Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-16
WILL VITAL HANG?.
A CURIOUS SANTA BARBARA TRIAL
ENDED.
The Slayer OF All Lee Curious Criminal.
Found Guilty OF Murder-Notes
and Personals.

SANTA BARBARA, May 15.-Yesterday
afternoon at 5:15 O'Clock there was
brought to close in the superior court
one of the most peculiar murder cases
ever brought to public attention. 1t
is seldom indeed that the murderer of a
Chinese in this country answers for his
crime at the end of rope, yet, unless
the governor commutes the sentence the
brutal Vital will be the active partici-
pant in just hanging.
The features OF the case are very pc
culiar. Vital, in company with
Younger pal, entered q Chinese wash
house at Lompoc, on the morning of
March 23d, for the purpose OF robbery.
One All Lee was awakened by Vital
walking about the room, and excitedly
exclaimed, MAN come rob me-" These
were the last words he ever uttered, for
in an instant there was crack Of a
revolver and All Lee was dead, shot
through the heart.
Vital and his companion started with
their boodle-$25 in cash, two purses
and revolver--for Santa Barbara.
They were overtaken by Lompoc au-
thorities, returned to Lompoc, given
hearing and held to appear in the su-
perior court to answer for the crime.
Campbell turned states evidence. He
told OF the cruel manner in which the
Chinaman met his death, and his story
was 80 straightforward and so COM
pletely corroborated in every detail it
carried conviction with it.
Until Yesterday Vital he tried the
insanity dodge. 1t was worked remark
ably we'll, go we'll, indeed, the court al
lowed him special Jury trial, to learn
for certainty mis- mental condition.
and the trial proceeded. When he
found the insanity dodge would not
work, he endeavored,. by argument, to
prove that he was not in Lompoc at the
time the murder was committed. This
make his story corroborate. He would
ination, and was forced to leave the
chair.
At 3:15 the case was given to the jury,
and after remaining out two hours, a
verdict was rendered as above stated.
Saturday next was set for hearing mo-
tion for new trial made by defendants
counsel, and for sentence.
Vital is a man of remarkable brutal
bearing. He is short, heavy set, very
repulsive features and swaggers in de-
fant manner when walking. His atti-
tude throughout the trial has been one
of indifference, and even when the yer.
dict of death was rendered he main
tanned his defiant air. He maintains
with pride that he never did days
work in his life; that the world owes
him living, and he is going to have it.
Every indication points to the truth of
these statements. His hands are very
small and as soft as a baby's, and his
finger nails would make society ladies
envious.
Campbell, his pal, is about Is years
of age. He was picked up by Vital in
this city to act as tool for the robber.
He is we'll connected, his father being a
prominent citizen Of Virginia City,
New. Campbell's trial comes up to-
morrow. The charge of murder will be
withdrawn and one for burglary substi-
tuted.
NOTES AND PERSONALS.
J..A. Woodson and T. W. Sheehan,
editor and business manager of the
Sacramento Record Union, arrived from
the north last evening. They left this
morning for Los Angeles to meet the
eastern editors.
A car load of flowers will be sent from
this city as compliments of the flower
city of California to the eastern scribes.
The last Raymond excursion of the
season arrived at the Arlington yester-
day.
A reception will be given at the Ar
lington in honor OF George w. Childs
and party on the eve Of their arrival in
this city.
A large caldron of bitumen and coal
tar, being heated preparatory to pouring
it over the boulevard wall, caught fire
yesterday afternoon, causing an i'm
mense volume OF black smoke to hang
over the city.
The Santa Rosa goes north tomorrow
evening.
Fully 1000 tourists and citizens visited
the boulevard today. II the interest in
this improvement continues after it is
finished its huildinp will ha q Oraat