Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-04
THE LUCAS CASE.
Testimony as to the Character of
the Defendant.

/
| the Defendant.
The Lucas trial is nearly at an end.
A few more witnesses will be called to-
day and the arguments will be offered to
the jury. Judge Cheney declared yester-
day that in any event the case should
not go over Sunday.
| There were several lively scenes but
no important developments in the ses-
sions of yesterday. The morning was
taken up with the cross-examination OF
Lucas, which elected nothing new.
In the afternoon the prosecution began
it's evidence in rebuttal by recalling De-
| tective Metzler. He knew Finnegass, of
San Francisco, who had testified in
Lucas favor, and considered his reputa-
ton bad. The witness knew Lucas both
here and in San Francisco and consid-
cred his reputation very bad. He denied
being an enemy of Lucas, however. Fin
negass and the witness had been enemies
ever since the opium frauds.
Mr.. 1. f. Laycock, the next witness,
succeeded in creating something of SEN
sation. He had been warned by the
Court to answer only the question that
was asked him and to wait always for
objections.
Have you known Mr.. Lucas long?"
asked the Prosecuting Attorney.
eyes," he shouted. 'T lived in the
same house with him for many years
and know him."
There was blank silence Of few Sec
onds, which was broken by the Court
ordering the witness to leave the court
room. "And be thankful" he added.
"that you are not more severely dealt
with"
The witness climbed out OF the box and
left the court looking rather crestfallen.
Later in the day the attorneys for the
people apologized for him and asked that
he be recalled. He returned and gave
his testimony that the reputation of
Lucas had always been bad. An effort
was made by the prosecution to prove
that Lucas had been convicted of felony
in San Francisco, but the documents Of
fered were thrown out for technical
reasons.
Captain Harris was recalled and testi-
fed to the reputation of the defendant.
When asked to name anyone who had
spoken i'll of Lucas in his hearing he
pointed at Mr.. Appel, and said to Mr..
Stephens, who was conducting the cross.
examination: "Your own partner there
told ne that he thought Lucas should be
sent to San Quentin"
Mr.. Appel was considerably excited,
and later on was placed on the stand to
deny the entire allegation.
Mr.. A. w. Madrill, who is telegraph
editor and one of the proprietors of
morning paper, swore that he had known
Lucas since 1876, and considered his rep
utation very bad. His evidence was
finally stricken out on the ground that it
was not sufficiently definite.
F.. B. Flint, Deputy United States
Marshal, testified that he served on the
jury in San Francisco which tried Lucas
on a charge OF false imprisonment.
w. J. Marsh, real estate man of Los
Angeles, testified that be knew Lucas in
Nevada, and that his reputation was not
good.
The defense then began its testimony
in rebut,al of the character evidence
offered by the prosecution. P. w. Lee,
B. A. Stephens, H. A. Branscon and
others were called to the stand to declare
that they knew Lucas we'll, and had
always heard him spoken of in credit
able way. The Court adjourned at four
o'clock, and will re- convene at half-past
nine this morning.
The following letter was sent to Mr..
Hawkins by Mr.. Lucas and may throw
some light on the case of the people
against Lucas, which claims some public
attention at this time:
[coPY.l
Los ANGELES, CAL, July II, 1888.
0. @. Hawkins, Esq, San Rafael, Cal:
DEAR SIR; had subpoena out for
you to be here upon the Goth inst. If
you have any notice to not come, please
telegraph at once to me at my expense.
Respectfully yours, A. j. Lucas.
P. S.-Say, Mr.. Hawkins, that boy
wanted to confess before he left here,
and did tell it, too, that it was put-up
Job on me. They rushed him off the
same day he was sentenced, but l want
it in black and white, and, if you can get
it, l will pay one hundred dollars for it.
Although myself, or anyone that knows
him, would not believe him under oath,
it would be worth considerable to me to
have it for people that do not know him
or me; that is why 1 want it. 1 am sure
you can get it. There was some woman
that called on him in San Quentin. /
think it was some one that Metzler sent
there to keep him from making the con-
fession. They found out some way that
was after it. Yours, L.