Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-10-05
The AMADoA MURDER.


Parties Charged with the Murder
| "A Large Number of Witnesses
Examined Foster Held as tho
Murderer. Without Bail.
The preliminary examination OF John
Foster, Ella Amadon, Lottie Greenleaf
and Tom Billings, the parties implicated
in the killing Of Henry z. Amadon on
Tuesday morning, September 25th,
which commenced before Justice Ling
last Tuesday, was concluded yesterday
morning. Foster was committed for
trial without bail on the charge of muir
der, while Mrs. Amadon, widow Of the
murdered man, and her sister, Mrs.
Greenleaf, in default of $1,000 and $500
bail, respectively, were committed for
trial as accessories after the fact. Bill
lings, the other defendant and brother
OF the two women, was discharged,
there being no evidence to connect him
with the murder.
At the conclusion of the examinations,
Col. Wells, counsel for the women,
moved for their dismissal. on the ground
that no case had been made out against
them. This motion was denied by Justice
Ling. Col. Wells then proposed to put
| the omen on the stand as witnesses for
the prosecution.
At this point District Attorney White
interposed and said that he had closed
the examination for the prosecution and
that he did not wish for any more evil
dence.
Justice Ling here stated that while the
District Attorney did not wish to hear
the testimony Of the women, the exam
ination being closed, the short hand re-
porter would take down any statement
they might desire to make. This did
not seem to meet the views Of the par
ties, and no statement was made.
During the examination some twenty
seven witnesses were examined on behalf
of the people, the principal testimony
being that of William Smith, who was
present at the killing of Amadon.
| The murder was one OF the most
atrocious ever committed in this county.
The victim was hard working and in
offensive man, who was devoted to his
family and provided literally for their
support, giving all his earnings, it is
said, to his wife. who, in addition to be-
traying his honor, stood cody by while
her parmour shot him down in cold
blood. The HERALD, although fully
informed Of the details of the crime,
pending the examination has RETAINED
from giving the thousand and one ru
mors that were afoat and commenting
thereon, for the reason that it does not
consider questions that are to be passed
upon by jury Git subjects for news
paper discussion. In deference, how
ever, to the public demand for particu-
lars Of this foul and heartless murder,
we this morning give an epitome OF the
testimony Of William Smith, as follows:
Smith, brakeman on the railroad
and the paramour of Mrs. Greenleaf,
testified before the Coroner that he knew
nothing about the affair, but afterwards
confessed to Chief Cnddy and the Dis
trict Attorney that he knew all about it.
He said that he came in on train from
Mojave a short time before the murder, |
and met John Foster near the depot. |
They went into saloon and got drink,
when he and Foster started down |
the track towards Amadeus house.
When near the house they met Mrs. |
Amadon and her sister, Mrs. Greenleaf,
who were dressed in mems clothes and
standing near some trees.
As they were standing in the street,
talking, Foster beside Mrs. Amadon and |
Smith beside Mrs. Greenleaf, they saw
the deceased, Amadon, approaching.
One of them said Henry was coming,
when Mrs. Amadon said that could not
be possible, for he was not to return till
in the afternoon. Amadon passed
nearly beyond them, when he recog-
nized Smith, and said, ''Hallol Is that
you, Billy" Smith said EYES," and
Amadon then turned back towards
him to shake hands. As he passed
Foster the latter shot him, and he fell
forward on his hands and knees, and
drew pistol, from which he fired two
shots without effect, and also cried out
Murder" After Foster had fired twice
Amadon fell fiat on the ground, when
Foster went to him, and, putting his
pistol to his neck, sent ballet through
the jugular vein. The four persons
then ran away, Mrs. Amadon to her
house, and the others down the street.
Mrs. Greenleaf soon turned back to the
house, and Smith and Foster came down
Alameda street. When at the corner of
Ducommun street, Foster asked Smith
to take his pistol and hide it, but he
declined, and told Foster to go and bury
it, They then separated, and stayed
around town till their arrest in the fore
noon. Before the murder Foster told
Smith that, if Amadon should discover
him, Foster, in company with Mrs.
Amadon he should kill him at sight,
and it appears that he carried out
his declaration. After the killing
Foster asked Smith if he should
fgive him away" and he answered that
off he was called on he would have to
tell the truth" As Mrs. Greenleaf started
to go home Foster told her to be sure
and hide his shirt SO that it would not
give him away.
Foster was in the habit of living with |
Mrs. Amadon when her husband was
absent, and Smith spent his leisure with |
Mrs. Greenleaf, her sister. Their rela-
tions were Of the most corrupt character
that would disgrace the columns of the
HERALD to publish them. 1t was fire.
quent occurrence for these two women
to l~aoc Il, ,,,a.. q olothao and no o,,k ~,