Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-25
SELF DEFENSE ALLEGED.
BILLINGS TELLS WHY HE KILLED
FRANCIS LIGHTHaLL.
He Says that Deceased First As
saulted Him With a Murder
ous Weapon-Etc.

son of the defendant, resumed his testi.
mony in the Billings-LighthaIl murder
case. He said hat after some prelim-
mary words regarding the removal of hay
from the premises young Lighthall first
opened hostilities by snatching a binding.
stake from the wagon and assaulting the
defendant. During the scuf1e young
Lighthall seized a piece of scantling and
was IN the act OF striking the defendant
when the latter shot him. After the body
of the deceased had been carried into the
house the elder Lighhall followed witness
and his father out into the yard and said
they were not TO blame for his sons death.
The defendant had been intending TO 90
for a surgeon, but when told that young
Lighthall was dead he said he would go TO
the Sheritfs office and surrender himself.
When the fight occurred the defendant
heid the lines of the team in one hand
while defending himself with the other.
Witness declared that neither himself nor
his iather, the defendant, first struck the
Llghthalls. The latter assaulted them,
and they had TO defend themselves.
Cross-examined. There were other
horses on the place besides those of the de-
PENDANT the Lighthalls collected some of
the money for their pastursge. Under
the lease they were entitled to one-third.
When the lease was signed Mr.. Hildreth
was down the river, but returned in Janu-
ary. On one occasion there was nobody
on the place that was one day IN January.
Inc hay IN the barn was used by the Light
halls for their horses. The KEY to the barn
was sometimes III the possession of the de-
fendant. aud at Others was held bv the
Lighthalls. There were no hard feelings
between the defendant and the Lighthalls
when they parted on the Tuesday preced-
ing the dlihculty. The Lighthalls owed
Ine ~aeienoan for house rent, wood, etc.
They nau Some swine on the place. and
were to deliver everything ND for the sum
OF $40. Witness did not know whether q
settlement on this basis had been ratified ;
1t was the proposition of the Lighthalls.
On the Monday preceding the shooting the
Llghthalls came to the defendants house
in the city and asked for the chestnut team
the one they had purchased-in order to
remove their things from the ranch. They
were to deliver up everything, and after
moving away were to call on defendant
and have a settlement. They brought a
note from their lawyer, Mr.. Anderson. bat
witness was not aware of its contents. Wit
ness repeated hat the elder Lighthall came
to the defendant after the killing, and told
the latter that he did not blame him. The
deceased was advancing upon defendant
with a raised club when shot. After the
first shot the deceased dropped the round
stick he had raised, and picked up a piece
of scantling and continued TO advance.
When the elder Lighthall told defendant
he was not to blame tor the killing his
manner was friendly. Witness could not
see that Lighthall showed any emotion.
While witness and the elder Lighthall were
carrying the wounded man 10 the house.
Llghthall said he did not blame witness
for what had occurred.
Witness here re-told his story of the
tragedy and the circumstances leading
thereto. The Lighthalls objected to de-
PENDANT removing any hay from the barn.
The latter asked, This is my barn and my
hay, isn't it?" Lighthall said it didn't
make any difference whose barn or hay
1t was" Defendant should not take the
hay unless he and witness were better men
than they (the ~Lighthalls). The first TO
take a stick from the wagon was young
Llghthall, who assaulted the defendant.
Witness was or the opposite side of the
wagon. The elder Lighthall assaulted de-
PENDANT with his fist just as the deceased
also struck him with his club. After that
the elder Lighthall grabbed a stick from
the wagon. Then witness Jumped across
the wagon and the elder Lighthall assaulted
him. The defendant continued to hold
OF to the lines with his left hand. Young
L%ighthall was right opposite defendant
when the latter hot. He fell about the
middle of where the wagon had stood. He
did net fall until after the horses had run
away. After the Lighthalls had given up
the place witness found under a manger in
the barn the piece of scantling with which
young Lighthall had assaulted the de-
fendant.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Obs Billings, recalled, stated that ne saw
a letter from Major Anderson, received by
his father after the latter was in Jail. Saw
no other letter from Mr.. Anderson.
l.. y. Billings. the defendant, was next
called. Know L. o. Lighthall and knew
Francis D.. Lighthall, deceased. Remember
the lease introduced in evidence, and am the
party who signed it. That was the only
lease from witness to Francis D. Lighthall.
Witness then proceeded to state what &C.
Cured between himself and Francis Light
hall, on the 22d of February last. a week
before the tragedy. The latter said he
would surrender the place, with everything
thereon, and that witness should paw him
S125 when the place was vacated. Witness
took the unpaid-for team 10 his place in
town. Returned 10 the ranch with his son
On the following day, and Francis Light
hall assisted in repairing a fence. The
Monday following L. o. Lighthall and his
son came TO witness house and asked for
the team to remove their things from the
ranch. Asked the elder Lighthall if the
latter's son had explained to him the ma
ture of the settlement, and be said he bad,
Witness said he could not let the team go
but could the next day. The next day went
to the ranch, accompanied by his son, TO re
move the furniture of Lighthsll. Found
l.. o. Lighthall and the Hildreth family
on the place. Francis came while they
were there. While taking 9 stove from
the wagon, the elder Lighthall asked wit
ness If he was ready to pay hin the Sl25
and if not he (Lighthall) would not leaY.
the place. Witness did not ask him Il
leave the place-it was Lighthall's owl
proposition. After witness had placed hi
stove inside the house, and when he am,
out The elder Lighthall was holding III.
horses, and said he had bill of sale o
them and intended TO keep them. Witnes,
said he could not have them until they
were paid for, and Lighthall said he woult
send to his brother and get the money. II
a couple of hours the latter came with tn
money, and the horses were paid for ap(
they were urn over to Lighthall and thr
the latter note returned to him. Witness
and his son then started TO 60 home. Wit
ness did not say be would run the ranet
aud had the tool in his pocket with which
to do so. Had some words with William
A. L~ighthall, and the latter was rather in
sulting. On that day witness locked th
barn before leaving. On Wednesday wen
70 the ranch and got some hay, and agaiI
on Thursday, and nothing unpleasant oc
Cured between witness and the Lighthall
on either occasion.
On Friday witness and his son went t
the ranch. Witness here recognized
a hat worn by him on that morning
and said it was not in so dilapidated a con
dition when he left home. The stick
Offered in evidence were in witness wagon
Had used them for a year or SO for bindin!
hay-loads. Took some wire to the plac
for repairing a fence. Witness horses wer,
quite spirited and it was necessary 10 fas
ten them. Laid the wire in the trough
and returned to the wagon. Witness Sol
rant into The harm and nnlnnLed Tho hnor