13 E S S 1 E V? E T Z E L L
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The Heppner
High
Precip
5 m
VOL. M, NO. 30
Verduzco convicted of murder in Guzman slaying
By PATTI ALLSTOTT
At 12:01 p.m. Wednesday,
after atxiut three hours of
deliberation, a Jury of six
women and six men found
Jose Murio Mendoza Verduz
co, noardman, guilty of mur-
der, reHrt Morrow County
District Attorney Ann Spicer.
Verduzco was charged with
murder and conspiracy to
commit murder in the shoot
ing death of Antonio "Tony"
Delgadillo Guzman also of
Boardman. The charge of
conspiracy to commit murder
wan subsequently dropped.
The shooting took place the
night of April 25 near the H
Bar W Tavern in Boardman.
Morrow County Clerk Bar
hura Rloodsworth said the
Guzman murder was the first,
other than one case involving
a juvenile, in Morrow County
since June, 1955. The twenty
six year-old incident occurred
June 4, 1955, when a Heppner
woman shot a Portland law
yer, at O'Donnell's Cafe in
Heppner.
Verduzco will be sentenced
.In about six weeks, according
to Spicer,
Following is a rejHtrt of the
Verduzco trial:
The trial of Jose Mario
Mendoza Verduzco, Board
man, which began Thursday.
July 9 continued Monday
morning, July 13, at the
Morrow County Courthouse in
Heppner.
One witness, John Childers,
owner of the H Bar W Tavern,
said he saw both Guzman and
the defendant in the tavern the
night of the shooting. He also
stated he could not remember
if the defendent had a drink or
not. The defense attorney
maintained that Verduzco sel
dom drank, was a peaceful
man and fearing for his life,
shot Guzman in self defense
Childers told the jury he
heard no arguments or fights
in the tavern the night of April
25. He also said Verduzco and
Guzman both frequented the
tavern and couldn't recall any
disturbances from cither man.
When asked if be had see a
knife or other weapon on
Guzman the night of the
shooting, Childers said he
hadn't noticed any.
Later Monday morning, Pio
Savala (Pablo Diaz) took the
witness stand and testified by
means of a translator, that he
too had been in the tavern the
night of the shooting and that
Mario (Verduzco) had entered
the tavern about 8:30 p.m. and
loft a short time later. He said
Guzman was at the tavern
when he arrived and later left
alone. Pio said he didn't see
that Guzman had a knife.
Pio then stated that he had
seen Verduzco in the parking
lot with a gun as he was
leaving the tavern but did not
see the shooting or pointing of
the gun.
The next witness to testify
was Jose Barajos, who said he
had sold a gun to Pedro Ortiz
about 1-1 Mi months before the
hooting but had not heard
Mario and Pedro talk about
killing Tony.
The prosecuting attorney
maintained that Verduzco had
discussed killing Guzman be
fore the incident.
Ruberto Chavez, who is
employed at Oregon Potato
Inc. with both Mario and Tony
was called to the stand and
Morrow County's
THURSDAY.
stated that he hadn't seen
Guzman with a weapon the
night of the shooting either. He
further stated he did not see
any weapons on Guzman's
body, or any being removed
from his body. Chavez also
stated that Mario was "over"
Tony at work but he never
knew Tony to be upset about
it. He said that Tony had
gotten a gun because he was
afraid of Pedro.
Later, Spicer called Mario
Avilas, a friend of Verduzco's,
to the stand. Avilas stated he
had been at the H Bar W
Tavern the night of April 25
with Mario Verduzco. He said
he and the defendant had one
beer, that the defendant and
Tony had "words" and then
Sidewalk Sale features
food, sales & more sales
Pi r , II
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Ralph Limanen of the Coast to Coast store in Heppner
displays some of the merchandise to be on sale at the
Sidewalk Sale this Saturday.
The annual Heppner Side
walk Sale gels underway this
Saturday. July 25. with more
to offer than just good buys
from local merchants.
Many groups will be out on
the downtown sidewalks with
food booths and other services
for your entertainment.
Included in the Sidewalk
Sale activities are: a ham and
egg breakfast in the parking
lot of Central Market first
thing Saturday morning, put
on by the Heppner Firemen.
The breakfast will begin at 8
a.m., last until 11 a.m. and will
include hashbrowns and Eng
lish muffins.
Other activities include a
pie and food booth by the
Rebekah Lodge, balloons and
Several wheat fires reported in Heppner, Lex., lone ureas
Several wheat fires have
been reported In the Heppner-Lexington-Ione
areas during
recent harvest.
A fire at the farm of Tony
Home-Owned Weekly Newspaper
JULY 23, IM1
It PAGES
they (Verduzco and Avilas)
left the tavern. The witness
also stated that Tony did not
threaten to kill Verduzco but
wanted to fight him and that
Verduzco wouldn't fight. Avil
as also said he hadn't heard
Tony threaten to kill Pedro.
Rafael Alvaras was later
called to the stand to testify.
