The record-union., 1892-10-06
THE PROSECUTION CLOSES.
Last of the Evidence for the State
Against H. ]. Palmer.
Il Witness Who Wants to See Palmer
Convicted-B. Il. Crocker
Prejudiced, Too.


in the trial of II. J. Palmer, charged with
the murder of Charles Phleger. yesterday,
and the defense will begin this morning.
There was the usual large and inter
ested crowd of spectators in the court
room. The first witness placed on the
stand by the prosecution was Coroner
| Clark. He was recalled for the purpose
of showing that four bullets were found
on the body of Phleger at the autopsy.
| He said three bullets entered the body
and one dropped out of the dead mans S
sleeve.
| HOW PALMER BEHAVED.
| Police Officer Frank White testified
that he was Day Jailer at the City Prison
on the day of the tragedy. He was there
when Nick Dole came with Palmer. The
! latter appeared to be very much excited
and talked incesSantly. Ii the corridor
OF the Jail Palmer said, referring to the
killing, II had to do it, and guess the
- - will never testify against any
one else" Jailer White said he thought
Palmer was considerably under the in
| 1iuence of liquor. 1t did not occur to
him that the defendant might
| be crazy. He appeared, though, to be
! laboring under a great mental strain. a.
| l.. Hart, Pamer'S attorney. came into
! Ilo .lt-lI JuSJ DIS the WlJueSS was locking
the prisoner up, and told the latter to
keep quiet and not make fool Of him.
self. Palmer was confined in the Jail for
some time, and the witness said his at
tention was frequently attracted to the
prisoners peculiar conduct He did not
appear TO realize what he had done. and
would laugh and cut up like schoolboy.
DOESN'T LIKE THE DEFENDANT.
B. r. Crocker, the next Witness knew
! O.,I, \
been in his employ. They had charge of
| the Monument ranch at one time. The
witness knew that Palmer did not like
| Phleger, claiming that the latter was try
| ing to ruin him. Palmer frequently
| spoke of this in bitter terms. lone
| time," said the witness, II was talking
with Palmer on the railroad bridge, near
the Yolo side, when Phleger passed.
! Palmer said to me, There is that - =
- l should have killed long ago. At
another time in my office, at Sixth and
NJ streets, Palmer said, L will kill
Phleger yet 1 rebuked him for utter
| ing the remark"
| On cross-examination Crocker said that
! he had no more feeling against Palmer
than be would entertain toward any
other man in his (Palmer's) situation.
| Mr.. Crocker admitted that he and Palmer
had ''had words'' and that his feelings
were more friendly to the prosecution
| than to the defense.
THE WIDOW TESTIFIES.
Mrs. Mary Phleger, widow Of the slain
! man, took the WitneSs-stand and testified
that her husband was a native of Ohio
| and was 81 years OF are at the time of his
death. On the day Of the tragedy he left
their home on Fifth street, between X
and l., on the morning of March 18th, be-
| tween and o'clock. He returned home
and went up town again between 10 and
IL o'clock. Witness accompanied her
| husband up town; they went to the bank
and separated at Fifth and X streets
Half an hour afterward she heard of his
death. Witness said that Palmer and her
husband were partners in carrying on the
| Monument ranch for several years. A
contract was made by which Palmer was
| to buy Phleger out, but he never paid the
money. He did pay 81, 500 in notes.-the
understanding being that the notes were
| to be forfeited if the balance due were not
paid
WANTS PALMER CONVICTED.
John F. Chalmers, who was in charge
| of the Monument ranch when Palmer
and Phleger owned it, and who appears
to be bitter enemy to Palmer, proved to
| be an interesting witness. He said he
| had heard Palmer speak disparagingly
of Phleger, and on one occasion took his
pistol with him when he went to town,
remarking that he was liable to use it on
| ''some good friends he had"
| Upon cross-eXamination General Hart
| brought out the fact that frequent quar-
rels had occurred between the witness
and Palmer and their families.
Ibid you not at one time" inquired
General Hart, ''raise a row because Mrs.
Palmer took cup of cream and little
| butter, which was from their own cows
| but were under attachment?"
'Yes, sir; | did, because was ordered
| by the Sheriff to account for every cent"
| did you not threaten to whip Mr..
| Palmer one timer"
II told him to stand up in the corner
and behave himself and he did it.''
WAS 1t because Palmer wanted to use
| his buggy that yoa proposed to chastise
| him?"
mo, it was because he abused my
Wife,"
"You want Palmer hanged. do Won
not?" asked General Hart.
mo. sir; don't want to see any man
hanged"
But you want to see him punished
"Yes, SIR" replied witness.
THE PROSECUTION CLOSES.
Captain James Young, who is en-
| ployed by i. Z. Crocker, testified that
Palmer told him once that his trouble
! with Senator Fair had been settled, but
he added that he was not through with
that - Phlegern
This closed the case for the prosecution
and a recess was taken until l:30 p. NJ
In the afternoon the defense asked for q
continuance until to-day. An import
ant witness, j. f. Fay, was very i'll and
the attorneys desired to take his deposit
ton. Besides this one Of the attorneys.
! frank Stone, had to go to San Francisco.
! The request was granted.
| 1t is expected that the defense will re-
quire nearly two weeks to present it's
| side of the case.
ON THE WARPATH.