The record-union., 1891-11-18
R0DRIGUES DEATH.
The CorOner's Jury Charges Frank
Silva With Murder.
Testimony OF the Widow ard an Eye
Witness-The Deadly Cane
in Evidence.

Coroner Clark held an inquest last
evening in the case of Jose Rodrigues,
who died last month from the effects of a
blow he received upon the head with a
Loaded cane in the hands of Frank Silva.
City Attorney Hart assisted in ques-
fioning the witnesses, and Major w. A.
Anderson cross-examined them on be-
half of Silva, who is not yet in custody.
Mary Rodrigues, wife Of the murdered
man, was the first witness called. She
testified that her husband was a native Of
the Azores Islands, and was So years of
age at the time OF his death. On the
night that her husband was struck they
were having party at their house, and a
number Of invited guests were present.
Shortly before midnight Silva came in
He had not been invited and her husband
ordered him to leave, going out to the
front gate with him. She did not see
what happened out there, but heard her
husband cry out when he was struck by
Silva. He came into the house then and
asked her to get some wet cloths. Some
men outside held Silva until the officers
came.
George Lewis, a steamboat man, was
the next witness. He was at the Rodri-
CUES party on the night the deceased was
injured. Silva came in and Rodrigues
ordered him out They went out to the
front gate. There was some talk out
there, and then Silva struck the deceased.
The witness did not know what Silva
struck him with. It was nearly mid
night and was quite dark. In fact this
witness did not know much of anything
either because ne did not want to or be-
cause he was stupid
Joseph SOuZa BettancOurt, who works
on ranch near Freeport, testified that
he knew both Rodrigues and Silva. He
was also at the party. 1t was near II
O'Clock when he left the house. Silva
went there with him, but did not have an
invitation. Rodrigues ordered him out,
ana there was row at the gate. ROdri-
CUES was struck, but the witness insisted
that he did not know who struck him
The witness said he had a cane while in
the house, but Silva took it from him. It
was loaded cane and was quite heavy.
Coroner Clark showed the witness a
cane from which the head or loaded ball
was missing and asked the witness if he
recognized 1t. The latter said it looked
like his, but he was not sure. The last
time he saw his cane it had a head upon
ii. After Rodrigues was struck several
men seized Silva and held him until the
police came.
Police Officer Mclaughlin testified that
IN September last he and officer Maley
were summoned to Fourth and O streets,
They found Silva there, and ROdrigues
aiSO-the latter suffering from what ap-
Deared to be a slight cut on the head
SILVA was arrested, and admitted having
struck Rodrigues. The case was not con-
Sidered q serious one at the time, as Ro-
drigues appeared to be all right.
Officer Maley cOrrobOrated McLaugh-
Inns testimony.
Frank Frager was an eyewitness to the
tragedy. He had been to the party, and
went out to the gate when Rodrigues and
Silva went out. The latter were standing
quite close together. There was no quar-
rel. ROdrigues had simply taken Silva
out as he had not been invited to the
house. Silva had been to the house early
that evening. Witness and Mrs ROdrigues
We're in the latter's kitchen at the time
Silva looked in ut the door, and went
away again without saying anything
Erager said he did not know what Silva
called for at that time, as no words were
spoken
"a Mrs. Rodrigues. being recalled, said
that she remembered having seen Silva at
her kitchen door. She declared, how
ever, that her husband was there as well
rs Frager. Her husband went to the door
and spoke to Silva, and the two walked
through the house to the front door to-
gether. She did not hear what they said,
but her husband afferward told her that
Silva wanted to attend the party later on,
but her husband told him not to come.
The statement Of Dr.. @. a. White. Civ
ing the result of the autopsy, was read.
3t showed that ROdrigueS died from a
fracture OF the skull inflicted by some
blunt instrument.
The case was then submitted to the
jury. After a short delberation verdict
was rendered, to the effect that Rodrigues
came to his death at the hands of Frank
Silva.