Alvaras, another friend of
Verduzco stated that he and
Pedro had driven to the tavern
together in his pickup while
Verduzco and Sebero (Berduz
co) left for the tavern in
Verduzco's van. He said Tony
and Pedro were fighting as
Verduzco and Sebero were
parking at the tavern and that
Verduzco then jumped out of
the van with the rifle. Then,
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cook books for sale by the
Hospital Auxiliary, a pie sale
by the local Elks, hot dogs and
pop by the local Cub Scouts, a
pie sale by the Soroptimist
Club, cook books for sale by
the CowBelles, custom jewel
ry and food for sale by the
Heppner Mineral Club, pop
corn balls, burrilos. monster
cookies and cinnamon rolls by
the Christian Life Center,
crafts and knicknacks by the
Neighltorhood Center. Mexi
can burgers by the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, cotton candy,
pop and popcorn by the Lions
Club, a food sale by the
Heppner High School Dance
Team, and a food sale to raise
money for the solar heating
system at the swimming pool.
Ooherty at Blackhorse Can
yon took about 50 acres of
wheat Monday afternoon. The
fire, which began around 4 or 5
p.m., burned until around 7:30
iL XX
20 CENTS
said Alvaras. Sebero took the
gun, ejected the shell and gave
it back to Verduzco and then
headed for the back of the
parking lot. Alvaras stated he
theft got back in his pickup and
was backing out of the parking
lot when Verduzco came
running up to the pickup with
the gun and said he wanted to
get out of there fast. The
witness said Verduzco didn't
tell him what had happened.
He said he did not see Tony
with a knife and hadn't seen
Pedro with a weapon either.
Alvaras said Verduzco came
running from the pharmacy -post
office area but did not see
what had happened and did
not hear a shot.
Officer Jesse Villa real took
City will only sell
A spokesperson from the
city of Heppner told the
Gazette Monday that the
Willow Creek dam crew is
being sold water from the
Thorpe Well, not the city
water supply. The city will sell
the crew water only if the city
has an excess.
The spokesperson said that
manv area citizens mistaken
Berduzco not
Sebero Andrade Berduzco.
Boardman. charged with mur
der by aiding and abetting in
connection with the death of
Antonio Delgadillo Guzman,
also of Boardman, was deem
ed not guilty, according to
Morrow County District attor
ney Ann Spicer.
The trial of Berduzco, who
was represented by Heppner
attorney Herman Winter, got
underway at 9.15 Monday
morning and concluded
around 1 p.m. Tuesday after
about 2'-. hours of deliberation
by the jury.
OEPBS activates new
translator near Heppner
A UHF-TV translator carry
ing the program service of the
Oregon Educational and Pub
lic Broadcasting Service was
recently activated near Hep
pner, announced Robert Hinz.
OFPBS director of operations,
engineering and radio pro
gramming. Operating on UHF Channel
63, the translator is designed
to serve the Heppner, Lexing
ton, Monument, Long Creek
and Dale areas. II is located at
Black Mountain approximate
ly 19 miles southeast of
Heppner, at an elevation of
5.950 feet.
The newest OEPBS trans
lator operates with a power of
100 watts and utilizes a
non-directional antenna which
transmits its television signal
in a circular pattern. Receiv
ing UHF antennas should be
pointed directly at Black
Mountain. A clear view of the
p.m. Neighbors resonded to
the call.
A fire at the farm of Max
Barclay burned only stubble,
according to Mrs. Barclay.
IIEPI'VEH. OREGON
the witness stand and told of
the interview he had conduct
ed with Mario Verduzco after
the shooting. The officer said
Verduzco stated he had killed
the deceased with a gun he
had obtained from a friend
who owed him money. Villa
real related accounts from the
interview concerning events
before, during and after the
shooting. He also stated that
Verduzco had told him he was
afraid Tony was going to beat
him up. but could not recall if
Verduzco was afraid Tony
would kill him. Villareal
appeared to be in a great deal
of pain during his testimony
and was released directly
after questioning. He later
submitted a written account of
surplus water
ly believed that the water is
presently being sold from the
city supply.
The spokesperson stressed
that the recent water restric
",uiis ro being enforced to
ensure that enough water
remains in the reservoir for
fire protection, and not be
cause water is being sold.
guilty
Circuit Judge Jack Olsen.
Pendleton, presided
Jose Mario Mendoza Ver
duzco. Boardman. was tried
and found guilty of murder
last week in the April 25 death
of Guzman.
The charges against a third
man allegedly involved in the
slaying. Pedro Cisneros Ortiz,
have been dismissed, accord
ing to Spicer. Ortiz, originally
charged with murder and
conspiracy to commit murder,
was to have been t'ied at the
Morrow County Courthouse
August 3.
mountain, normally referred
to as "line ol . sight" will
provide the best signal.
