"Orland Unit" (Orland, California), Thursday, 16 May 1935

E. B. Hanks, Killed Tuesday At Willows
Partner Charged As Killer In Fatal Pitchfork Clubbing

E. B. Hanks, brother of Silas Hanks, Orland barber met his death at the hands of C. E. Best of Willows Tuesday afternoon. His head was crushed by blows with a pitchfork handle. Death ensued about four hours after the injury.
There were no witnesses, and Best's story, as told following the affair, and yesterday before the coroner's jury is the only information available. The story as told by Best is that the two men, who were putting up hay on shares on the Lester Killebrew ranch east of Willows, got into an altercation over a team. Hanks, who was on the wagon, jumped off upon Best's back and knocked him down. Best, he asserts, got up and clear of Hanks, grabbed up a pitchfork and warned Hanks not to come near him. Hanks, Best says, then made a rush for him and Best hit him with the pitchfork handle. Hanks sank to his knees and then rose and made another start for him, when Best hit him again. Hanks then said, "You've drawn blood; I'm going to have you arrested." Hanks then got on the wagon and started for the house, Best following. When they got to the gate Best climbed onto the wagon, and Hanks shortly thereafter growing weak, Best took the reins and drove, Hanks sinking into the hay. Upon arrival at the home Hanks went into the house. Hanks' son arrived and took charge of the horses and a neighbor went for a doctor. Dr. J. L. Rawhauser arrived soon, and found Hanks already in a coma, from which he never revived, dying at about 9 o'clock the same evening.
Hanks is survived by his wife, who is employed in the county library, and by four children: Gladys, Ernest, Amos and Mary, all at home at Willows; and by the following brothers and sisters: Daniel of Cedarville; Arthur of Dunnigan; Silas of Orland; Eugene of Red Bluff; Albert of Paskenta; Kenneth of Corning; Mrs. Ada Lee and Mrs. Maude Pollard both of Oakland; Mrs. Mabel Williams of Orland; and Mrs. Pearl Black of Flournoy.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, Friday morning, from the Sweet funeral home in Willows, and interment will take place in the Paskenta cemetery, where lie the remains of his father and mother and several other members of the family.
Best, father-in-law of county treasurer Ed S. Ball, was formerly superintendent of the county hospital, and has been a resident of Willows for many years. Hanks had been a resident of Willows for many years. Hanks had been a resident of Willows for the past 17 years, and during most of that time had worked much of the time, in partnership with Best.
The coroner's jury yesterday brought in an open verdict that the deceased died of "blows on the head with a pitchfork in the hands of C. E. Best."
Best was arrested this morning on a murder charge sworn out by E.K. Hanks, brother of the slain man, and now occupies a cell in the county jail. - Transcribed by M.
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Orland Unit, Monday, 8 July, 1935:

GLENN SLAYER WILL BE TRIED A SECOND TIME
Jury Discharged Sunday After 22 Hours Deliberation

E. C. Best, former superintendent of the Glenn County Hospital, again will face a jury on the charge having murdered E. B. Hanks, a friend of long standing, following the discharge Sunday of the jury in his first trial after its members were unable to reach a verdict.
Superior Judge R. M. Rankin fixed July 12th as the time for resetting the trial. He indicated the new trial will be set for some time next fall.
The jury was deadlocked, 8 to 4 for acquittal, and had been out twenty-two hours.
The members of the group revealed the first ballot Monday afternoon was 6 to 6, the second ballot 7 to 5 and the third 8 to 4 for acquittal. Seven other ballots were taken without a change. - Transcribed by M.
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Orland Unit, Thursday, 19 September 1935:

Best is Convicted of Manslaughter In 2nd Trial Ended Monday

A verdict of manslaughter in the second degree was returned Monday afternoon by the jury in trial of E. C. Best, 67, former Glenn County Hospital superintendent, for the "pitchfork slaying" of Ernest Hanks. Sentence of the convicted man was postponed by presiding Judge R. M. Rankin until September 25th.
Defense counsel Geo. Freeman has indicated he will ask a new trial. Best's first trial in the case ended with a hung jury.
Four ballots Monday night were sufficient to find Best guilty. The first poll was seven to five for conviction, the second nine to three, the third 11-1 and the fourth unanimous.
The trial was the outgrowth of a quarrel between Best and Hanks, partners, over a team Best had purchased without Hanks' knowledge. - Transcribed by M.