Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-10-23
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
PRESSY DISCHARGED.
Evidence Against Merchants Slayer Not
Strong Enough to Hold Him.

Evidence Against DIarchant's Slayer Not
Strong Enough to Hold Him.
The examination of C. B. Pressy for the
murder of w. C. F. Marchant, in the Veto
Saloon, in this city, on the morning of the
4th of the present month, took place in the
Police Court yesterday. The murdered
man was about twenty-five years of age, a
sporting individual, and his character and
habits were that of a rough. He was a
part owner of the saloon in which he met
his tragic end. Pressy is a young man of
about the same age, of similar character
and habits a comparative stranger, having
came to Sacramento some two months ago
The only eyewitness to the murder
was a woman of the town who
goes by the name of Maud Allen,
and who, for the past year, had been living
with the murdered man. Her testimony
was the same as that given at the Coroner S
inquest, and, briefly stated, is as follows ::
Pressy entered the saloon about 3 o clock in
the morning, in an intoxicated condition.
He proposed TO shake dice for the drinks,
and won. He then proposed TO Marchant
to play seven-up' for 81, which was done,
PreSsy losing He then wanted TO play
poker; Marchant assented, and won from
Pressy about $50 The latter afterward
staked his chain for SO. There was on the
table some $l30 or $140. Considerable
money was staked on the last hand. Mar
chant said, " | have three duces" THAT
beats me, replied Pressy Marchant did
not show his hand, but threw it into the
pack. Pressy demanded to see the hand.
- You said | beat YOU" exclaimed Mar
chant. Both simultaneously made grab
for the stakes. Then both sprang to their
feet, when Marchant put his left hand out
toward Pressy, and thrust his right behind
HIM, as if reaching for his hip pocket. AT
this juncture Pressy drew his revolver and
shot Marchant The wounded man stag
gered up to the counter; Pressy stepped to
the table and took the money, and the wit
ness ran out for assistance. When she re-
Aurned a few moments later Marchant lay
dead upon the floor, and Pressy had fed.
DR.. NJ. Gardner, who made a post NOR
TEN examination, said the pistol must have
been held at a right angle with the perpen-
dicular body The ball ranged diagonally
across toward the spine, from the side, after
cutting a ventricle of the heart.
Several other witnesses testified TO mat
tiers appertaining to the searching of the
dead body, the fight and capture of the
murderer.
After the evidence was all in, Charles T.
Jones, counsel tor the defense, asked the
discharge of the prisoner. He said there
were but two living witnesses, the man
who did the shooting. and did not deny it,
and Maud Allen. who had testified. He
then reviewed the testimony, which he
claimed showed the men to have been
friendly up to the moment of shooting.
Maud Allen, he said, was a stranger TO
Pressy at the time of the murder, did not
even know his name while on the other
hand, she was living with the murdered
man. Her evidence which would 90 I'M
disputed, clearly showed that the act was
in Self-defense He then read the detini-
ton of murder. He said one thing against
the defendant was his fight, but that was
owing To his fright and intoxicated condi-
ton at the time. He had afterwards sent
for the Chief of Police and surrendered
himself After some remarks by the City
Attorney the Judge, after reviewing the
testimony, said he shirked no response
bility and ordered the discharge of the
prisoner. The latter left the Courtroom in
company with a score of friends.
MErRopoLITAN TREATER-Miss Hattie
Woods gave an unknown power exhibit
ton last evening TO a light house. She
reproduced all the strength tricks of Lulu
Hurst, but less effectively. Her perform
ance made il quite certain that Lulu Hurst
and herself know that the unknown
force is thoroughly well known to them.
The whole business consists simply in
adroit tipping and pushing about of men
strongly braced TO resist III which attitude
a child can move them, if it rightly applies
its strength. Lulu Hurst sucked the
orange here, and to Hattie Woods only
the rind remains. The only wonder about
this California wonder is, that the girl
she tricks the spectators. She lacks the
nonchalance and magnetism of Lulu, and
her manager simply chills an audience by
his irigidity, while Lulu's best man was
4 goodly part of the show with his lively
chatter. Hattie who appears to be mod
est enough little woman, will give another
exhibition tonight and those who NAV
doubt the soundness of the Judgment of
this Journal, will probably get a half dol
lars worth of conviction of their error by
attending.
BOARD OF SUrERv1soRs.-Th Board met
yesterday, all the members present. Min
utes read and approved. A. B. BRYANT re-
ported the bridge south of Hicksville com
pleteds On motion of Mr.. Steinman. the
Supervisor of that district was authorized
to inspect the bridge. and, If according TO
contract accept it. The Contract Commit
tee reported, recommending that the con-
tract for the burial of the county dead be
awarded to W. J. Kavanaugh, on his filing
bond in the sum Of $500. Report adopted.
REruBLIcAN ExcURsIoN-Thi evening
the Republicans will have an excursion to
Gait, on the occasion Of Hon Joseph Me
kennas visit TO that place. The train
leaves the depot at 5:l5, and tickets for the
round trip viii be but 81 Doubtless q
large number will embrace the opportunity
10 visit the town that is ambitious 10 be
the second in size in Sacramento county.
and which certainly Is growing and i'm
proving in every way very rapidly.
The LECTURE. Rev. DR. Dwinel gave
his last lecture on Palestine at the Con
gregational Church last evening. He was
greeted with another large and highly
interested audience. An extended synopsis
of his lectures, or their publication In full,
would be unjust 10 the lecturer. whose pur-
pose is to deliver them at other points.
AUCTION SALE OF REAL EsrArE-D. ].
Simmons & Co. viii sell at auction to-
day, at 1880 \. NJ, the desirable build
ing lot corner of Twentieth and NJ streets.
being LOT 4, in the block between NJ and \,
Twentieth and Twenty-first streets. Sale
positive, TO close an estate.
4
In OUR millinery department ladies will
Ind handsome black tips, 10, % and 40
Ahts: colored tips % cents; black plumes,
81 so; beaver hats, in colors, 40 cents.
Red House.
EVERYTHING must be sold out this week.