Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-30
BURKETr,s SUICIDE.
The Result of the Inquest Held
YESTERDAY.

The Result of the Inquest Held
Yesterday.
The inquest upon the remains Of
Frank Burkett, who attempted to muir
der G. J. Griffith Wednesday afternoon,
was held yesterday afternoon by Coro-
ner Weldon, at Orr & Sutch's. Several
witnesses were examined, and the facts
as given by the HERALD were conclus-
lively established.
The first witness was John Robarts,
attorney for the deceased, who made
quite long statement, substantially as
published in yesterdays issue. esaid
in substance that he first met Burkett
in June, 1889, when he employed him to
begin against Mr.. Griffith for SANDER of
title. He claimed that he had leased
400 and odd acres of the Los Feliz
rancho, with an option to purchase, and
was entering into an agreement with G.
L. Dennison to sell his leasehold inter
est for 100000, when Mr.. Griffith spoiled
the trade by saying he had forfeited all
his rights by noncompliance with the
terms of the lease. Mr.. Robarts related
the story of the failure of the deceased
to win the two cases he brought, and
his excitement over the failure. He
also spoke of the desire of Burkett to
petition for a rehearing before the
supreme court, and his advice against
it, and then concluded as follows:
81 saw the deceased ten days ago, and
he said to me that we ought to have
made the petition for areheanDg. re-
iterated what / had before told him.
hot Lo1 L
stated by the Times that it is probable
the case was abandoned because we had
got all the old mans money. During
ceived from him 500 in June,
1889, and 500 in August, 1889. That
is all, and of that amount l loaned
him $40 to pay witness fees, which he
never paid back. He had been labor
ing under depression over some diff
Guilty about his mothers estate in Eng
land. 1t was something about the APP
pointment of new trustees before he
could get any money. He ran behind
in the rent under his lease about $500.
Mr.. Griffith obtained a judgment for it
and possession of the premises. He
spent quite large amount on the place,
thinking to sell it or pay, when he re-
ceived money from his mothers estate.
AS far as the statement that l was
bought over by Mr.. Griffith have not
spoken to him for two years, all on ac-
count of this litigation. Up to the time
Of the decision Of the supreme court
Mr.. Burkett was quiet in his demeanor,
but he has recently been laboring un-
der great excitement.
Mrs. Ynez Lyon testified that she saw
the deceased put the pistol to his head
as he sat in his buggy in front of the
Catholic cemetery and shoot himself,
sinking back in the seat.
John Rhodes, driver of sprinkling
cart, who was passing at the time Bur-
kett shot at Mr.. Griffith testified that
he saw him after the two shots, while
the gun was still at his shoulder aiming
at something over the fence. Then he
laid the shotgun down at his feet, and
got out revolver, which he placed to
his head with both hands. He seemed
to be trying to pull the trigger. Then
he paused, took the lines and stopped
the horse, which had gone diagonally
across the street. He put the pistol to
his head and fired, falling back dead.
The remaining testimony was corrob-
orative of the preceding statements,
and the jury returned a verdict of sui
eide in accordance with the facts.
Yesterday Mr.. Griffith was resting
comparatively easy, and his physician
thinks that his wounds are none of
them dangerous.