The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-20
A PLOT OF DEATH.
The Fatal Shooting Described by
ID. III. Arnold.
Circumstances of the Tragedy in the Saloon
Defendants Private Character.
Garness' Pistol.

name was called Immediately took his Mace
upon the STAND and resumed his narrative OF the
events which led up 10 the tragedy He 1denti-
neo copy OF the Evening Post containing COPY
OF Tie article relating to the circulars, which
Garness had sent TO that paper, and stated fur
ther that marked copy of the paper had been
sent him through the mail
subsequently GarneSs had told him that be
tGarness) had sent it to let him know what was
going on. Subsequent to the appearance of the
Post article lie saw similar articles IN the Chron.
1cle and Examiner; also saw a short article In
IHE CALL of much better character.
THE PEERLESS TRAGEDY.
Continuing his statement he said: crossed
the bay on The morning OF January 30tn, and
called at Mills Seminary TO see my daughter
Geneva, who was there at school. She seemed
10 be suffering, aud l noticed that she appeared
pale and thin. l remained until about o'clock,
when returned TO the city, and went from the
ferry 10 the Office of Attorney Goad with whom
had had many conversations relative 10 the
circulars. From there proceeded 10 Detective
CuTtlnS office and had 4 long talk with him on the
same subject. On leaving there took my way
10 the Nevada Stables on Market street TO see
William Mellon, and when opposite the Peerless
Saloon my eye fell upon Garness, who was
standing upon tie sidewalk. Ii flashed upon my
mind 10 have a talk with him and, approaching
him, acc0Sted INN as was my wont with the
words Hello, Garness.' He immediately turned
toward me ana / continued: L want to talK
with you.'
THE FATAL MEETING.
IAN right he replied. let US 60 In here
pointing TO the Peerless saloon and take a
drink L signihed my consent and he led the
way, holding Ihe door open to allow me 10
pass ill., He walked through the saloon to
private room. l following. and when we were
seated lie reached over and pressed a button on
the wall foi the purpose OF calling a waiter. AS
he did SO be asked me when IL was my Intention
10 return home, and answered him that would
60 IN day or TWO We were then interrupted
by the entrance OF tne walter from whom Gar
a VIII Ia cts fnru rlaI1
WHISKY. lie walter went back 10 the bar 10 I'LL
the order ana when lie had gone Garness asked:
DO you think Brooks had anything TO do with
THIS?
al answered, 4 do not
"GaiDess remarked lie talks that way
You wrote the circular, replied.
DREW his PISTOL
'He retorted: What il l did, 10y ou?'
and, sutlng the action 10 the words, lie sprang
10 his feet aud put his hand behind him In
threatening manner. drew my pistol aud began
firing. AM confident That fired four shots and
struck my hand w. He then led me from the
room ana / gave my pistol 10 him We went
into ChenowNhS private Office, where
~ aimed unIli was la ell INTO custody by an
officer. Two police officers, one of whom after
ward learned was Sergeant Nash. came in and
. gave myself up. noticed mat Cbenowlth gave
my pistol 10 Nash. On the way 10 The station
remarked You will be surprised TO find that you
have he wrong man. The meaning Intended
10 convey was That as GaTuess had made tile
hIst demonstration be was the man who should
that lie was fatally shot"
Mr.. Delmas hele turned the witness over TO the
prosecution.
Arnold was then submitted TO brief cross
examination, In which lie stated that after the
first shot Garness stopped over, and be fired
again. Could not say what their relative posi-
tlons were When the other shots were fired.
Garness, he claimed, was bent forward when he
fired the fourth shot.
What distance were you from Garness when
you hTed the first shut?' lie was asked.
al know nothing Of The size of the room. but
a - a fbHFu her 4
hred the first Three shots When fired the last
was close to him. am not sure to where
the first three shots struck him, but am OF the
opinion that the first aud second hit him in The
breast Tie fourth shot was The one that struck
him in the shoulder"
The defendant excused from the stand.
CAPTAIN LEES ON THE STAND.
