The record-union., 1892-03-11

quSaI ldst evening IN the case OF the kill
ing OF Patrick Brannigan, on Tuesday
last, by George l''Big Necl1'') Smith, and
made unusual preparations to accommo-
date the witnesses, lawyers, reporters and
spectators.
Ihlrty-eight witnesses were subpenaed
to give testimony, and as result the in
quest could not be concluded in one even
ing. District Attorney Ryan, his assist
ant, II. l.. Buckley, and City Attorney
Hart were in attendance in behalf of the
people, and Charles T. Jones looked after
the interests of his client Smith. Messrs.
Ryan and Jones took an active part in
she questioning.
WHAT SMITH SAID.
Coroner Clark administered the oath to
the Jurors and then took them into rear
room to view the remains of the slain
man.
Police Officer Frank White was called
as the first witness. He said he was ac-
quainted with both Smith and Brannigan.
lie was on duty at the police station ON
Tuesday. Shortly after 3 o'clock that
afternoon Policeman Gibson brought IL
Smith. The officer carried Smiths re-
volver in his hand. Three of the cham
ber's were empty and the gun was cooked.
Gibson told the witness about the trag-
edy, and White asked Smith what ne
had shot Brannigan for. Il had TO do it"
said Smith. About half an hour after
the shooting two strangers brought an
other pistol to the police station, which
they said Brannigan had dropped.
Officer White then exhibited both pS-
tolls. Smiths was very large, old
fashioned, single-action Colts revolver.
44-caliber Brannigan's was of the same
caliber, but smaller, being an English
bilIfdOc Splf-pOel ipCr XVna0on
After locked Smith up,' continued
Officer White, II talked with him in his
cell. smith said he had had some trouble
early in the day with Brannigan, and
later on Fred Gotobed and some others
told him that he had better go and arm
himself as Branngan had threatened to
Kill him. Smith said he got his gun as
Instructed. He met Brannigan later in
the day and the quarrel was renewed.
Smith said: 'Scotty pulled out that old
white-handled gun OF his and l pulled
mine and shot him three times That is
ali / know about the case"
Chief of Police Drew was the next wit
ness He said that shortly after noon on
election day he met Brannigan at the
polls at the Eagle Winery. Brannigan
seemed to be in a very bad humor. and
was speaking derogatorily Of the witness
and Police Captain Lee. The witness
ordered the deceased to keep outside the
l0O-foot mark, and instructed an officer
10 arreSS Brannigan If he did no behave
himself. Brannigan was not under the
influence OF liquor at that time, but later
OH when the witness saw him again. he
appeared To have been drinking. Chief
Drew said that when he took hold Of
Brannigan TO move him away from the
polls, he pressed against him and thought
he felt a pistol in his pocket.
Patrick Morley was the next witness.
lie lives at Nineteenth and l. streets He
hln#Na rl.N
The witness said he did not remember
whether he was on his head or on his
feet that lay, as he was drunk himself
lie remembered, however that he had
some trouble with Brannigan, and the
latter told the witness that he had two
pups in his pocket" The witness de-
elared that he did not know what Bran
nigan meant by the remark.
SAW THE SHOOTING.
James Greenam, gambler who lives
in san Francisco, testified that he saw
Smith and Brannigan quarreling in front
OF the polls on Third street. Brannigan
was demonstrative, but Smith kept tell
ing him 10 go away. A friend OF Bran
nigan's finally took him away About
O'Clock Smith and the deceased met
again.
"Brannigan had been knocking around
there about fifteen minutes before they
lnet," continued the witness, "and seemed
TO be pretty drunk. He asked me il [
had seen that - - - Smith. l said
he had gone down the street, never
dreaming that Smith was approaching
just then. Brannigan turned around to
walk oil and ran right into Smith. He
said: You - you slugged me
to-day, but Pm d If you can I'd do ii it
now Smith said he didn't mean 10 hurt
him, and said he had always been his
friend. Brannigan said, You have never
been my friend.' Then he began to but
ton up his coat, and said, You --
-, / think you need killing He put
his right hand into his coat pocket. and
the witness saw the white handle of a re-
volver, but before he could get it out
Smith said, All right, Patsy and drew
his own revolver. Brannigan Jumped
back after the first shot and fell after the
second shot. Smith shot him again when
he was on the ground. When Brannigan
fell the white-handled pistol fell out on
the street,
District Attorney Ryan asked the wit
ness several sharp questions, and i'll an
swer TO them Greenam said that, while he
now lived in San Francisco, he claimed
Sacramento as his place of residence, and
voted here on Tuesday. He lived here
for several months, but followed no busi-
ness while here.
Mrs. Brannigan, the widow of the de-
ceased, was called to testify and identity
the remains, but she was so overcome
with grief as to be almost hysterical
Her son, William j. Brannigan, was
called in her place. He testified that the
deceased was his father and that he was
GO years Of age. Witness saw his father
on Tuesday morning and again shortly
before his death. His father owned five
pistols, but did not carry them often.
The witness identified two pistols exhib-
tied by the Coroner as belonging TO his
father. In conclusion the witness said
Lost l,lss ,,~fo
ton day the latter was very drunk.
ANOTHER EYEWITNESS.
+. G. Harris of UIiah, Mendocino
County. was an eyewitness to the trag-
edy. He went to the Bee office TO see a
friend who was employed there. As he
reached the door he heard Brannigan
talking loudly and he stopped. He did
hot remember what Brannigan said.
Smith came down Third street from
and the two met. He heard smith say,
Brannigan, you know / have been q
friend of yours for years." Brannigan
said, You're no friend of mine in the
world" Smith stepped back and said
IN no friend OF yours ?'' and at the
same time he drew his pistol. Branni-
gan had his hands on the lapels of his
coat when the pistol was drawn upon
him. The witness was positive that
Brannlgan did not draw pistol or at
tempt To draw one
Attorney Jones cross-examlned Har-
Tis at length. In answer to the attor-
ney's questions the witness said that he
would not swear that Brannigan's RIGHT
hand was not near his pocket lust before
the shooting. lie thought that in firing
the last shot Smith held his pistol within
two feet OF Brannigan's s head while the
latter was lying upon the sidewalk. He
thought tnaI both men were somewhat
under the influence of LIQUOR.
p~ q A White tasfitia.j +I,@ - -.