Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-05
HELD TO ANSWER.
The Result of the Fray EX-
animation at NeWhall.
HOW HE WAS TRAILED BY CRANE.
Testimony introduced by the Prose-
cutiOn-Twenty-Five Hundred
Dollars Bail.


Dollars Bail.
Newhall had quite an addition to her
population yesterday, fer host from the
surrounding country had hocked in to be
present at the preliminary examination
of Frank Fray, charged with the burning
nf Rony Cranes house near Newhall.
Fray was brought up on the Santa Bar
bara train in charge Of Constable Magee
and retained the appearance of bravado
which distinguished him when arraigned
On the previous Monday, but he evidently
did not feel very much at ease, as rumor
had reached him that some strong testi-
mony had been obtained against him.
District Attorney Depuy, accompanied by
the official stenographer, Mr.. w. w.
Weed, was ON hand to conduct
the prosecution, and the prisoner
had left his defense in the hands
of Mr.. VIM. Crawford, who attended him
during the previous proceedings. At
IL 10 A. NJ. in response to an interroga-
ton by Judge Thompson, MIR. Depuy an
nounced that he was ready, and Mr..
Crawford also sjgnifying his assent the
case was called.
Judge Depuy requested that Mr.. Crane
be sworn, whereupon Mr.. Crawford asked
that all other witnesses be excluded, and
this was done by order OF Judge Thomp-
son. Crane stated that he resided at
Lake View, and that his house was
burned on Monday, the 23d day of July.
He had taken his wife to mountain
range where he had cattle, and some
time after sundown, happening to look
back, he saw a blaze which he knew
must have proceeded from his house. He
was then about eight miles distant and in
company with Joe Harwood who was with
him on the trip, started for the scene OF
the confagration. Arriving there, he
found his place mass of ruins and i'm
mediately proceeded to Capt. Moore's
place, about one mile distant and asked
him if he would accompany him. The
two then went to Balls place, about
six miles further on and got there about
$50. Crane raped on the door in his
search for Fray and went from there to
McClusky's, hoping to find his man there,
but again he met with failure. He then
started for Fray's cabin in company with
Harwood and as soon as day broke,
started trailing Fray and found fresh
track near the place. The track was
easily followed, as the man he was
pursuing had row Of tack-marks in his
boots on both heels and the rest Of the
boot was smooth.
Crane then attempted to point
out by means of stick the
length of the tract but counsel for the
defense objected on the ground that it
was prima facie evidence. A long discus
sion followed as to the legality of such
: evidence, and resulted in Judge Thomp-
son refusing to sustain the objection.
Motion overruled, and defendant ex-
cepted.
Crane then pointed out on the stick the
exact length and width of the trail, and
the evidence was taken amid further OBJ
jections from the defense. The tracks
were measured in the presence of the
Rev, S. A. Drummond, who assisted
Crane to follow the fugitive. After the
trail was taken up it led directly to
Fray's cabin, and from there went across
the hill in the direction of Cranes house.
Crane then went to Harwood's place
again and found another track from
the mountain which he fol-
lowed, and meeting Captain Moore,
obtained him to assist in trailing
Fray. A number of footprints were
found about the ruins of Crane'e place
and they conceded with the impressions
discovered during the previous search.
The fugitive had evidently been endeav.
Oring to conceal his trail, as he went on
tiptoe at different places and at Dry
Lake had walked in and waded about,
but all his efforts had been unsuccessful
as the trail was easily taken up again.
Crane then spoke of his previous &C.
Quaintance with Fray and of having
whipped him as the result of an affray
that had occurred about three weeks be.
fore the fire. After the squabble Fray
wanted to make friends again with Crane
but Rony refused at first, thinking it was
only deceitful pretext. Fray then
said that some day he would proba-
bly, get even with Crane, and
from that time on the two men
never met until Crane saw Fray hand
cuffed in charge of Magee at the arraign-
ment. A pair of boots were then pro-
duced In court and announced to have
been taken from Fray, and Crane was
directed to compare them with the stick
lAdIkb, WdCAOuPOh COuAoCl lOI ucicu66
objected and was overruled. The two
were then compared and found to coin
eide.
The cross-examination of Crane was
then commenced, and he was asked what
his business was. He eaid that he in ad-
dition to farm conducted cattle bust
ness, slaughtering stock for the market.
He had been living in the valley about
five years, and had gone into the stock
trade about eighteen months ago.
An objection was raised to such evil
dence by Judge Depuy for it was to be
seen that an effort was about to be made
to bring about the threatened exposure
as to cattle stealing and the objection
was sustained.
The details of the Fray whipping cpl
sode were next brought out and Crane
was closely examined as to the details.
It being insufferably hot and the hour of
noon having arrived adjournment was
taken for about an hour and all proceeded
to luncheon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The first witness called on the resump-
tion of proceedings was the Rev. S. A.
Drummond, who described himself as
the editor of the Lancaster Gazette. He
described how, in conjunction with
Crane, he had tracked footsteps leading
from the scene of the confagration into
the mountains. He identifedj the stick
as the one with which the foot-tracks