Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-22
UNDER WAY.
JURY SECURED IN THE BILLINGS
MURDER CASE.
The Court-Room Crowded With
Spectators-The Prosecutions
Opening Statement.

AT the reasSembling OF Judge Arm
strong's Court yesterday morning the room
was well filled by the usual array of spec
tators, who are drawn by natural curiosity
or morbid love of the sensational to thu
trial of any criminal case of more thar
ordinary moment. The crowd sat pa
tiently through the morning session an6
listened to the not very interesting feature
of examining jurors. When the Court ad
Journed at noon the general impression
prevailed that no jury would be secured
yesterday, and many left the Courtroom
determined not to return for the afternoon
session.
1t was a decided surprise to every one
connected with the case, however, when
the twelfth Juror was accepted at about 3
o'clock NJ. A fortunate supply of favor.
able material tor jurymen seemed to come
in generous quantity all at once, and what
was expected to prove long and tedious
work was completed in shorter order than
any one had anticipated
The jury, as accepted for the case is COM
posed of r. Koening, Charles L. Coyle, J.
Milford, S. c. McClaughry, Joseph Heintz,
Richmond Davis, ]. M. Jackson, John
Reith, ]. II. Miller, William Mitchell,
John Watt, John Barrett
After securing the jury the Court took a
recess of ten minutes.
When the Court again convened Clerk
Rhoads read the Indictment in the case,
after which District Attorney Bruner made
the opening statement, the essential feat
ures of which were as follows: That Fran
els D. Lighthall, the deceased, was native
of Michigan. He came to California about
year ago, and at the time of his death was
about 81 years of age. Soon after his ar
rival his father Luther O. Lighthall. also
came west and joined his son. They came
to Sacramento and concluded to settle in
the vicinity of Sacramento. In November
last they met Levi n. Billings, the de-
fendant in this case, and arranged to rent
OF him his ranch, situated a little north of
the city. on the Sacramento river. Billings
himself drew up the lease, on what was
practically his own terms. The Lighthalls
took possession of the ranch for one year,
they to have certain portion of the crops
raised, and the balance to go to Billings.
One condition of the transaction was that
the tenants should buy of their landlord a
team aad harness for about $3.50. This
they did. paying Billings part of the pur-
chase money for the same. About week
before the LIST of March last negotiations
were pending between the two parties for a
surrender of the lease. The tenants agreed
to forfeit the lease and give possession OF
the premises on The payment of $125. To
this proposition Billings consented, and a
day was decided upon for the vacation OF
the premises, the defendant agreeing to
assist his tenants in moving.
On the day agreed upon the IIighthalls
DIV To
to the ranch with wagon. He saw certain
goods ready for removal, and commenced
Loading them into the wagon. At this
Luther o. Lighthall protested, saying: "We
have not got our money yet" to which the
defendant replied: Come to my house
and | will give you the money" Lighthall
refused to do this, declaring that possession
of the premises would not be surrendered
until the money agreed upon had been
paid. On the Tuesday before the 1st Of
March defendant demanded the team and
harness, on which about 1925 was then due
The demand was denied. and the defend
ant declared he would take them anyway
The senior Lighthall told him that if be
would wait an hour he would get the
money. He sent to town for his brother
I'D. Lighthall, who soon came out to the
anch, bringing the money, $225, with
which the defendant was paid in full for
the property. Billings then drove away.
On the Friday following, the first day OF
March, the defendant and his son went out
to the ranch and drove up to the barn. The
former went to open the barn door, when
Francis D. Liehthall, the deceased, opposed
him, and his father said TO the defendant:
No; you shall not interfere with any
thing on this place until our business is
settled" At this Billings and his son both
picked up clubs and struck the elder Light
hall, who then grasped club and hit young
Billings. The defendant then struck young
Lighthall blow with his club and fell ed
hirnito the ground The young man was
just getting up, when the defendant shot
him twice with pistol and killed him.
The prosecution would prove that at no
time had the deceased any weapon of any
kind, that the attack was made by the de-
PENDANT. After the killing, defendant and
his son started 10 go away, the father OF
the deceased standing over the body of his
PROSTATE son. Defendant returned and
drew his pistol on the old man. threatening
to shoot him also. Young Billings inter
fered and he and the defendant went away
Olive Hildreth, 10 years of age was stand.
ing at a corner of the house, from which
spot she witnessed the whole proceedings
until the firing of the shots. The prosecu
ton claimed that there was no just pro.
vocation for the assault, which resulted. i
would claim. in the unlawful killing of &
human being with malice aforethought
At the conclusion of the District Attor
ney's opening statement, the substance o.
which is given above, it was decided to
proceed no further in the case yesterday
and the Court adjourned until 10 A. NJ to
day. The jury during the trial of the cas-
Will be under the charge of the Sheriff.