The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-24
MASON BRADF|ELD ON TRIAL,
Donald Grant Tells How He
Was Stabbed.
The Witnesses Disagree About the
Facts Of the ARRAY.
Bradfeid Takes the Stand and States
That Grant Attacked Him First
without Provocation- How
the Fight Occurred.

The trial OF Mason Brad6eld, accused
of assault with intent to murder Donald
Grant last November, began yesterday
| in department No. OF the superior
court before Judge Smith.
The morning and part of the alter
noon was occu pied IN the selection of a
Jury. Az completed it is composed OF
the following:
William N. Allison, Abbott ]. Bent,
Otis f. Bell, S. Everett Chase, Henry
M. Dakin, Joseph H. Green, Winchester
Gillette, Joseph Hyans. Maurice s.
Hellman, Stephen r. fbottson. Peter p.
Kieier and William NJ. Osborn.
Donald Grant was the fret witness for
the prosecution and related the circum-
stances of the trouble which resulted in
his being stabbed by Bradfeld.
In brief he said he went into the Ma
tional restaurant on North Main street
on the night in question with George
Stephenson to get something to eat.
They were spoken to by James Gardner,
who was with Bradfeld and Dan Ke-
vane.
| DFduU6lu hbk6u tuCul W bhk0 u Blhbb
of wine with them after Gardner intro
duced them, and they sat down at the
table with them. The subject of Scotch
games-curling, golf and the like--came
up, and then wrestling. Bradfeld, he
said, clustered around and grew very
insulting, and finally slapped the witness
in the face several times and pulled out
a revolver. Grant told him he could not
| fight him when he had a revolver.
BfadHeld threw down the revolver on
the counter and slapped him again in
the face with hie hand.
Grant testified that then he struck
| Bradfeld in the face. He was trying to
get away when Bradfield pulled dirk
knife and stabbed him in the neck. He
| got hold OF him by the wriets and he
dropped the knife but picked it up again
and tried to cut him in the stomach
when he got loose. The witness turned
Bradfield over to Officer Stewart who ar
rived just at this time. He exhibited
the ecar of the wound that so nearly cost
him his life.
George Stephenson was the next wit
ness and described what he saw OF the
trouble. His account was almost ident-
ical with that given by Mr.. Grant. The
witness went out the front door for a
policeman, found Officer Stewart near
by and got to the door again in time to
see Brad6eld stick knife into Grants
neck. He also saw Brndfeld pick the
knife up after Grant let go OF his wrists
and make ewipe at his stomach. But
Grant turned sideways and the blow
missed
The testimony of Officer Robert
Stewart, given at the preliminary ex-
animation, was read by Mr.. Conkling,
according to agreement with counsel for
the defense, Stewart now being sick in
I bed 1t gave the faets of the arrest Of
Bradfield. 8a
M. Zuzello, manager OF the restaurant,
in his statement differed considerably
from those who preceded him. He sa i'd
he saw the men talking saw them
stand up and measure arms; then saw
Bradfeld with pistol. He laid 1t on
the counter and Grant struck him two
heavy blows in the face, got his head
under his arm and punched away at
Grant say: Il am stabbed" He did
not, however, see the knife or the stab
bling.
The cook. Luke Pendo, saw pretty
much what his manager did, and his
statement was corroborative of that tes-
timony.
james Gardner, attorney at law, testi-
fed that the party was talking about
many games in Scotland, had quoted
poetry from Scott and Burns, and he
WAS very much astoHished when the row
occurred. He could not recollect the
conversation that led up to the trouble,
because he was paying no attention to
it. They had got by that time to talk
ing about wrestling, in which he was
not interested. He saw Bradfeld lay
his pistol on the counter saw Grant
strike him, and they scuffled toward the
door. He heard Grant say ne was
stabbed, but could recollect very little
of what occurred. 1t all happened in
about five seconds, and the transition
from Burns to blows was go astonishing
that he could not say what the row was
about.
This closed the testimony for the
prosecution, and the defendant, looking
very slender, but with his black eyes
flashing, was called to the stand.
II have lived in Los Angeles 20
years" he said. 81 weighed 124 or 125
pounds the night Of the trouble. 1 was
connected with the state fish commits
sion at that time. | am superintendent
OF the California vi company, winch
has wells in the Sespe. That night
had one hundred and odd dollars. l
was going on the 10 40 train to Fillmore
to go to my home. 1t is quite drive
from the station, and l was armed for
that drive, as had once been held up
and robbed on the road. My wife was
sick. l went into the restaurant to get
meal. l invited Mr.. Kevane and
Mr.. Gardner to 60 with me, which they
did. Grant and Stephenson came in
and were introduced by Gardner, and
| invited them to take some wine with
US. | never had met them before.
Gardner was telling us ABOUT Scotland.
He and both quoted poetry from Scott
and Burns. Grant was talking about
curling. and the strength of wrist it took.
He showed me his broad wfist and l
| said to him that he was strong. He
said that he could take me and put me
| over the counter. l told him | did not
think so. Then be spoke of CROSS
bullock trick and asked me to let him
| show me. | said to him mo hurting in