill me II ] didn't" He
said he had been told Of threats
made by Gomez and was afraid he
would kill him. He said after he
shot Gomez. Pablo Soliz came up
and struck him In the back.
Elizondo testified that Valentine
Rodriguez had warned him TO
watch out for Gomez because he
said he had TO kill me-"
The witness testified that when
he first saw Gomez the man had
an open knife in his hand.
He showed the jury scars OF the
knife wounds which he said Gomez
and Soliz had inflicted on his left
arm and back.
Elizondo told OF falling on his
back, OF Pablo Soliz' coming up,
ana of kicking the man on the Jaw
twice TO keep him from Stabbing
him. The second time he kicked
Soiz. Elizondo said the man failed
10 come back because somebody
had killed him"
Cross : examination brought out
that Gomez was & small man. while
Elizondo weighs approximately 100
pounds and is more than six feet in
height. He denied having offered
Gomez $50 10 kill Amanda Vera.
and said he had never given any
man any money TO kill anyone.
He said he did not know who
had killed Pablo Soliz because he
was very sick at the time and
didn't pay any attention. He said
he had learned afterward that Jose
Cantu had been placed under bond
for the killing Of SoliZ. He said all
the shots he fired at Gomez were
while they we're both on the ground.
Conflicting Testimony
Testimony OF all eye-witneSses
presented by the defense agreed
upon the points that Gomez had
first attacked Eli1ondo and that
Gomez was armed WITH a knife.
This testimony was in conflict with
thst OF all states witnesses. who
denied seeing any knife either in
Gomez hands, or on the ground
after he was killed.
The testimony OF the afternoons
witnesses differed or various points,
but all testified that Soliz had a
dagger and Gomez had an open
knife in his hand.
Valentin Rodriguez testified 10
having told Elizondo to be on the
watch for Gomez. because Gomez
had told Rodriguez that Elizondo
had denounced him to the OFF,
GERS"
witnesses during the afternoon
included Manuel Pena, who said he
saw the shooting from a mesquite
t'C rOO ACCb away air. wat NV
the second shot he had run away;
Catarino MireleS; Jose Ramon, who
said he saw the killing; Armando
Longoroio; David Longorio; GenarO
Ramon, Jr.; DR.. Ramirez. who
treated EliZondo's wounds: Valentin
Rodriguez. Jose Cara, and Horatio
Guerra, final witness for the de-
tense.
During the morning session pro-
minent members OF the Guerra clan
which has ruled Starr county for
approximately twenty-five years,
took the stand and testified that
the deputy sheriff had killed Co
mez to save his own Dfe.
Sheriff Gustavo Guerra was first
witness for the defense. He told OF
the crowds shouting Viva Guerra"
when he arrived at the rally and
gave a detailed account OF SubSe-
events leading TO the fatal
shooting.
He said J. T. Canales OF Browns
vile, presiding az the rally, at
tempted TO quiet the crowd, and
that the crowd continued to shout
and that then Canales started 70
Guerra and his brother, julio
Guerra.
He quoted Canales as saying that
the sheriff and his brother Julio
were the biggest towards and
In the crowd"
Heard Shots