Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-09-14
The San Juan Murder.

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the Superior Court was engaged
yesterday and the day before In the
trial of Jesus Leon, a native of
Altar, Sonora, for the murder Of
Eulogio Olivares, on the 11th OF
June last. at San Juan Capistrano
In this county.
With the exception of the testi-
mony of the defendant, there was
very little, If any, conflict in the
statements of the various witnesses,
both for the prosecution and de.
fense. To sum up the circum-
stances Immediately preceding the
killing, they were as follows:
There was q ball that night, given
in the town. At short distances
apart on the porch, and near the
house at which the dance was held,
were Manriquez Olivares (the de.
ceassd), and Leon (the defendantr.
besides others, mere lookers-on.
Leon approached Manriquez, asked
for light for cigarette, obtained
it, then went over to the deceased,
said something to him in an maud
ible voice, to which the deceased
replied ibid you hear me say so?n
"No,p returned Leon, "but others
have told me that you said so."
"Whoever told you so lied; or If
you say so. you lie," retorted Oil
wares, at the same time slapping
forcibly the back of one of his hands
against the palm Of the other hand.
Leon then said "Don't strike me;
don't abuse me in that way" and,
taking off his coat and putting it
on his arm, went underneath o
railing into the street, followed by
Olivares, who was lame in both
feet, from injuries previously re-
ceived, but who was retreating as
well as he could, after having gone
into the street. After they were in
the street few steps Olivares said
"Who are ynu?n Leon said II am
Jesus' This first name), and at the
same instant the glitter Of knife
was seen, and Oiivares in three
or four minutes died at or
near the spot where he received
the stab, never having spoken u
word after having received the
wound, which was on the side near
the breast. and made with a double
edged knife the blade of which is
about two feet long. Leon was Inn
mediately arrested, and being
asked why he mad killed Olivares
said, "what Ia done Ia done /
think more of the honor of
woman than do OF the life of any
man,
was that the deceased had spoken
slanderousIy of defendant and de-
fendant's female cousin, and, hav.
ing reprOached deceased with it no
on previous occasions had at
tenn pied to beat the defendant. AS
to the immediate circumstance
connected with the killing tho de-
fendants' testimony differed from
that of the prosecution in that he
alleged that the deceased first ac-
costed him, and brought up the old
subject, aud struck him with his
baud, and the deceased having
put his hand 10 his belt as IL to
draw a pistol, defendant drew his
knife and stabbed him.
District Attorney Brown appear
ed for the prosecution, and Haley,
Eastman & King for the defence
There were no exceptions take n on
either side to the admission or re-
lection of testimony; but there was
an exception taken TO the Judges
charge, aud to ths form of the Yer.
diet.
Tue jury retired at half-past
twelve IN the afternoon aud re.
turned at four O'clock with q ver-
dict of guilty Of murder in the
second degree and recon- meuda-
tlon to ths Judge that the defend.
ant be awarded the full legal peu-
atty. The punishment for murder
in the second degree Is from ten
years to any number of years, and
one man In this State for q like Of
fense WAS sentenced to ninety mine
years.
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