Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-22
TIE INQUEST.
The story of the Shooting of w.
L. Curtis.

TIE INQUEST.
The story of the Shooting of w.
e. Curtis.
AT 10 o'clock yesterday morning Cor
oner Meredith held an inquest at La
manda Park upon the body OF W. Z.
Curtis, who was shot by his brother-in-
law, Philip Engle, on Wednesday even
ing. Acting under the advice OF their
attorney, James Burdett, Engle and his
wife, who were the only eye-witnesses of
the tragedy, refused to testify before the
Coroner's jury, and all the evidence
taken was gathered from those Of the
neighbors who were upon the scene
shortly before and Immediately after
the shooting. From the testimony adj
duced it was learned that Philip
Eng!e, who is q wellto-do farmer,
| was married to Curtis sister about eleven
years ago, since which the relations be-
tween the two men have been Of the
most friendly nature. No better proof OF
| this can be found than that Curtis had
| lived with the Epgles for the past four
years. On Monday last Curtis was mar
ried to Miss Mary Pagan, young woman
| about 10 years of age, who lived in the
| vicinity, and the newly married couple
took up their residence in small cot
! tage not more than 200 yards from
Engle's house. On Wednesday after.
noon last Curtis walked over to his
brother-in.law's residence, and entering
the house as privileged person, with
out notifying the inmates of bis ap-
| proach, came upon the Engles
while they were quarreling in the
kitchen. Curtis took up the dispute
on behalf of his sister, and as the result
of his interference between man and wife
fight occurred between the two men.
Curtis being much the larger and
stronger man forced Engle to the porch
in the rear of the house, and taking ad-
vantage of the fact that there was step
six inches deep behind Engle, he
hurled his lighter opponent violently
from him, and the latter fell to the
ground. Reighbors who were attracted
to the place interfered. Curtis then rs-
turned to his home, and after nursing his
rage Tor few minutes he threw off his
coat and left the house in TIE direction
of Engle's residence. Mrs. Van Slyke,
one of his neighbors, met him about
midway. and divining his intention, at
tempted to dissuade him from going back
to Engle's place, but to no purpose, as he
turned and left her. On reaching his
former home, Curtis entered the kitchen
from the rear, and was met by Engle,
who stood at the door Of the dining-r room
which opened into the kitchen. AS Cur
tie advanced towards him, Engle backed
across the dining room and into the bed
room at the other END of it, and grabbed
a Winchester rife. Curtis still continued
to advance, when Engle discharged the
weapon without raising it to his shoulder
and Curtis fell to the ground, dead.
| The report caused By the discharge of
the weapon attracted the attention Of the
neighbors. Engle was placed under ar
rect by Constable Newell, who subse-
quently turned him over to the custody
OF Constable Butterworth, of Pasadena.
He WAS taken TO the City Jail at
Pasadena by the latter officer shortly
afterwards.
Prior to the shooting Engle, who is a
native OF Germany, Al years of age, YVES
much respected by those who knew him,
and he was known as man Of peaceable
disposition. W. E. Curtis was G native OF
Maine, aged 81 years, and though a mag
nifcent specimen of physical strength,
| Delng SIX 1eet IN height and proportion
ately well built, was always looked upon
as a quiet, well-intentioned man. The
jury, on hearing the facts in the case, re-
turned a verdict to the effect that the de-
ceased "came to his death by gun-shot
wound inflicted with rifle in the hands
of Philip Engle."
The verdict of the Coroner's Jury,
together with the testimony adduced be-
fore it, were filed by the Coroner with
Justice F. M. Vanderlip, of Pasadena,
who held preliminary examination
into the case at ! 80 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon.
| The evidence adduced was practically
the same as that heard at the inquest in
the morning, and at its conclusion, the
defendant having reserved his defense,
the Court held him to answer to the
charge in the Superior Court under bail
in the sum of $4,000. In default of
sureties for this amount Engle was taken
to the County Jail last night, at which
place he was visited by HERALD re.
porter. He refused, however, to make
any statement with regard to the affair,
on the ground that he had been advised
not to do so by his attorney.