Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-07
THE LATE E. l.. CRAFT.
His Parents sue His Slayer for SI5I 600
Damages-The CompIaint

His Parents sue His Slayer for SI5I 600
Damages-The Complaint.
The readers of the RECORD UNION are
familiar with the circumstances of the
murder Of E. L. Craft, February 7. 1886, at
Woodland, by J. H. Harlan wealthy Yolo-
ite. The murder took place just two years
ago to-day on Sunday morning, in the
Byrns Hotel. Harlan stood trial twice
for murder, the jury disagreeing both times,
and the case was finally dismissed by the
superior Judge of Yolo county. Crafts
father and mother, an aged and highly re-
spectacle couple, now file the following
com plant:
In the Superior Court of the County of
Sacramento, State of California.
l.. f. Craft and Elizabeth Craft, his wife,
VS.. ]. II. Harlan, defendant
The plaintiffs complain of defendant and
allege,
/. That they are the parents of one Ev-
erett l.. Craft, who is now dead. and that
they are his only heirs at law.
,. That they are the only personal repre-
resentatives of said Everett L. Craft. de-
ceased.
8. That on the 9TH day of February. 1886.
at the Byrns Hotel in Woodland. Yolo
county, California, the defendant clandes-
timely. maliciously and designedly, and
with his malice aforethought and without
authority of law or fault or negligence on
the part of said Everett l.. Craft did at said
time and place with pistol shoot said Ev-
erett l.. Graft until said Craft was dead and
did there and then and thereby, with his
malice aforetboug ght and without the fault
or negligence of said Everett L. Craft, cause
the death of said Craft by shooting him
with pistol until he was dead.
4. That at said time and place and after
said Craft was dead, the defendant wan
tonly and maliciOusly shot said Graft in the
face as he lay dead, thus disfguring his
countenance well knowing said Craft was
dead at said time
D. That on the 18th day of February, 1856,
at the Byrns Hotel, in Woodland Yolo
county, California, the said defendant did
then and there, without the fault. negIi-
gence or conalvanCe or acts OF the said Ey-
erett l.. Graft, then and there SO ueeiicentlv
handle loaded pistol that said pistJi ..as
by the negligence of the defendant as
charged three times, the bullets so dis
charged entering the body of said Graft
and then and there causing his death.
6. That said Everett L. Craft did not in
any way contribute to the said negligence
of the defendant
l. That on the death of said Everett L.
Craft, the plaintiffs took charge OF his BODY
and buried it at an expense to them vi
81 900.
s. That the plaintiffs are each of them
old and inGrm and without means of sup
port, and wera wholly dependent on said
deceased for subsistence and support, and
by reason of the death of said Everett L.
Craft are LETT helpless and destitute and are
damaged, first in the sum of $3.50. 900 bv
reason OF Defendants having killed said
Everett L. Graft; ard. second, in the sum
OF $1,000 burial expenses in the burial of
said Craft.
8. That said Everett L. Craft was of the
age OF 80 years at the time the defendant
caused his death, as hereinbefore ALLEGED.
was well educated, and employed in
profitable business, and was earning 81. 200
per annum, which said earnings were the
chief support and maintenance of these
plaintiffs
Wherefore plaintiffs pray Judgment
against the defendant.
First-FOr $l500O0 damages, for the kill
ing of their son, Everett L. Graft, as herein
alleged, and
Second-For the sum of 81 600 damages
expended by plaintiffs in burying their son,
so killed by defendant, and
Third-For costs of suit.
e. r. Bush and Clarke & Aram, attorneys
for plaintiffs.