The herald., 1893-11-16
SANTA ANA.
Tho Trial of Luther G.. Brown-A Fire.
Board of Education.

Board of Education.
SANTA ANA, Nov. 15.-The first wit
ness called this morning in the superior
court in the case of the People vs..
Brown, was Luther G.. Brown, the de-
fendant. Brown said that his age is %
years; that he had been teacher for
four years-taught two terms at the
Alamitos school house. in this county;
was engaged in teaching at the time the
trouble occurred between himself and
Murry at Pasadena, and wac still en-
gagged in the same business at the same
place. He said he was principal of the
Washington school, with four teachers
under him. On the 9Th day of August
he and his father were at work taking
up pipe in Elmodena, and that about 5
p. m. tney went over into public alley,
back OF property now owned and occu-
pied by William Murry; that while they
were at work there digging up
some pipe that belonged his
father, Mrs. Murry came to where
they were at work, and objected to their
taking up the pipe, claiming that she
had q use for it herself. Pretty soon
Murry was seen passing near by, and
his father called him, and when he came
{, where they were asked him whether
he (Brown) was to have two or three
of the joints of pipe, and that Murry
said in effect that he was to have more.
They argued the matter some time. and
at last his father said that the pipe be-
longsd to him, and that it was in a pub
lie alley, and he guessed he
would proceed to take it, at
the same time he stopped down and
began to strike the pipe to loosen up the
joints, and as he did so Murry said, "No
you don't" and struck his father with
his fist in front Of the temple. But be-
fore this he said that Murry had said to
them: 81 will 60 to the house and get
a shotgun and kill both OF youl'
When Murry struck his father, Brown
said Murry turned partly around and
picked up pair of pipe tongs, at the
same time saying "you Cd d.
s-bI will kill you BOTH" 81 was
very much frightened" the defendant
said "for l thought he would carry out
his threat, and as / was leaning on
long-handeled shovel, drew it back
and struck Murry on the shoulder, but
as he continued to straighten up and
partly drew the tongs back as if to
strike, hit him again on the side OF
and when l saw the wound on his head
that l had made, l turned sick and
tainted and reeled and fell to the
ground. / lay on the ground a short
time and got up when | saw Helwig
coming near by. He had something in
his hand which thought was a rock
He took hold of my arm and asked
me why did it. told him he had
called us g-d-s-bs and had struck
father and had threatened to kill US
both, He let me loose and | said we
had better take him to the house. By
that time several others had come. |
thought had killed him and said: Oh,
father, what shall we do. He said he
did not know. We carried him to the
house and put him on the bed. We
had laid him go the wornd, was down
and / told them to turn him so it would
be up, which they did. | then knelt
down by the side OF the he'd and took
his hand and asked him If he knew me.
He was unconscious and did not an
swer. then went home and dressed
and went to Santa Ana and gave myself
up"
The above is the main part of the
defendants testimony. District Attor-
ney Scarborough subjected him to
severe croes-examination but did not
shake his testimony in the least. lie
told his story in straightforward way
and evidently made good impression
on all who heard him.
Evidence was introduced for the pur-
pokA of impeaching VIM. Brown, the
father of Luther G. Brown. Several
witnesses swore that Brown, sr. IS char
scter was bad and that they would not
believe him under oath. Young Brown
proved good character wherever he
vAs known. Witnesses from Pasadena
testified to his good character, some of
them being the trustees of the school
where he is engaged in teaching.
ALL IN.
The evidence was all in at little
past 3 and District Attorney Scar
borough made his opening plea, follow
ing out the line that the assault on
Murry was unprovoked and not justified
in any part.
That the two Browns were on Murrv's
premises removing Murry's water pipe.
At the close of Scarborough's argument
recess was taken until 80 o. m. TO-
morrow.
ANOTHER FIRE.
At AS p. m. today the fire alarm was
tErned in and the fire laddies promptlv
responded. 1t was discovered that IRE
bad broken out in the rear OF the Dan
Gildmacher block in stable belonging
to S. I. McNeal, between Birch and
West streets. The fire had made con-
siderable hesdway when the fire com.
pany arrived but was quickly subdued.
The stable was almost entirely burned
up and some stables belonging to Gid
macher were badly scorched. The dam.
age will not probably reach more than
$3.50.
TIE NEW POST OFFICE.
The principal talk on the streets TODAY
has been the prospective removal Of the
post office into the French opera block.
II is rumored thar the government navs
Mr.. French 81 per year for the room
and that it is to be fitted up for occu-
pancy free of.cost. The amount REQUIRED
having been subscribed by business men