The morning call., 1894-05-04
HELD BLAMELESS.
Mcnamara Shot BashfOrd
in Self-DefenSe.
Verdict of the Coroner's Jury.
Doctors Testify the Dead Man
Was Mentally UnsOund.


nent. gathered In Judge Lows courtroom yes
terday afternoon when Coroner Hughes I'M
paneled jury to hold an inquest on the body
OF Thomas o. RaShford, who was killed by
John Mcnamara. bailiff OF Judg Campbelps 5
court, in Phil Dolan's saloon. Tuesday after
noon. Mcnamara, accompanied by his lawyer,
James Long, was present. and when all the
witnesses had been examined gave his version
Of the shooting.
DIR. +. X. Emerson, who made an autopsy OF
Bashfords body. testified that death was
caused by a wound In the abdomen. McNa-
mara's bullet had severed an artery and Bash
ford bled to DEATH Emerson aud Dir. Williams,
who assisted him at the autopsy, stated That
they found evidence that deceased was ad-
diced TO the use of morphine ana cocaine and
that his braiu was diseased.
Thomas Rourke, policeman, told how he
took revolver from BasDtord on Monday
afternoon while Bashford was going from
saloon 10 saloon threatening to XIII Judge
Campbell ana Mcnamara. He was ordered TO
get The pistol by Police Sergeant Ayres Bash
ford said TO him: II have been done up and
abused ana am going TO do some one up"
Philip D0lan, In whose saloon Bashford was
Shot, testified that Bashf0rd and Mcnamara
entered together. Mcnamara called for drinks
ana bottle OF whisky was handed TO him.
Bashfoid, standing by the bar, TOOK the bottle
by the neck and raising IL said: "rm Tom
Bashord, ana Ill fix any who tries
TO do me up.' He tried to strike Mcnamara
but the Daiff seized The bottle and smashed it
over his assailants face. Bashford backed
into corner. put his hand In his pocket aud
said, IN do you up? mo you won't" Nc
and fired. Bashford staggered out OF the
saloon and fell upon the pavement.
Dolan was of the opinion that Mcnamara
could not have escaped, as BaShford barred the
way 10 the door. Joseph Garvn, bartender,
ana Robert Perry, who were i'll the saloon at
the time corroborated Dolan's evidence.
Harry Ii. Falk stated tnat on Monday night
bay. BaShford told him that he was going TO
Berkeley TO kill Judge Campbell and his family.
Falk tried 10 communicate with Tie Judge but
was unsuccessful.
Judge Campbell gave the jury very long ac-
count OF his relations with BaShfOrd. He told
how the dead x-bailiff was picked out of the
gutter by the Salvation Army and reformed. II
got him place in the County Clerks Office"
said Campbell, land when was elected l ap-
pointed him Dailtf.
when he went back to his old life / asked
him TO resign, but he refused, and said lie
would kill any one appointed by me in his
place. he told me that if dismissed him ne
would go TO hell and take the whole outfit
along with him. On Friday, when discharged
him lie threatened TO Kill Mrs. Campbell and
Clerk Vernon because be thought they had
caused his dismissal. He went TO the house,
and after abusing and threatening Mrs. Camp
bell took away bis little girl who had been llv-
Ing with us.
"On Monday he came to my chambers with
pistol and threatened to Kill Mrs. Campbell,
out for Bashford. and gave orders to him and
the police TO arrest the man. Bashford drank
large quantities OF paregoric."
g. G. Higgins and p. McDonough testified
that they bad seen Bashford with "a pistol. and
had heard him threaten TO kill Mcnamara.
T. Wetherall, pawnbroker, testified that he
took pistol from Bashford on Tuesday after
noon about fifteen minutes before the tragedy,
and Deputy Coroner and Policeman Lake
Swore that when they searched BashfOrd's
clothes at the Morgue they found no weapon.
McNamara's account of what occurred In the
saloon corroboratrd DOlan's. He said that he
had never spoken TO BashfOrd until that after
noon, and that lie then tried to cOnciiate him.
He fired in self-defense.
The verdict of the jury was: Thomas o.
Bashiord came TO his death at the hands of
John Mcnamara, and we find that said McNa-
mara acted IN self-defense."