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Acquitted of Murder.
The Long Castac Canyon Murder Trial Ended.



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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.


News story courtesy of Lauren Parker.

CASTAIC RANGE WAR

SEE ALSO:
• Bill Jenkins & Lazy Z


••• SERIES •••
Chormicle, Gardener Tried for Murder of Cook, Walton


• Pollack Story 2014
• Reynolds Story
• C. Rasmussen Story


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Story of Bill Jenkins
Kreider 1952

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W.C. Chormicle

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Chormicle Allies Start a School, 1889/90

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Land Feud Goes to Court 1890

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Chormicle's Son Arrested 1890

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Dolores Cook Land Patent 1891

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Suen Murders Aceda 1895

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Chormicle Sued for Slander 1910

SEE ALSO: Lazy Z (Jenkins Ranch) Graves Unearthed 1998


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