Hide Article Text (OCR)
Four Defendants Are FreedWhen Judge Holds Evidence Of Ruby Laub Insufficient^ ?ltn.iases- niada-tta trip yesterdaySmith, fats mother; Tom Tuna tall, Hassayampa garage owner, and Mrs. Esther Lee Fulton, his sister, twice charged with the murder of John J. Knight, who disappeared July 9, 1921, were discharged from custody at 8:30 o'clock * yesterday afternoon when Justice Nat T. McKee dismissed a joint murder complaint on which the defendants were arrested September 14.In dismissing the complaint, which followed one of the strangest justice court sessions ever held in Maricopa county, a session convened on the aesert 50 miles west of Phoenix, Justice McKee scored Mrs. Ruby 'O. La-ub, state's star witness, and characterized important links In her sensational story as fabrications of her imagination, unfounded in fact. His arraignment of the witness showed plainly the court’s doubt regarding tho credibility of the witness and declared that in his opinion Mrs. Laub was “not yet ready to tell all she knows.”The mystery surrounding Knight’s disappearance remains as deep as over, the evidence brought to light during the five sessions of the hearing having failed to divulge any facts other than the statements Of Mrs. Laub, on which the present prosecution was based and which were completely discredited by Justice McKee in his closing remarks.While the contradictory evidence of Mrs. Laub, whose uncorroborated statements formed the basis for filing the charge, and a deposition from Dr.. Harrison B. Cave of Dallas, Texas, • dentist to Knight, were the compelling reasons for. the dismissal of the charges, the trip made yesterday morning to locations on tho west bank of the Hassayampa river at tho request of Judge R. C. Stanford, defense attorney, developed evidence which materially assisted the court in reaching its final decision.Travel to HassayampaFifteen persons. Including Justice McKee and attaches of tho court, attorneys, the four defendants andto the scenes and places described many times before by Mrs. Laub In her accusations against the defendants, particularly McBIIes and Tun-stall.. The caravan first drove to a spot on the west bank of the river, seven miles from Tunstall'a Hassayampa garage, where the party left the machines and walked up the dry bed of the stream for a distance of quarter-mlle. There the witness made her first remarks, while court reporters, seated on convenient rocksr scribbled busily away. Calling- attention to a gnarled tree trunk, embedded deeply in the sand of the river bed, Mrs. Laub said:“The fork8 of tbla tree point directly to th0 spot where we (indicating McBiles and Tunstall) dug up’ the body of Knight on July 18, 1321.”The court then moved forward to the place indicated, about 20 rods forward and situated between two palo verde trees on the bank of the river. Here Mrs. Laub pointed out, for the benefit of those present, the exact spot where she claimed the body was taken up. She described tho position of the car as she said it-stood on tile night in question' and retold her story, whiio the defendants stood nearby os interested witnesses, of the alleged wrapping of the body in a tarpaulin, after which It was placed in the machine.After a few questions by Justice McKee and defense attorneys, the traveling court moved south about two miles and reconvened at the place where Mrs. Laub declared she watched Tunstall and McBllea burn the body of Knight and bury the bones. This was situated In an ar-royo leading to thff river distant a few hundred yards, and more than a half mile from the nearest road.Like the first scene, the location of the alleged final burying gro.ts.d of the murdered Knight was set In themidst of the desert and was Indescribably lonely. Here the witness,(Continued on Page 2
Newspaper Details
Phoenix Arizona Republican
Phoenix, Arizona, US
Sun, Oct 21, 1923
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Carole S.
WI, USA 26 Jun 2019
Other Publications Near Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix Arizona Republican
Phoenix Arizona Republic
Phoenix Gazette
Arizona Republic
Arizona Weekly Gazette
