Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-18

CUuultlOu grew Tdploiv WOIcCs t1O voo
in constant dread of meeting Dye, and
sometimes when at home, he would
jump up on hearing noise and go into
another room. He would never enter
the house through the front gate or
back gate, but always jumped over the
fence. Seeing some geranlum bushes In
the yard broken down, he said that he
believed Dye had done it while attempt
ing to get look through the window.
On one occasion Bradfeld threatened to
kill himself, which he said was the only
way out OF his troubles. The witness
tried to pacify him but eesefforts were
of little use.
Mason's father, the witness said, de-
veloped symptoms of insanity before
the son was born. He was very sensi-
tive, and was in the habit OF hiding his
things in out of the way places. On
one occasion he hid quantity of money
in the cellar OF the house. lie also was
in constant fear OF some impending
calamity. A brother OF Bradfeld SEN
ior was insane in about the same man
ner and had similar eccentricities. On
a question from the attorneys for the
defense, the witness said that she had
seen her son the day before the shoot
ing. In her opinion he was an insane
man at that time, and is not all right
yet.
Mrs. Bradfeld was then turned over
to the prosecution. She said that she
did not think that Mason was sound
mentally now, because he does not seem
to realize the perilous position in which
he had placed himself. He still talks
continually about the shooting of Dye,
but his great sense of fear has been re-
moved since the death Of his enemy.
He sleeps better now than he used to,
but has lost his business sense and does
not seem to be able to grasp the details
Of subject.
The witness had never seen Dye since
her sons trouble with him about year
ago, when they got into dispute over
certain oil lands in the Sespe. At one
time Mason and Dye were associated to-
gether in business. She had heard that
Dye had made threats to fill her son full
of lead. 51ea
At this point a recess was taken till
l 80 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the reconvening of court in the
afternoon the cross-examination OF Mrs.
Bradfeld was proceeded with. The wit
ness testified that she had spoken to
several OF her neighbors about her sons
condition before the shooting, among
them General Johnson. DR.. U tley
being the family physician, she had
naturally told him about Mason. Dur
ing the time referred to, the defendant
spent most of his time at the Sespe,
mb bor bn uyo q m, r1ouaA nc
ent of the California Oil company. He
did not dare go there just before the
shooting, however, as Dye was there.
Mason was home the day before the
shooting, and he and his mother were
talking about hanging picture of the
defendant, which he had had taken in
costume. The witness could not recol-
lect anything else that the defendant
did on that day. Mason did not stay at
home the night before the shooting and
the witness was under the impression
that he had gone to the Sespe. He had
been at home for some time prior to
May 14th, and slept at his mother q
house every night for about a month
before the shooting.
AT this point District Attorney Nc
Lachlan read portion of the witness's
testimony before the committing mag
istrate, in which she had said that Ma
son had not slept at home for two OF
three days prior to Dyes death. Mrs.
Bradfeld admitted that she had made
that statement, but was now able to
state that it was erroneous.
Mrs. Bradfeld, continuing, said that
her husband was sixty years of age, and
was at present living on little half-acre
place out in the country, which she had
bought for him. They were married at
Charlottesville, Indiana, in 1851 or '62.
Mason was born in Lafayette, the same
state. The father had developed symp-
toms of insanity soon after the marriage
and the witness related number OF
small circumstances in support of this
theory. She was much troubled over
her husbands condition, and the mar
riage would never have taken place had
she known that he was insane.
Her husband at8 present abstains from
drink. but formerly drank good deal.
Finally he had to quit because it affected
his head he couldn't stand much liquor.
His health at present is very good. The
uncle, which the witness had before
mentioned, was Colonel William Jen-
ner's, who died while visiting here.
There is no one in Los Angeles who
knew Colonel Jenners, or his brother,
both of whom were slightly demented.
She had tried to forget her trouble and
put it as much out OF her life
as possible. After moving to this
city, and when her daughter was very
small she had sent her away to board
for fear that the father might injure her.
Bradield stayed most of the time on the
ranch, but came in town and called on
his family as often as he pleased. Mrs.
Brad6eld was very much affected during
the course of the cross-examination by
the district attorney as to her husband g
insanity and her troubles on that &C.
count, and was on the verge OF breaking
down Oh several occasions. The subject
was dropped at this point and the wit
ness proceeded to tell about the Mrs.
Rising episode.
Mrs. Bradfield received Mrs. Rising
card during the preliminary examine
tion, on her return home after being out.
No one had written anything on the
card since it was left at the house in the
hands of her daughter. The witness
was then asked to relate all the CONVEX
sation she had with Mrs. Rising, which
she proceeded to do: When Mrs. Brad
field arrived at Mrs. Rising's house that
lady shut and locked the door behind