ACOSTA

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 05:39:56 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, May 12, 1921
Page 1

Inquest Held On Slain Convict

An inquest was held Monday afternoon by Coroner J. Ray Keaton to determine the cause of death of Rufus Acosta, a San Quentin convict, who died Saturday night as the result of a stab wound inflicted by Manuel Lopez, a fellow prisoner. The verdict of the jury was that Lopez struck Acosta with the knife in self defense.

According to the testimony given by the accused and two other prisoners, the fight which resulted fatally to Acosta took place in a dormitory occupied by 27 prisoners. Acosta, the witnesses said, was the aggressor. District Attorney Greer, who also questioned the witnesses, declared that he would file a charge of murder against Lopez. The trial will take place in the Superior Court here. Lopez is serving 5 years for burglary committed in Fresno county.