Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-18
MURDER IN YOLO.
BARNEY FEEEEY SHOT AND KILLED
BY FRED. A, PRESTON.
Particulars of the Homicide-Full Text Of
the Proceedings of the Coroner's
Inquast-The Verdict.

great state Of excitement when the news
spread through the town that Frederick A.
Preston, proprietor Of the Olive Branch Ho-
tel, had shot and MORALLY wounded Barney
Feeney, q ranehec who lived on small ranch
about three miles below the town of Wash.
ington, Yolo county. The news was tsle-
phoned Immediately to this city, and a eur
geon, half dozen newspaper reporters, sew
eral officers and large crowd Of people
rushed across the bridge 90 the scene of the
homicide. In the meantime Preston went TO
the Office Of r. Fl. Buckingham, Justice of
the Peace. gave himself up to mat Off
Ger, and also handed over the pistol
with which he stated The shooting
had been done. The Justice turned Preston
I over to Constable Todhunter, with instruc-
tons TO take him to Sacramento and lodge
him in the city prison. When the RECORD.
| UNION reporter arrived at the scene of the
murder the wounded man had been conveyed
to room No. l in the Ohvs Branch Hotel.
He was found lying on a bed with an ugly
bullet wound, which had entered Just in front
of his ear, Immediately below the eye, and
/ had passed directly through his head, He
was covered with blood, as was also the bed
| clothing, and large basin which stood near
the bed WAS filed with blood that had flowed
from the ugly wound. He was a horrible
| sight to behold, and the furious oaths that he
was using were horrible to hear. He lived
about an hour and twenty minutes and died
with an oath on his lips From those around,
who were witnesses to Che affair, it seems that
| Feeney, who is addicted to drink, is, when
intoxicated, very abusive. Several days since,
while under the influence of liquor,
he stopped at Preston's to get a
! drink of whisky, and while there became
drowsY and went to sleep On bench. While
! ne was snoOzing soma one stole from him a
package containing few small purchases.
! When he sobered Mp he accused Preston Of
having robbed him. He went home. but
when he became intoxicated yesterday he re-
turned to PrestOn's place and abused the lat
] ter in the presence of his family in the most
outrageous manner, using all the vile epithets
he could think Of, and seemed to wish to pro-
woke Preston to fight. He left the house, but
afterward returned, when the two met on the
| levee about fifty feet from Prestons door, and
engaged in scuffls during which the fatal shot
was fired. Preston has wife and FIVE small
children, and has been engaged in business in
| Washington for great many years. Feeney
was a married man, had no children, and
lived very unhsppily with his wife. 1t is said
he treated her at times very cruelty, and that
| she was making arrangements to commence
suit for divorce at the next term of Court.
Mrs. Feeney and Mrs. Preston were in the
hotel talking together when the fight on the
levee was taking place. Feeney was a mem.
Der of the old Emmett Guard, worked for q
long time for Ri. Merkley, and until he be-
came addicted to drink was esteemed and
highly respected. Judge Buckingham teIe-
graphed immediately to District Attorney
| Craig and Sheriff Watkins at Woodland
THE INQUEST.
At o'clock Last evening the jury impan-
| eled by Justice Buckingham, 20 INQUIRE into
the cause of the death of the deceased, as
sembled in the hall of the Olive Branch
! Hotel and were sWorn in. P X. Stockton
was sworn in to take down the testimony
| geographically.
The first witness called was Mrs. Mary
| Feeney, wife of the deceased. She recognized
the body as that Of her husband, Barney
| Feeney. He was native Of Ireland, and 40
! years of age. She last saw him alive about
| half past u, between Hanson's Hotel and
that Of Preston's. At that time he was going
| in the direction Of Prss6on's Hotel. About
| two weeks ago Feeney went TO Sacramento
and bought some shirting Before hs re-
turned home he got drunk, stopped at Pres
| tons, laid down on bench, and while there
| lost his package. He was told that Preston
\ had taken the bundle and put it away for
safe keeping. He afterwards called for it.
and was informed by Mrs. Preston that the
: package was not there. Witnsss described
| the knife usually carried by the deceased,
ard when shown the one found upon his per
| son she immediately recognized it and said it
was the only knife he carried.
