The record-union., 1892-03-29
PALMER IN COURT.
Witnesses Who Saw the Killing CT
Phleger Give Their Versions.
Evidence That Palmer Was Very
Drunk-They Met Before
the Shooting.

The preliminary examination of II. ].
Palmer, charged with the murder of
Charles j. Phleger, was commenced be-
iore follce Judge Cravens last evening.
lhat part OF the courtroom set apart for
spectators was damned with people. and
many stood In the doorways and aisles.
rainier was brought into court by Bailiff
rider some twenty minutes before court
convened, and was Immediately joined
py his brother, who resides in Santa
cruz, and his sister, Mrs. Hetty Dunn,
ana her husband. While his countenance
showed that he realized the awful pre-
dlcament he is in. yet he conversed
cheerily with his relatives and attorneys.
The latter We're A. l.. Hart, A. j. Bruner
and Jay Brown.
The prosecution was represented by
District Attorney Ryan, City Attorney
Il. c. Hart and Charles T. Jones.
SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY.
Charles Farren, the Bee artist, was the
nrst witness called. He presented two
diagrams of WiSSemann's saloon, one of
them showed the front or drinking part
OF the place, and the other showed the
rear room where the shooting took place.
Mr.. Farren explained them fully.
On cross-examination by a. l.. Hart
Ar. Farren said he had drawn the dia-
grams at the request of Attorney Jones
and had been paid by him for them. He
could not give the dimensions of the
room where the tragedy took place nor
the width of the doors.
William Leeman, one of the hop men
who witnessed the shooting, was then
called. He said he knew both Palmer
OF l,fa,l IL of = n oh nOf-
ing witness was on Fourth street near
Wissemann's saloon talking with G..
Wagner. He saw Phleger come out of
the saloon door and start up the street.
Palmer was coming down the street and
when Phleger saw him he turned around
and walked back into the saloon and
Palmer came on down and
PASSED THE TINE OF DAY
With the witness and Wagner Leeman
said to Palmer: Ibid you see your
friend?' meaning Phleger. Palmer said
he did, and continuing, said that Phleger
had threatened to whip him. but that
dOn't1ook much like it, does it ?'' he said,
referring to Phleger's retreat into the
saloon. Witness. Wagner and Palmer
went into another saloon and had drink
Afterward they went into Wissemann's
and witness and several others sat
down at a table in the rear room and
engaged in a conversation. Presently
Palmer passed through the room and
went into the back yard. He spoke
10 the witness pleasantly as he passed
y hen Palmer re-entered the ROOM
the witness heard Nick Dole call
out, Hold on, therei' and Immediately
there was a shot. The witness turned
and saw Palmer shooting at Phleger
The latter had raised a chair, and Palmer
followed him, shooting all the time
Five shots were fired. The witness took
the lNiGfnl from palnonr ffor tha Loot b<>S
had been fired, and gave it to Coroner
Clark. The witness did not see any
weapon in Phleger's hand.
DID NOT FOLLOW HIM.
Being cross-examined by Mr.. Hart
Leeman said that when Phleger went out
OF WiSSemann'S saloon prior to the shoot
ing he advanced toward Palmer, who was
coming down the street. Palmer made
no attempt to follow Phleger into Wisse-
mann's after the former turned back. On
the contrary, he asked them into another
saloon TO drink. Palmer drank whisky,
and filed his glass with the liquor. They
had another drink when they went into
Wissemann's, and Palmer took another
large drink of whisky-so large in fact
that Nick Dole made remark about it.
Palmer seemed very drunk The witness
knew that Palmer had been drunk tor
several days. When the first shot was
fired the witness turned almost instan-
taneously, and saw Phleger on his feet.
Phleger had a newspaper in his hand.
Palmer was taken away by Dole after the
shooting. Palmer offered no resistance
ut all. Leeman identified Palmers pistol
and was excused.
Coroner George II. Clark described the
position of Phleger's body after the shoot
ing, and identified the pistol. The wit
ness searched the clothing of Phleger inn
medlately after he entered the saloon,
and found no weapon, save a small
pocket-knife.
DR.. G.. a. White, who made the post
mortem, described the course of the bull
lets. There were four wounds-one in the
right forearm, one near the right shoulder,
one through the chest and heart, another
through the liver. Either of the two last
named wounds was fatal.
CAMPS VERSION.
j. E. Camp of Brighton testified that he
met Leeman and Nick Dole in front of
Missemann's saloon and went into that
place with them. Palmer camein Witness
saw Phleger sitting at the further end of
the reading-room. Palmer went out into
the back yard and then came back into
the saloon. Witness was looking at
Phleger when Palmer came in. He saw
Palmer point pistol at Phleger and fire.
Phleger partially rose to his feet when the
second shot was fired. The witness then
got out of the place as soon as he could.
on cross-eXamination, Mr.. Camp said
that he did not know whether or not
Palmer drank with the rest of them at
Wissemann's bar. Dole remarked to the
witness that he was going TO keep his eve
on Palmer, as there was liable to be a
fight between him and Phleger. The
witness noticed that young man was
sitting between Phleger and the stove.
ANOTHER EYEWITNESS.
William w. White, another hop
grower, testified that he was talking TO
Leeman and Wagner in the back room of
Wissemann's saloon, when Palmer passed
through and spoke pleasantly TO Leeman.
Palmer went out into the back yard.
Phleger was sitting at table near the
door which Palmer passed through, read
ing paper. Palmer came back into the
room and almost Immediately the witness
heard shot, he saw the next four shots
Tired. Phleger rose to his feet after the
first shot. He retreated, facing Palmer,
and the latter followed him, still shooting
In answer to questions from Mr.. Hart,
White said he did not see Palmer and
Phleger talking before the shooting.