david mccanles's brother james immediately filed for an arrest warrant for "duck bill", wellman, and "dock" brink, who were charged with the murders. when the case was brought to trial, monroe mccanles, the only surviving witness on the state's side, who had been subpoenaed to testify, was not permitted by the judge to take the stand and the court heard only the account given by the station employees. the judge ruled that the defendants had acted in self-defense.