A Murder Trial Turns on Who Pulled the Trigger
Fred Stubbs's fate went to a Tacoma jury after a three-day trial for the killing of Thomas Vandiver; the defense argued the gun went off in a struggle.
It is probable that the fate of Fred Stubbs, who has been on trial for the past three days in the superior court for the murder of Thomas Vandiver, will be settled this evening. The case went to the jury at 1:15.
The argument of the defense was that no testimony had been introduced to show who fired the shot, and that the gun was discharged while both Stubbs and Allen had hold of it.
“The argument of the defense was that no testimony had been introduced to show who fired the shot, and that the gun was discharged while both Stubbs and Allen had hold of it.”
Courts still wrestle with the same question: when a gun fires in a struggle, who is responsible? The 1904 case is a reminder that reasonable doubt and gun violence are old courtroom companions.
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