The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-08-28
He MUST ANS W Err.
John Creamer Held Over to the
Grand Jury.
Kesler Says Dreamer Should Not Have Fol
lowed Richardson Alter the First
Shot Was Fired.

lowed richardson After the First
1 Shot Was Fired.
John Dreamer, charged with shooting
Jerry Richardson with intent to kill, was
concluded before Judge Kesler yesterday
and the defendant was held in $500 to an
swer to the grand jury. His bond being s
continuous one he was released from Gus
tody
County Attorney Murphy and Messrs
Eichnor and Van Horne conducted the
prosecution, while the defense was in the
hands of Colonel M. M. Kaighn and Johr
Anderson.
A QUIET, PEACEABLE CITIZEN.
Sergeant Randolph was the first witndss
He had known the defendant for seven
teen or eighteen years. He was quiet
night Of the shooting and found bump
which was caused, he thought, by some
blunt instrument He appeared TO be
dazed and excited. Three other officers
saw the condition of his head The swell
ing might have been caused by falling
against piece of furniture.
THE LUMP ON HIS HEAD.
Felix Castellano saw Dreamer on the
night OF the shooting. Had lump on his
head which he thought was caused by 8
blunt instrument
Colonel Weiser, commander of George
R. Maxwell post, met Dreamer and had q
talk with him before the shooting.
HIS MENTAL CONDITION.
What was your impression of his men
tai condition go
This was objected to, unless the defen ce
proposed TO show insanity. The question
was ruled out The defence said they
would attempt to prove INSANITY. The
witness then said Creamer's mental condi-
ton was morbid.
Colonel NJ. M. kaighn then testified that
Dreamer had talked almost necessarily
about his daughter at the g. A. r. picnic
ct Wagner's grove. He also testified as to
seeing the wound on Creemer's head.
This closed the testimony.
THE ARGUMENTS
J Mr. Eichnor opened the arguments for
I the prosecution. He said Creamer's own
testimony convicted him of the charge of
assault with intent TO Kill. If Richardson
vas guilty, Dreamer should have killed
him i've years ago. But his temper had
had time to cool in five years. If Creamer
was assaulted, he had no right to follow
Richardson when he was retreating
Mr.. Anderson said is was but The culmi-
nation of tragedy that occurred five years
ago. Five years ago today ella Dreamer
died. II was natural for Creamer to fire
when he was attacked. Richardson had
been watching for Dreamer, and if he had
( followed him to the Jordan and continued
firing he would have been justified. He
came hero on pilgrimage or love rather
than of strife. 1t would only be an I'M
necessary expense to the territory to hold
Dreamer, as no jury under the sun could
be found that would convict him on the
testimony that had been given.
Colonel M. M kaigha followed with an
eloquent plea for acqulttai.
Five years ago, be said, this beautiful
girl went down to her disEonOred grave,
neither maiden, wife or widow Who is
the prosecuting witness in this case!
Jerry Richardson. Every body in the city
knows him, and the court should take
Judicial notice of his standing in the CON-
munity. On the other hand, the defendant
was quiet. peaceful hardWorking. He was
left with the care Of an infant child, who
grows TO maldennood. She meets Richard
son, and yields ali that a WON an can to
him. She is removed from his room, just
after suffering childbirth, an0 dies. The
defendants character is shown by his
being selected by all the old soldiers in
Arizona to represent them at the grand en-
campment. He tried to get justice through
the courts and the grand jury, but failed.
The regret of the case is that the ball did
not reach vital spot, and the world be rid
OF such O man as Jerry Richardson. We
are not here pleading for mercy, but for
what is just and right We have suffered
enough through this case. For the time
being reason took its fight, and we have a
justification for all that was done.
Mr. Murphy said appeals Of brokenheart-
edness and of public opinion should not
weigh with the court. They were not try
ing the man on his reputation, and Rich
ardson's reputation had nothing TO do with
the case. The G. A. r. should also cut no
Inquire, and it was improper to introduce it,
The testimony Of the prosecution was as
strong as it could be. 1t was needless to
discuss the question of insanity AS to it's
being in the heat of passion, the defendant
had had five years in which to deliberate
1t cannot be shown that the second or third
shot was fired in self-defense.
KEsLER's OPINION.
The court, in rendering the decision, said
the testimony had taken quite range. In
the matter of the difficulty that took place
some years ago the man who was shot was
In some way connected. 1t is also shown
Richardson made threats years ago, and
the men did not meet until about the 10th
of the month. Coming down to the testi-
tlmony relating to the day of the shooting,
Richardson denied meeting Dreamer on
the afternoon OF the shooting. About 1890
o'clock the men meet. and the statement OF
what then occurred, made by Dreamer is
partially corroborated by the bookkeeper
at the WalKer House. The defense sets
up that the shooting was done on iustit-
able grounds. Only after threats were
made did the defendant buy revolver
The court IS of the opinion that this man
was not justitiable in following up after
the first shot was fired, and would not be
held if he had not The court will hold