Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-07-28
KILGORE's KILLING.
The Shooting of John H.
0ldridge.
ANOTHER HoRRID HOMICIDE.
Testimony Given at the Coroner's
Inquest-Was it Self
Defense2

luqueSt-WhS III DELL
DefenseY
Yesterday morning the quiet of the
city which has ruled for many weeks in
criminal circles was rudely broken by
the report that Ira b. Kilgore, book
keeper for Mr.. s. W. Luitwieler, had
shot another employe, John II. Oldridge,
In the establishment on the corner Of Los
Angeles and Requena streets. Imme-
diately after the killing-for the ball
struck 0ldridge In front Of and little
below the left shoulder and ranging
downward pierced the aorta, producing
instant death--the slayer, in company
with Mr.. Luitwieler, went TO the Police
Office where Kilgors gave himself into
the custody of the officers of the law.
The body Of the dead man was con-
veysd to the morgue at the office OF
Orr & Sutoh. where an autopsy was
made and at 2P. M. an inquest was held,
in the presence of q Coroner's jury.
Prior to the legal investigation it was
currently reported that there had been
bad blood between the two men for some
time past. On two occasions they bad
come to blows, In which Kilgore APP
pears to have come out second best
There were various accounts told also
az to the circumstances of the killing
but there will be more truth fully
brought out by giving the testimony OBJ
tanned under oath. The man killed has
resided for some time on Second street,
about midway between Olive and Char
ity, with his wife aud two children, who
are just at present sojourning at the sea-
shore for few days. The blow falls
with crushing force on these. as they are
not In very affiuent circumstances, but
dependent on the wages Of the dead man
and the renting of rooms for liveli.
hood. At the inquest before Coroner
Mcfarland @. W. Knox Esq. appeared
for the people, and II. L. Gage Esq. for
the defendant. The first witness called
was
3. W. LuITwIELER,
The employer Of the two men, parties to
the affair, and proprietor OF the estab'
lishment where the homicide tookpiace.
A delay was occasioned waiting for the
slayer TO be present to hear all the testi-
mony offered concerning the casualty.
Mr.. Luitwieler testified substantially
as follows: l knew John H. Oldridge.
He was in my employment at the time
vi his death. he died ct about 8:l5
this morning. in the second story of my
building, corner Los Angeles and Re-
quena streets, in this city, county and
State.
He was foreman of my paint shop.
Had been In my employ about year
and half. saw him die. l did not
see what caused his death. l was not
present. From all appearances he had
been shot. l did not hear any shot
fired. l had not seen him since yester-
day afternoon. Before the death saw
Ira B. Kilgore---fve inmates before. l
saw him in the lower part of my build
ing. had just come in. l sent Kill
gore with message to Oldridge. Kill
gore was in my employ. He was my
bookkeeper. Had been since July LIST.
Prior to July LIST he had been In my EN-
ploy since about January LIST as sales
man.
l told ktlgore 70 go upstairs ana tell
Oldridge ii he did not want to touch
up those shafts he could take
bis things and go nome. MI.
gore had previously made the request
TO touch up the shafts in question. When
l came down in the morning kilgore told
me he had been upstairs and ask cd oid.
ridge to touch up certain pair Of shafts
for wagon tnat was soid. hhgore 'ola
me that Oldridge said ne should &C., OUT
Of the paint shop; that ne wosla no.
receive any orders from MIN ana gld not
want anything to do with him. linen l
tod kilgore to take the message ABOVE
to Oldridge.
! was in the Office and heard some one
call my name. l came out and saw Mr..
kilgore. He said he had shot oidridge.
! went up stairs, and saw oidridge dy-
ing. came down stairs and told MI,
gore that Oidridge was dying. ne asked
me to go with him to police headquarters
and give himself up, That IS all. On
the way he stated that when ne got up
stairs Oldridge threw putty Kniie AZ
him and also cup, and was coming AZ
him and was within lew ieet oil MN
when he shot him. That Is all.
There was bad feeling between
Oldridge and kiiRore before TINS.
nen ean. I'm -. .o,d ne
thst f,ldr;dge strucf him and for that
- h.d 0idr;dge arrested. While under
srrsst And when In the custody of Con-
st.ble Iedbetter. Oldridee broke loose
and strucL K;lgore. drawing blood and
bIscL;no ri. avs. This happened in nv
nre.ence Prior To that / knew no
troubIa subseoueut to this | have
Enowr AZ nothing in the way of an out.
hnr.. Kijoore aid 10 me once that he
hsJ hard from bis friends that Oldrjdpe
ill harhorsd IN feeling. After the
thrs.h;ng Kilcore said to me. az will
stand NO more Of his foolishness." XII.
core had him arrested twice. He said
b vonld no prepared for Oldridpe IL he
mads an on.langbt ON him again,
After going 10 the police station about
.en ar 6ftsen minutes / returned to
-hare Oldridge Law. He was dead,
When 7 went IN stairs first there were
nre.snt Thee. G,ese and j ohm Cleveland.
Thev were both EMPLOYEES of mine. 1t
was Kiluore's business In nv absence to
ssa 10 me affairs. That ia the way he
came 10 90 mn with the FIRST message. 1t
No. ,art ~ bis duty.
rhhopohh e'hs.
Was the next witness called. de told
how be had been with Mr.. Luitwieier
for about four years. lie knew John ID.
Oldridge for nearly two years. Was In
Mr.. Luitweiler's building this morning
when he was shot. l saw the shooting.
was about fifteen feet from the parties
when the shooting was done. l saw
Kilgore and heard what he said when
he first came up and spoke to Oldridge.
He said: "Mr. Oldridge, l wish you
would touch up these shafts. They are
liable to go out any time to-day"
Mr.. Oldridge told him he did not want
to have anything to do with him at all,
and did not wish to have any orders
from him. Kilgore went down stairs.