The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-11-21
A NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
VI Pierce, the Slayer of O'Bri<u
"HO was Promptly Discharged ARD the
Applause of the Audienc, '-'

= 10oioIls OF nearing the to.t;,oo,,,, :,
.be.,:as he case wherein % PHI A. Pierce was as
)Brine and oittr murder of Pat
Y court room h, Jok place in the coun-
J. n. Paoe g permission of Jud ge
loved to IL #. ID. Winton was en-
!. Hardee .fend the prisoner and A.
alf of = sty watched the case on be-
DIR ne state.
ess 8. A. Fulton was the first wit
> Sworn. Il reside at Astoria am
.egular physician, never saw O'Brien
&ntil 1 was called TO attend TO him,
never saw Pierce before to day. 1 saw
O'Brien Saturday night at Central
hotel, found him on back porch of ho-
tel suffering from the effects Of a gun
shot wound, did not examine HIM fully
but had him sent to the hospital. 1t
was few minutes after five o'clock
when / was called to see the wounded
man. 1 did not at that time ask the
deceased any questions"
Did O'Brien at that time use the
name of defendant?"
Il did not hear him mention the
[ only examined him at that
time TO see if he was seriously injured
and found him badly hurt. 1 made
an examination at the hospital and
found four wounds or rather six but
two of them were wounds of exit"
The doctor stated to the court the
nature of the wounds"
"The wound that 1 found In the
spine was the wound that proved
fatal. L also found a wound in
the back which in my opinion would
have proved fatal. AT the time of be-
ing called to see O'Br1en in my opin-
ion he was under the influence of
liquor. Two or three hours before his
death he said to me, I think it is a
clunas case with me- / don't think
any statement that he made was
under the sense of impending death.
The defendant never said anything
IN my presence about Pierce.
He said that he knew who
shot him, but he did net say who did
it. l did not take any notice of the
of his clothing"
j. 2. Hynes sworn: II reside in
Astoria. My place of business is in
he same block as the Central hotel
knew O'Brien: / have seen Pierce.
saw O'Brien and Pierce together in
ny store. My clerk attended to them.
did not hear O'Brien say anything
Ibout the object of their visit to my
tore. The name of my clerk is James
1ynes. [ did not hear O'Brien make
my remark about him going out and
aking up a claim, in Pierce's pres
nee"
Frank Cook sworn: Il reside in
Astoria; have lived here z or years;
knew O'Brien; I know Pierce since
he 1st of the month. l never saw
i'm and O'Brien together prior to the |
hooting. O'Brien lodged at the Cen
raj hotel, but did not eat there all |
he time. After hearing some shots,
rushed upstairs and got inte the
allway where I met Pierce, who said, |
ne will not bother me any more II
hen went out on the porch and found
JBrien lying there. Pierce was
rmed with a pistol and a knife. II
ook them from him and turned them
yer to officer Mccarthy. When I
rst saw O'Brien he was lying with
is face to the river; looked at his
ace and recognized him as O'Brien. I
aught hold of Pierce and asked him
give himself up, which he did. I
ever knew of any trouble between
)'Brien and Pierce. 1 saw O'Brien
o upstairs about an hour before the
ragedy."
W. ]. Barry called and sworn: Il
new OBrien. I do not know the de-
endant. / saw him on the night of
ne tragedy, Officer Mccarthy turned
nm over to me.
The revolver and knife were now
hown in evidence.
Il did not offer Pierce any reward
Dr making a confession. Pierce said
e did not see what else he could have
one under the circumstances. RI
len told him not to say anything
lore unless by the advice of his attor-
ey."
This closed the evidence for the pro-
ecution.
.Nter a recessof fifteen minutes, the
,ampation was resumed on the part
the offence, which began with the
stimony 1t Mrs. Bottom. who said:
have seen the prisoner before. 1
ave seen OHrien before. Last
riday night the prisoner and another
ian came in front of my husbands
ore, and little after that O'Brien
me up, and Pierce said You cannot
st near enough to me for that 1
id not hear the beginning of the con-
srsation.
Charles Hill being, sworn said; II
new O'Brien; knew him four years.
have heard good many persons say
e was in the habit OF seducing boys;
. tried, to do so to me. When he at
,mpted il on me, it was two years
20, in his room over my fathers res
Witness then told the court
ow the man attempted to seduce
i'm. AT that time OBrien played
f drunk, but when he got me in the
,om he was sober. Ny father kicked
i'm out OF the house and told him he
ould kill him il he ever came In
gain.
Robert Carruthers, being sworn,
,ated: II was acquainted with
'Brien. Saw him and Pierce near
ne Sunnyside saloon on Friday.
PBrien's reputation was bad"
Mat Ryan was sworn and testified:
knew O'Brien; did not know the
risoner. Q'Brien was cooking for
lie. 1 had q boy working for me who
aid me that O'BFien had made OBJ
Gene displays in front OF him."
p. A. Pierce, the defendant. being
worn, stated: "Have known O'Brien
Dur or five days. Met O'Brien when
,oking for the express Office. He
anne up to me and asked if he could
how me anything. l said i would
Ike for you to show me the express
flee The next day he spoke to me,
skiing me what BUSINESS I was in, I
old him that / was looking for Job.
Ie said, Il can probably get yon a
lace at J. 2. Hynes'. He then went
nth me and paid a bill, but I did not
,et the place. The next day he said
le would get me claim if your friend
Eill stand by you, that night after a
title talk with him l went TO bed.