OCR Text |
Show A Defense for West. Sedaua, Mo., June 20. W.D. Steele, a criminal lawyer of this city, declares that a great injustice has boen done West, alias Turlington, the slayer of Sheriff Thomas Cramner. He says West was shot at twice by the sheriff before West shot at him, and that this fact has been purposely kept from the people of Cooper county, as anything appearing like an excuse for West's crime would so incense them that no ordinary force could prevent the wreaking of vengeance ven-geance upon the luckless prisoner. .Mr. Steele closely watched the case from a professional standpoint, and is supported sup-ported by Sheriff Smith of this county and others. When the sheriff opened the door of the jail West advanced toward to-ward him with a pistol raised over his head aud said: "Throw up your hands, old man. I am going to leave this place.'.' He had the prstc-l pointed upward, up-ward, but die not try to use it. Mr. Cramner tired two shots, at liim, both going wide of their mark, and was in turn shot down. Mr. Steele saps this story has strong indorsement by all those who saw the shooting. |