Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-20
HELD TO ANSWER.
Fred. a. Preston, tbs Murderer Of Bar
ney Feeney, Eeld to Answer without


ney Feeney, Eeld to Answer without
Bsr.
the examination of Fred. a. Preston, who
shot and killed Barney Feeney on the levee
in Washington Friday, was had before Jus.
tice Buckingham Saturday. The examina-
ton was held in Pceston's hotel, and all the
witnesses who testified at the Corouer's IL
quess were called and gave their evidence,
which did not materially differ from that
given TIE evening before. After this evidences
had been taken, the counsel for the defendant
said he would offer no evidenced tbs District
Attorney would consent to tho defendant
being held for granddaughter. Mr.. Craig
said, " No, sir. II the defendant is guilty ct
81, be Is guilty Of murder" He would make
no concessions whatever.
The defense then placad Mira. Preston, wife
= tae defendant, on the stand. She said she
knew Barney Feeoey and his wife. Mrs,
teeney was at her place on Friday and
stayed TO dinner. Saw Feeney taA5 day. He
came into our house and abused witness and
her husband shamefully. After abusing
them ke walked ACROSS the street. Stood IN
the door and watched Feeney and Fred
When feeney caught my husband around
the neck and was choking him, ran in and
told CarheFry. " For Coos sake, 90 and help
Fred; Feeney is choking BIN" Saw 20
more OF the fight. A few minutes later Fred
came in and laid pistol down on the coun-
ter His hand was beading badly. Wazhed
and dressed his hand, which seemed to be
badly injured.
Peter Denney, a Captain of river
steamer, was the next witness. He saw none
Of the fight, but said that feW days before
Feeney met him near Secpnd and I streets,
aud teld hiD4 that Prestoa had stolen pack
sge from him. He used vile language, and said
hs would set even on Preston and his wife
As a friend OF Preston lie went and told him
10 look out for Barney.
Fred A. Preston, the defendant, was put
or the stand. BE narrated the circumstances
regarding the package, and disclaimea en-
ku9w.edSs OF It whatever. He had tried to
ex plain IN Q gentlemsniy way to Fesney that
he knew nothing about il. Ths package had
not been left in mis- charge, and consequently
he WAS not responsible. feeney seemed very
angFy; said it was id strange, and walked
out A fey days afterwards he came back
intoxicated, aud abused witness shamefully.
he called him thief ard Q a. of b.. He
came back Friday; commenced abusing my
wife, and his biliogsgate Of few days pre-.
vious was repeated. Went and got the big
pistol. He then LETT, aud went up the levee,
ca-aing me as every step. Took the pistol
to defend myself. but had no intention
Of killing him. He wss a powerful man,
weighing about 100 pounds, while l only
weighed 100. Went out on the levee to hear
what he had to say shout me. Heard him
say / wss s. OF b snd acowsrd, and
that he was going TO get away with me. He
started for my place, and when he got to the
pear tree, he discovered me. He said, "You |
sre the man want; | will kill you here"
He got my head under bis arm, and COM !
menced to pummel me. drew the pistol and |
commenced beating him over the head. l |
struck him four times heavily with the pis. |
tol. The last time l struck him the pistol |
was discharged. Did not cock the pistol, and |
did not Draw the weapon to discharge. |
Witness did not know how his hand was cut. |
Thought at first that Fesney cut him, but |
since then think it wss done by the pistol in |
his haLds. When he fell witness walked |
away, passed the pistol across the bar and |
his wife dressed the wound. Afterwsra, in |
the city, it Was dressed by surgeon, who |
said it was bad wound. Derney told him |
of Feeney's threats. Feeney met his wife |
that day and called her vile names. She |
asked for his bill, stating that she could not |
live with him any longer. He had become |
brutal and sbusiye, ana threatened to throw |
into the river child Of hers by former hus- |
I
you to pay any of Barney's whisky bills. and |
if it comes from you don't want it." Gave |
her the bill as she requested, and for the pur.
pose stated
A man By the name of McClarren was |
placed upon the stand, who said be knew |
nothing about the case. He was very verbose, |
nut when he got through every one was salts. |
fed that his first statement was correct.
Mrs Mary Hanson was placed on the |
frrA
District Attorney Craig addressed the |
Court at length, reviewing the testimony, |
and asked the Court to hold the defendant |
for murder without bail.
Chas. T. Jones, defendants counsel, made |
an able argument, in which he claimed that |
it was only manslsughter, and that the de-
PENDANT should be admitted to bail.
The Judge held the defendant to answer |
for murder, without bail.