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Los Angeles, June 17. — The trial of the Castac canyon murder case, which has been in progress for eighteen days, terminated late this afternoon in the jury acquitting the two defendants, William C. Chormicle and W.A. Gardener.

On the 28th of February last Dolores Cook and George Walton were shot and killed in an altercation over land in Castac canyon, about ten miles from Newhall, this county. Chormicle had a claim which he had purchased from the railroad company. Walton had filed a pre-emption on the same claim. The pre-emption had been disallowed and an appeal was pending.

Matters were in this shape when the quarrel occurred in which Cook and Walton lost their lives. The present trial was on an information for killing Cook. The defendants contended that the shooting was done in defense of their lives and property. The jury took the case at 5:30 o'clock, and ten minutes later returned with a verdict of acquittal. It is understood that the District Attorney will dismiss the information for the killing of Walton. This has been the longest murder trial ever held in this county.