The translator installation is
another element in an Oregon
Commission on Public Broad
casting and OKI'BS project
designed to extend public
television service to comimin
itiles unable to receive the
main OEPBS TV stations -KOAP
- Channel Id. KOAC -Channel
7. KVDO - Channel 3
and KTVR - Channel 13.
Eighteen other translators are
in service at various points in
Oregon.
The Black Mountain station
will carry the full schedule of
programs as they originate at
KOAP - TV. Portland. For the
summer, sign-on time is 4
p.m. On September l-t.
OEPBS TV stations and trans
lators will return to a full
daytime schedule of program
ming. Mrs. Barclay said that tne tire
neared the family's grain
elevators, but that the quick
response of neighbors pre
vented further damage.
Weather
BY THK CITY OK HEPPNER
Tups.. July 14
Wed.. July 15
Thurs. July 16
Fri . July 17
Sal.. July 18
Sun.. July 19
Mon.. Julv 20
the interview with Verduzco,
which was entered as an
exhibit for evidence.
Officer Ronald Hosek was
recalled to the stand and
testified that he had received
a phone call from Verduzco's
wife, who told him Verduzco
wanted to talk to him. Hosek
stated Verduzco later phoned
him and confessed to shooting
Guzman.
Court was recessed until 9
a.m.. Tuesday morning and
members of the jury were
excused. At this point. F.E.
Glenn, attorney for the de
fendant, asked that Judge
Wells dismiss Count II -
Continued p. 10
Break in water
main results
in restrictions
A 10-foot tear in the Heppner
City watermain around 3:45
p.m. Friday resulted in re
strictions on watering lawns
un'Jl Saturday evening, accor
ding to City Administrator
Marshall Lovgren.
Actual repair of the main,
which was damaged during
work on relocation of the
Willow Creek road in prepara
tion for the Willow Creek dam.
took about 2'2 hours, said
Lovgren. Restrictions on wat
ering continued, however, be
cause the Heppner City reser
voir had gotten so low. The
reservoir refilled around noon
on Saturday, but regular
restrictions on watering were
in effect until that evening.
Art sale to coincide with Sidewalk Sale
Some 30 members will have
oil paintings, tole painting.
China painting, silver jewelry
Chappells9 home lone Yard of Month
v -
Hobv ami
F.ihel Chappell
The lone Yard of the Month for July has
been presented to Roby and Ethel Chappell,
newcomers to town, having moved to lone
this past March.
In selection of the Chappell's yard, the
selection committee commented that "neat
ness and showy blooms caught their eyes
while driving past this attractive yellow home
on the corner of 'D' and Third streets. On
close inspection, we found the yard and
vegetable garden virtually weed-free and
thrivtnp in snit3 tf thn liM-.it ,-.il lh pn.l ,if Tnn
Low
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Fair and
itodeo IMews X.
fa
Court captures 2nd out
of 20 courts at Elgin
The Morrow County Fair
and Rodeo Court captured
second place at the Elgin
Stampede held on Sunday.
Facing stiff competition and
extensive judging, Morrow
County's court came in second
out of 20 courts behind Walla
Walla with a five-member
court. .
Accompanying Queen Nan
cy Miller to the Elgin rodeo
were her parents. Tad and
Melba Miller, and her brother,
Steve, Princess Kathy Hansen
Board, Chamber support parade
The Morrow County Fair
Board will again fund the
major portion of expenses to
present the Main Street Par
ade this year, according to a
fair spokesperson.
i Each year the fair board
budgets these funds and turns
them over to the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce who
dispenses the funds as they
see fit. The Heppner Chamber
of Commerce works on pre
parations for the parade all
through the year and such
and other arts and crafts for
sale.
Morrow Countv Creative
n " ; jr v." -
AJJ1II
and her mother, Cathy Han
sen, and Princess Anita Pal
mer and her parents, Lee and
Mary Ann, Pennant Bearer
Shelley Stroeber and her
parents, Don and Jan, and
sisters, Cindi and Christy, and
Lori Fetsch and her parents,
Larry and Donna Fetsch.
The Court has scheduled a
dance, on August 1 at the
Morrow County Fair Pavilion
and will appear at the
Umatilla County Fair at
Hermiston August 8.
preparations take time on the
part of this organization, plus
they plan the Queen and her
Court's luncheon each year.
"The fair board has always
felt our annual parades are a
major event to look forward to
and along with the Heppner
Chamber of Commerce wish
to continue to support the
annual event, therefore these
organizations should be com
mended for serving the com
munity this way," concluded
the spokesperson.
Arts and Crafts will have a
show and sale at Heppner City
Park on July 25 along with
Heppner Sidewalk Sale.
"The attractive yard," continued the
committee, "has a nice selection of
perennials and annuals for continuous bloom,
fruit trees and a large vegetable garden."
"The gardeners milieu as to where to put
these necessities - structures and equipment -is
taken care of neatly and inconspicuously by
the Chappells in a back corner of their lot.
"We want to welcome the Chappells to our
community and thank them for making their
yard so attractive to passers-by," concluded
the selection committee.