Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-30
TURNED STATES EVIDENCE.
ROBERT WATTS TELLS WHAT BE
KNOWS OF THE WEST ROBBERY.
He Says he Saw Dell Murphy Take the
Victims Money-Hurley Writes
Letter.


berry, brought out some rathers sensational
testimony in the Police Court yesterday.
Hurley was accused, in company with
Dell Murphy and Robert Watts, of having
brutality beaten and robbed a stranger
named West in Smiths K street dive on
the 18th inst. Robert Watts is the cripple
who was stabbed some weeks ago in
drunken brawl, and came near dying.
Watts became acquainted with West and
went with him to Smiths place, where
the robbery was committed. The three
defendants demanded separate trials, and
Hurley's was the first TO come up.
To the surprise OF Hurley and Murphy
Watts turned States evidence, taking the
witness stand and telling all about the
affair.
The case Of Hurley was first called at
the morning session of the Court. but Mr.
Estsbrook, Hurley's attorney, pleaded for
a continuance in order that some mysteri.
Gus witnesses, by whom it was expected 10
prove an alibi, might be summoned. Judge
Buckley, however, would only permit
continuance until the afternoon. When
the case came up again Hurley's attorney
again asked for continuance, and handed
the Court an affidavit sworn 10 by Hurley.
in support of his request.
The Court did not consider the affidavit
sufficient, and ordered the examination to
proceed.
THE VICTIM TEsTIFIEs.
James West then took the witness. stand.
He testified that on the 18th instant he
came TO Sacramento from Rocklin 10 attend
to some business. The next afternoon he
drank considerable. but did not get so
drunk as not to know what he was doing.
About o'clock he met Watts and asked
him to take drink at Considine's saloon.
The proprietor of the latter place declined
to give the witness any liquor, say ing he
thought he had enough. The witness and
Waits then went out and entered Smiths
place, which was near by. Dell Murphy
was serving drinks from behind the bar
and Hurley, the prize fighter was outside
OF the bar conversing with Murphy.
81 called for drinks for Watts and my.
SELF continued West, land Hurley and
Murphy took drinks, too. l only wanted
to pay for the two drinks [ ordered, but
Murphy said / had to pay for ALL Hurley
said, too, that l ought to pay for four l
then took out my purse, and was about to
open it, when Murphy suddenly reached
over and tried to snatch it from me, but l
pulled it away from him. We had some
further argument, and then I took out my
purse again. Murphy reached out again, and
this time got it away from me. There we're
over SIS in the purse at he time-a five
dollar and a ten-dollar gold piece and some
silver. Murphy opened the purse, and
held it below the bar. could see from
his motions that he was taking something
out of it. He then held up fou-. bit piece
and said that that was enough for the
drinks, and that that was ali he took out"
DBUTALLY BEATEN, TOO.
Continuing, West said that Murphy threw
the purse on the counter, and then Hurley
tried TO take it. Witness seized the latter
by the coat and pulled him away, saving ::
$50 you would rob me, too, after drinking
with me-" Hurley Immediately seized
him in his arms and threw him with great
force upon a chair, breaking two of Vests
ribs, aud otherwise iDjuring him.
When West had regained his feet, Muir
ply stepped over 10 hjm and gave him his
purse and told him to get cut.
He obeyed, he said, with alacrity, but
Hurley followed him out upon the side
Z walk and dealt him heavy blow in the
face, rendering him unconscious. Police
officer Simmons happened along shortly
afterward and took West to the police sta
ton. After seeing the officer, said the wit
ness, he did not remember anything until
hc hllliSSil III lLS 1kSCclFiUS f1Ospl-
tai. The witness was satisfied that the men
meant TO rob him and were successful.
After cross-examination by attorney Est
abrook, West left the stand and was taken
back 20 the Receiving Hospital, where he
has been under treatment since his encoun-
ter with the Philistines.
WATTS TELLS ALL.
City Attorney Hart arose at this point of
the proceedings and announced that mas.
much as he desired TO call Robert Watts to
the witness stand TO testify for the State,
he would move that the charge of robbery
against that individual be dismissed.
Judge Buckley granted the motion, and
the cripple was sworn. His testimony not
only corroborated that of West, but was
much stronger. His version of the story
was the same as Vests up to the time that
Murphy seized Vests purse.
When Murphy got the purse" he said,
u saw him take out ten-dollar gold piece
and put it some place either behind the
bar or in his pocket. He then took out q
half dollar, and holding it up, said that
would pay for the drinks. West would not
take his purse back, declaring that Murphy
had robbed him. Murphy then showed the
purse over to Hurley, aud the latter was
about to take it when West seized him by
the coat. A sort of wrestling match fol-
lowed, and West was thrown down heavily,
after which Murphy gave him his purse"
Watts said he did not see Hurley strike
West on the sidewalk. Witness returned
to the saloon later on and accused Murphy
of taking Vests money. Murphy denied
it, and then told Watts mot to bring any
more men in the saloon to be done up, but
that when they did come in ne Murphy
could do them up himself and then there
would be no trouble"
MORE INTERESTING TESTIMONY.
John, better known as .Nosey." Con-
nors was the next witness for the prosscu-
ton. He testified that he was confined in
the same cell with Hurley in the City
Prison last week. Witness was only
doing" five days and was released on Fri.
day. Before be left the prison Hurley
wrote note on three little slips of paper
and asked "Nosey" to deliver it to John
Norton. the saloon keeper. Witness could
not find Norton and subsequently, became
frightened and gave the note to police
officer Simmons.
City Attorney Hart produced the three
pieces of paper and 'Nosey" identified
them as the ones he took FROM Hurley.
Officer Simmons then took the stand and
identified the papers as those he took from
"Nossy," and Police Captain Lee testified
that they were the same officer Simmons
handed over to him.
The chain was now complete and then
the City Attorney offered the note in evil
dence. The first section of it reads as fol.
lows:
Friend Johnny: For Gods sake viii you do
me favor Johnny you know am willing TO
take chances on my life for you any time.
Johnny, you know what it is to be in prison.
Johnny, for Gods sake try and stop Murphy
from turning States evidence against me- You
know am squsre. Talk 10 him. We can beat
this If he does not say anything. For God s
sake try. Johnny, trust to you as friend.
Now try and make him come off.
On the next sheet the prize fighter wrote
as follows:
Johnny. he has even turned everybody against
me. He said kicked the man. He is liar 5.
B. He got the purse He is a stool s. B. Him
ana simmons are running around together
showed the fellow over the chair and he got the
purse.
The last of the note was written on a
piece of paper about an inch and q
half in diameter, and was scrawled on both
sides. 1t read as follows:
Johnny, we are about like brothers, at least
think SO. Johnny, VIII you please 90 and ask
Bart If he will try to get it down TO petty or bat
terry? | viii plead guilty before l take any
chances, then / can turn Murphy up. He
would do the same thing 10 you If he could
Explain this to Murphy. Merry Christmas
John.