Captain l. w. Lees, when placed upon the
witness-stand said: II am Captain OF the De-
tectlVe Force OF San Francisco. 1 saw GaTness
At the City Receiving Hospital subsequent TO the
shooting. and he made 10 me an ante mortem
statement, which was reduced to writing"
lie then testified that the statement did not
contain all that said by Garness, aud the
abrupt termination Of the dying mans remarks
were due 10 The fact that his mind wander ed and
his articulation grew indlsIinct as death APP
preached.
c. NJ. Coe, being duly sworn, stated: " am
newspaper man, and WAS connected with the
Examiner for three years. In the fall OF 1889
first met GdrnesS, having been introduced 10
him at the Examiner office by Mr.. Ward who
then city editor. | detailed by the lat
ter 10 write up the story of the circulars aud
was told that Garness could give me tile points.
be wanted me TO Interview Mr. Green of the SUI
and Mi. Arnold. He minated that tie circu-
lars were printed III Green's office.
GARSEss ALWAYS ON HAND.
went 10 lie Occidental 10 see Mr.. Green,
and found GaTness there. / was also told 10 Il-
terview Arnold, ana 10 ask him about shooting
scrape on Golden Gate avenue. Went number
OF times TO see Arnold and always found Car
ness OH hand. When l succeeded at last in lind
Ing AIEOid, GaTneSs met me Immediately after
the interview and cross-quesuoned me very
closely as to what Arnold had said. 1 saw Gar.
ness great many times, aud lie always brought
~ The sueiect OF Ihe circulars. He talked so
much about it thai grew tired OF 1t. After l
presence OF Garness, that would not write II up
for $500. My understanding was that the
mailer was 10 be published in the Post, and in a
few days It appeared in that pa3er.
TESTIMONY OF ARNoLD's FRIENDS.
j. L. Seawen, who has been a resident OF Col
usa siuce 1886. and who is now County Clerk
knew tile defendant and knew his reputation to
be that Of good citizen. Had received one of
the circulars, which he destroyed.
w, P. Harrington. cashier OF The Colusa Bank
had known Arnold Tor fifteen or twenty years,
and bad always known him as man OF peace
and Quietness IN The community.
In The afternoon w. s. Green, editor OF the
COlLsa sun, was the first witness He had
known d. II. Arnold Tor thirty years aud testi-
led that tile defendants character for peace and
Quietness had always been OF the best Had no.
ticed great change In ArnOld's mode OF life
after the distribution OF The circulars. Observed
That he was nervous aud Ill at ease, his eyes
wandered aud lie seemed like man on the verge
OF INSANITY. The prosecution dismissed him
j. ". Porter OF Colusa was called and stated
that lie had known the defendant intimately Tor
fourteen years. and knew his reputation to be as
good as that OF any man In tie community. He
was shown an envelope and Identified il as one
which lie had received through the mail contain
ing copy OF what was known as the September
circular. He also stated that lie knew 5. w.
Garness In his lifetime. Had seen him IN Colusa
number OF times. ID ceased called Porter a
number Of times at the latteis office.
EXPECTED FUN.
He recalled one time in particular when Gar
ness was in bis office and stood at the window
looking out at Arnold and Green, who were In
conversation the street. Garness re-
marked, after watching them for a long time:
% expect there VIII be fun over there"
"Do you know anything OF Garness carrying
pistul?' asked.
Yes sir. He said once This bothers me-
refer ring 10 a pistol which he showed me- aud /
offered 10 pnt IL in my safe, but he replaced 1t in
his pocket"
Porter was then Introduced for Identification, but
was objected TO by tie prosecution on the ground
that II was not tile original handwriting OF tile
deeeas d. but merely copy. The objection was
sustained
Witness stated that he had returned The orlgI-
nal to Garuess and gave the cory to Mr.. Arnold
as specimen Of Garness' handwriting. The
copy he had taken himself from The original let
ter, as received from Garness.
HART RECALLED.
William n. Hart of the Examiner was recalled
and on cross examination stated that he met
Garness IN The Richeeu sal Don on the day fol.
lowing the alteration In that place between
Arnold and Garness
GaiDess sad: "IhatS all right; can take
care OF myself I'd Just like TO get MIN TO fire tie
First shot I'm liked myself" He then exhibited
revolver.
"Have you ever told before of this circum
stanee?'
"Yes. sir l told Captain Lees"
"Wben did you tell Captain Lees OF the re-
volver?"
ION the night OF the shooting, or the night fol-
lowing"
''Dd you see The revolver?r
"NeaTy all OF IL. Garness lifted 1t partially
from his pocket"
Did you any other occasion see him with
pisIO?'
Il can testify positively that did tell Captain
Lees about II, for he afterward told me that the
pistol had been found"
found" ' " ~ ~
"In the wardrobe nj t,arnass, hona,,