1966-04-08 1
Son of prominent Amarillo realtor shoots wife and lover
The indictment alleged that appellant committed the assault in Deaf Smith County on or about April 8, 1966, by shooting Billy Joe Stevens with a gun.
The record shows without dispute that after shooting and killing his wife at Canyon in Randall County, appellant drove to Hereford, in Deaf Smith County, and to Hereford Feed Mill where Billy Joe Stevens was employed and shot him at close range with a .22 caliber pistol loaded with hollow point bullets.
Five shots struck Stevens in the head, one of which caused the loss of an eye. A sixth shot struck Stevens above the heart.
The evidence further reflects that appellant's wife had left him and had sued for divorce and he was under a restraining order "to leave her alone and not to hurt her in any way."
At trial, Clifford said that he had known about Billy Joe Stevens having an affair with his wife since December 20, 1965
He was charged with the murder of his wife in Randall County and for the murder of Billy Joe Stevens in Deaf Smith County. The trial for his wife was moved to Denton County
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