Valentine Carberry, overwhelming up
the leyee from his dinner he saw Preston
! leaning against pear tree, and at the same
time observed Feeney coming down the leves
Fesney called Preston a s-n of b-n and
coward, when Preston made rush for him
and caught him around toe neck. Immedi-
ately heard pistol-shot. did not see the
pistol until after il was discharged. At the
tina of the shooting was about 200 yards
away, or at point opposite the tank at the
shipyard. From where be stood nothing OBJ.
structed his view, and he could see them
plainly. Feeney spoke very loud and could
hear him distinctly. The shooting took place
at point about midway between the two
hotels.
Edward Carberry-D Don't know much about
it. Mrs. Preston called to me to go in the
bar-room and stop Fred, saying that Feeney
was drunk and they were going t. fight. Met
Preston coming out with large sized navy
revolver 10 his hand. Called TO him, ard he
went back into the room and threw the
weapon down upon the bureau, and picked up
smaller nickel'plated pistol and put it into
his pocket. He then walked out, but said he
would behave himself. Feeney by this time
had gone away. This was ten or fifteen
minutes before the shooting During all this
time did not hear Feeney speak word
About five minutes after the shot saw Preston
in the bar-room, his overshirt off, his hand
cut, bound up with a handkerchief and bleed
ing. Preston said, eco and get my hat for
me-" Went for his hat, and found it under
the legs Of FeeneY. who had to he moved in
order to get it out. Did not see Preston take
any liquor or make any threats.
James DonoYsn-Came out from dinner at
Hanson's about half-pRst II and took seat
on the stoop. While sitting there saw Fee
ney and Preston get into a fight, and heard q
shot. Feeuey had been claiming shortly be-
fore that Preston had some of his money and
ne was going to get it. Preston came from
towards his house and met Feeney, when
they ciinched. Did not hear Preston say
anything. Saw pistol in his hands, but saw
no knife. Preston hit Feeney over the head
several times with the pistol He had the
pistol in his hands when they clinched.
William Williams-Was at Hanson's
saloon, just across the street. when I OBJ
served two men scufling. heard pistol shot,
and Immediately one of them lying in the
road bleeding. A few minutes befo-e the
Saw weapon Of some kind in Preston's
hand. Did not understand anything that
was said between the parties. After the
shooting viewed the body of the wounded
man. The man who did the shooting went
away bsfore got to the body.
Julius Anderson-Wss at Hanson's hotel
shortly after dinner, when I heard loud
talking. Heard the shot, looked in that
direction, aud cav the wounded man fall and
Preston walk Immediately to his house. Am
not acquainted with either party. The whole
aft air did not last minute it was merely
tussle, a shot, and al over. Did not see any
striking to amount to anything. Was about
thirty feet from them.
Bernard Timmins-Was in front of the
Washington House shortly after twelve
Fesney was there also. and was calling some
one s. OF b. aud bastard. His remarks
we're addressed to no one in particular. Saw
that be was intoxicated spoke to and adj
vised him to go home. He said he had moth
ing sgainst any one in the Washington
House, but that Preston had robbed him of |
S23. Saw them meet and clincb Did not |
observe Preston until they clinched, and |
don't know who struck the first blow. Saw |
no weapons in the hands of either.
Charles Hsnson-Wss at my pump getting |
water when observed Feeney going toward |
Preston's. He afterwards returned, but |
shortly afterwards started for Preston's again,
calling to the latter, saying, Come out, you
d--a thief" Went into my house, and |
while there heard pistol shot. Went TO the |
door Immediately and saw Preston going to
his house. Only few moments before had |
l. T.. 80,