Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-02-13
Homicide Last Night.

| was received by Unuef SnerlL
Kays from Captain Egbert, o
Whippls Barracks, Arizona, ask
ing that VIM. Hutter, alias Utter
a deserter from the army, who wat
known to be In Los Angeles, be
arrested and held until OH Officer
could arrive from Fort Yuma tG
take charge Of him.
The matter was placed in the
hands Of Deputy Sheriff J. A. Ber'
ry, whu, having learned that Utter
might be found at almost any OF
the low dens on Los Angeles street,
about half-past 8 O'Clock, accom-.
panied by Tomas Botello and JEFF
Thompson, started to find Utter.
The first place visited was Mrs.
Browns, on the east side Of Los
Angeles street Here Berry learned
that Utter was at house on the
opposite side of the street, and that
q man who WAS then crossing the
street was going right where Billy
(Utter) was. Berry followed, and
the man went into an alley which
leads off Los Angeles street to wards
the rear Of Cardona Block, and Gu.
tered one Of o number OF houses
occupied by courtezans. Berry en-
tered by the same door and going
to a door communicating with All
adjoining room, In which he heard
people talking, knocked but coui ID
not get in. He then returned to
the alley, and going to the outer
door again knocked for admissio Of u.
This time the door was opened by
q man with pistol 10 his hand,
whom Berry recognizeh,s from the
description he had received, as
Utter. Hs drew his revolver and
covering Utter. he commanded him
to throw up his hands. Utter not
doing so, Berry fred and the for.
mer fell to the floor, where he died
almost Instantly.
Coroner Nadeau was ut once
summoned aud empaneled a jury,
after which an adjournment was
had to POnet Il Orr's undertaking
rooms, where an Inquest was held.
The first witness sworn was ]. A.
Berry, whose testimony was SUBJ
stantially ths same as the story
given above, with the addition that
he had been informed by several
who knew Utter that he had bstter
be on his guard, as the man he was
after was desperate and would be
likely to hurt him.
The next witness examined was
J. H. Shear, who was in the room
with Utter when Berry knocked.
He stated in substance that when
Berry Knocked ut the outer door
Utter, who had o pistol in his
hand, got up and opened it. The
next thing he heard was the shot
Everything passed so quickly thai
he could NOT say whether any
words had been exchanged betwet 2
the officer and ths deceased. He.
however, was positive that Ute
had o pistol in his hand when IL
opened the door.
George Branigan was ths n
oWOTus ho WAo pEcoout III Sue
room when the shooting occurred
had known deceased only that day
the first thing he saw after the dOoI
opened was the fash Of q pistol aDt
the deceased fall. He, however
heard somebody say, "rhrow up
He gave aome other testimony u
to minor detAils, which had no ma
terial bearing on the case.
The case was then submitted II
the jury, who returned the follow
ing verdict:
We, the jury, fnd that the de
ceased came 70 his death from
pistol shot wound inflicted by III,
} hands Of Deputy sheriff ]. A
Berry, that We believe 1t was don
In sslf.dsfepse and that the act wa
justitiable.
lSigned] THoMAs A. METCALF
) GEO. II. SMITH,
Henry w. sToLL,
]. b. SANCHEZ.
j. w. CHAPMAN.
I L. ARDAUT.
An examination Of the body d.
. closed that the ball from Berry
] ptstol struck deceased under tn
chin and Must have passed Int
the brain. Owing to the latenas
Of tho hour ct which the tnqusi
J. was concluded NO attempt wa
made to 9nd the ball.
The deceased Was . young ma
: about 90 years old and had been !
' this city for some time. He mad
! applicaliou 10 beoome : uembeE Z
(. the La Angeleo Quarts ths1