The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-01-15
SUPREME COURT--JANUARY
TERM, 1885.
Chief Justice Judd presiding.

WEDNESDAY, Jan. Il.
The trial of H. A. Bridges for the killing
of L. r. Patten was commenced on Wednes-
day morning in the Supreme Court. Prof.
Wayland, of Yale College (by invitation>,
occupied seat on the Bench. About sixty
persons were present, exclusive of the attor-
neys etc.
At 10 o clock the defendant, H. A. Bridges,
appeared, accompanied by his attorneys,
Messrs Castle and Austin. The jurors were
called, and examined touching their quail
fications.
Mr. E. R. Hendry stated that he was en-
ployed by the Beard of Health, and that his
associates in that Office we're Witnesses in
the case, consequently the duties of the
Office would devolve upon him during this
trial. He was excused.
Mr. John F. Bowler bluntly said he was
of the opinion that the defendant should be
hanged, and he was relieved from jurors
duty.
Mr. s. Roth had formed an unqualified
opinion in the case, and was excused.
Mr. NJ. Clifford was challenged of for
cause by defendants attorneys.
Mr. H. NJ Lowe was excused because de-
fendant's attorneys might probably want
him for witness.
The jury was then completed, and sworn,
as follows WIN. Lishman, A. D. Bolster,
n. II. Burgess, John L. Bushee, L. G. Able,
J. W. Hingley. E. f. Cunha, W. H. Baird,
T. J. King, VIM. Clark, J. F. Carpenter,
and G. J. Mccarthy.
The Crown was represented by Attorney
General Eeumann and his Deputy Whiting,
who read the indictment Ito which the de-
fendant pleaded not guilty yes terday), and
opened the case.
THE TESTIMONY.
The Attorney General then called DR.
McKibbin, who testified he had been in the
me dlcal profession for thirtY-eight years.
He knew Patten slightly. Did not hear OF
the difficulty between Bridges and Patten
until after the latter's death. Was going
up Fort street when he heard of Patten' g
Sheath. He went into Benson & Smiths
tore aud saw P4tten there dead. In con-
junction with DR.. Emerson he mada "a
post norton examination of the body the
next morning. He then described the ma
ture Of the wounds. Found three external
gun-shot wounds, one Ia inches above the
navel on the medal line, second over the
ninth rib. on a line perpendicular from
axilIa, and four inches below line drawn
horizontally from the left nipple; the third
wound Was 2h inches upward and back
ward from the second. In opening periton-
cal cavity I found a large quantity of
| clothed blood. Found the ball embedded
| in the soft parts of right internal surface.
| He thought the pistol had been fired when
standing directly opposite to each other,
| with the muZzIe of the revolver poin ting
| slightly downwards, for the fatal shot.
Cross. exsmined-If the bullet were to
, no bone, would its course be true? 1t m light
be turned off by touching button.
Did you find the body of Mr.. Patten in a
healthy condition? Yes; all the organs we're
healthy.
1t was at frat thought unnecessary to call
DR.. Emerson, as the defense was satisfied
with DIR. McKibbin's testimony, but as he
was in attendance, the Attorney General put
him on the stand.
DR.. n. B. Emerson stated that he assisted
DIR. McKibbin in the post norton examina-
ton. Wounds two and three were not fatal
to life, as the bullet did not enter the cavity
of the chest. He found the body clothed in
the Masonic Hall, but did not think it was
III the, same clothes he was shot in. The
artery was put into bottle and given &c
Mr.. Dayton. Witness here identified bull
A.
body of L. II. Patten, and handed it to DR.,
McKibbin. He saw the Doctor hand it tC
Mr.. Dayton. The wound No. 1 was neces
sarily fatal. The death was caused by hem
orrhage from the effects of the shot. H.
thought the muzzIe of the pistol was pressed
close to the breast. He corrected his state
ment as to face to face, and thought TIT
shot was fired a little TO one side. (Tht
witness stood on the floor of the Court
room, and with the Attorney-General for
subject, showed the position he thought
from the nature of the wounds, the mar
must have stood in).
Cross-examined-What was the state o
the abdominal wounds? There was blood
oozing. He thought that the different ap
pearance from discoloration from powder 0
the wounds was due to the different colo
of the clothing. Cotton clothing would
burn far more rapidly than wooden.