because he knew of Spicer's experience while defending the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and they knew as a Republican he likely shared the Earps' antipathy towards the lawless elements. Fitch may have been concerned that the Earps and Holliday would probably face a pro-Democratic, pro-Cowboy jury in a full trial. Both sides had reason because witnesses would often disappear due to the transient—and sometimes deadly—nature of frontier life. While fairly even-handed during the hearing, Spicer made at least two decisions that benefited the defense. The first allowed Wyatt Earp to testify by reading from a prepared statement without being cross-examined. Territory law allowed a defendant to make a narrative statement instead of the customary question/answer procedure with no cross-examination, but the law was vague as to whether the defendant could read from a written statement verbatim. The prosecution objected, but Spicer ruled that the "statute was very broad…(Earp) could make any statement he pleased whether previously prepared or not." Spicer's second key decision was to personally interview witness Addie Borland at her home after she presented confusing testimony and to recall her to the stand to answer his questions, much to the dismay and objections of the prosecution. In her second visit to Spicer's courtroom, she testified that she did not see any of the Cowboy faction raise their hands to surrender, testimony which contradicted the testimony of prosecution witnesses Ike Clanton, Wes Fuller and Billy Claiborne. Spicer made his decision on November 30. While he criticized Virgil Earp's decision to call upon his brother Wyatt and Doc Holliday as "an injudicious and censurable act", he nonetheless could "attach no criminality to (Virgil's) unwise act". Spicer went on to give a lengthy dissertation as to how he came to his decision. By the time he was done, the Earps and Holliday were free from a full trial despite Ike Clanton's efforts to try them again in nearby Contention City. The grand jury accepted Spicer's ruling and refused to indict Holliday and the Earps. Spicer was again newspaper fodder. The Democrat-leaning Tombstone Nugget stated that "in the eyes of many (Spicer) does not stand like Caesar's wife 'not only virtuous but above suspicion'". The newspaper to which Spicer once contributed, the Arizona Daily Star, said that he "was guilty of culpable ignorance of his duty or was afraid to perform the same, or acted improperly in discharging them". Death threats were leveled