Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-01
AMONG THE COURTS.
FRANK GLENCRoss ON TRIAL FOR
MANSLAUGHTER.
Farmers-Yesterday's Evidence-Court
Notes.

Farmers-Yesterday' Evidence-Court
Notes.
The trial OF the case against Frank
Giencross, a Downey farmer, charged
with the manslaughter Of an old neigh
Dor named Martin Reagan, by beating
and kicking him SO severely that he
died from his injuries some weeks later,
was commenced before Judge Lucien
Shaw and jury in department six OF
the superior court yesterday morning.
The first witness called for the prose-
cution was B. w. Diehl, Esq, deputy
district attorney, who testified that on
December 4th last he was called to the
Sisters hospital, and at the request, of
Martin Reagan, who told him that he
did not expect to live, he took the dying
mans statement down in writing. The
defense, however, objected to the intro
duction of Reagans ante-mortem state
ment; and the objection being sus-
tanned by the court, the witness was
withdrawn.
Alexander Helander, a muse at the
Sisters hospital, testified to having at
tended Reagan while he was an inmate
of that asylum, and corroborated the
testimony of Mr.. Diehl as to Reagan's
ante mortem statement.
Coroner w. A. Weldon. M. D., was
called, and testified that he and DIR.
Ainsworth held post mortem examina-
ton upon the body of Martin Reagan.
He described the condition of the body
/ internally and externally, and stated
that in his opinion death was caused by
an abscess in the left lung, that might
have been caused by blow.
DR.. Ainsworth being at Yuma, his
testimony as taken at the preliminary
examination was read to the jury. 1t
| Weldon, and corroborated him in every
particular.
H. R. Gray, justice of the peace in
and for Downey township, stated that
on the Sunday morning after the fight,
Glencross came to him and offered to
surrender himself, as he had had trouble
with Reagan over some hogs, during
which he got board and "belted hell
out OF him." He admitted that he lad
made mistake, in that he returned
after the fight was over and kicked the
old man in the chest, because he called
him son OF b.. Two or three days
afterwards, Stephen Evans, man in
Glencross' employ, swore to the COM
plant against Glencross, upon which he
was arrested.
IF. Ward, of this city, stated that he
heard that his old friend Reagan had
been injured, and went down to the
ranch to see him. He found on his ar
rival at Reagan's house that the old man
was badly hurt, his left arm being frac-
tured and his body bruised in several
places, causing him to suffer terribly.
James Reagan, brother OF the de-
ceased, followed in similar strain. The
deceased was 7S years OF age, but on the
day prior to the fight he was hale and
hearty.
Joe Mostaker and A. r. Hewitt, two
of Reagan's neighbors, testified to
having found the old man in his
field, TOO weak to walk home, and to
having helped him to the house. Hew-
lit went back shortly afterwards and
picked up the two clubs and piece OF
plank with which Glencross beat the
deceased.
of the fight, testified that as he was
driving the cows afield he heard angry
words, and looking back he saw Glen
cross and Reagan fighting. Reagan
struck the defendant first, but the lat
ter picked up board and belabored the
old man with it, The witness ran back,
when Reagan said to him: ''See this
man killing me-" Glencross then said
eff | drop this board will you go
home?" and Reagan replied that he
would, and started homewards. Just as
he got inside the fence and on his own
land Reagan said something, which led
to more angry words and Glencross ran
at the old man and kicked him in the
chest. Reagan turned with a groan.
and started for his house, but fell in the
field. The witness identified the board
and clubs as those used by Glencross.
DIR. Kendrick, OF Downey, was then
called and testified to having dressed
Reagan's wounds at midday on Sunday.
He then minutely described the condi-
ton of his patient, and at this juncture
a recess was taken until 10 O'Clock this
morning, when the case will be resumed.
COURT NOTES.
Ralph Murphy and James Wilson ap-
peared before Judge Smith in depart
ment one yesterday for arraignment
upon the charge OF having burglarized a
freight car of the Southern Pacific, at
Tropico. in January last, and were al
lowed until tomorrow in which to plead.
Judge Smith yesterday ordered new
trial in the appeal cases of Wong Lou
Foo and four other Chinese gamblers,
on the ground that Police Judge Owens
erred in denying them their constitu-
tional right OF trial by jury.
On motion of the district attorney an
information was filed against Madrona
de Quiquis, charging her with having
lived in open and notorious adultery
with one Arnaldo Arvisa, at Azusa, on
January 18th last, and the defendant
was ordered to appear for arraignment
on Thursday, April 9th.
Judge B. n. Smith and jury were
occupied for few hours yesterdayin the
trial of the case against James McGraw,
youth charged with grand larceny, and
it having been shown beyond doubt
that the defendant stole bay mare,
buggy and harness belonging to j. A.
Barrows, of 236 Jefferson street, from the
corner of Broadway and Second street, on
January Goth last, the jury, after hall an
hours deliberation, returned verdict OF
guilty as charged. The defendant was
ordered to appear for sentence on Satur-
day next, when his counsel, N. G. Bled-
soc, Esq, will argue upon motion to
set aside the verdict.
The probate calendar will be called by
J I1sge Smith, sitting for Judge Clark in