The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-05
SOME TANGLED STORIES
Very Weak Testimony of Judge
Harris Relatives.
MRS. VIM. FAHEY ON THE STAND.
She Says That Mrs. Featherstone
Suspected w. d. Grady of
the Murder.

FRESNO, April 4.-The defense in the
Heath case began the introduction of re-
buttal testimony this morning. Mrs.
Cora Palmer was again put on the
stand. She explained that she did
not intend 10 convey the impression
that Boland was her husband. She
was divorced and she did not make
any attempt to conceal it. The witness
knew Deputy Sheriff Peek. Distinctly re-
membered his coming to her house when
Boland WAS there, between May and Aug
ust. She described Mrs. Minneard as be-
ing stout and short and between SO and 30
years of age. She>believed Mrs. Minneard
was dead. because one of her friends had
told her such was the case. On cross
examination she denied that she had told
various persons she knew who McWhir-
ter's murderers were or that she had seen
the deed committed.
j. A. Dinsmore had visited Mrs. Palmer
at the request of friends. Mrs. Palmer
asked him if he remembered being at her
ranch on August %, 1892, when Boland
was there. Dinsmore said he did not re-
mem Der it and believed he was at Bakers
field at that time. He also asked Mrs.
Palmer: "Bow about that handkerchief"
and she answered with little laugh: ION,
l could go on and make fortune out of
that"
John I. Walton was q blood relative of
Judge Harris and was at Harris house the
night of the murder of McWhirter. Judge
Harris was not at breakfast the morning
of August 90. 1882. Those present were
himself. Mrs. Ledsinger and children.
had ri M n N n r.
ing the night.
Mrs. Ledsinger, another relative Of Har-
ris, and who lived at the Judges house at
the time of the murder, zorro borated Wal
ton. She did not wake up during the
night. had heard no carriages drive up.
had heard 20 one enter the house, and
heard no laughing or talking. A little
after o'clock on the morning OF the muir
der she had seen Judge Harris walking
through the Courthouse square with Terry.
That was the first time she saw him Mon
day, and the first she heard of the killing
of MIR. McWhirter was after she had
reached the Courthouse. Mrs. Ledsinger
testified positively that the bed OF Judge
Harris was not occupied that night. She
had gone into Judge Harris bedroom be-
fore retiring and had locked the door. The
bed was then unoccuped.
Harris LedslDger, son OF the previous
witness, corroborated his mother.
Mrs. William Fahey was called to the
stand and asked ii The bad had talk with
Mrs. Feetherstone. in which the latter had
said she heard a carriage or buggy drive
up before Judge Harris house. The
question was overruled. She was then
Eoof nod ho
that she thought w. d. Grady was respon-
sible for the death of McWhrter.
While the defense was framing an elab-
crate question as to what had been SAID
about Judge Harris, Mrs. Fahey volun-
teered the information that she did not re-
member Mrs. Featherstone ever having
told her anything about Judge Harris.
Mrs. Featherstone did say, though. that
she suspected Grady of having had some
thing to do with it.
C. A. Sherman, editor of the Bakersfield
Californian, testified that Boland had
worked for his pauer in August. 1892. He
read an entry which showed that Boand
was paid some money on Saturday, Aug
ust q, 1892. Sherman was not able to say
if Mr.. Boland had worked for his paper
between August q and September g.
There was record Of payment of So
having been made during September for a
days work. This ended the list of wit
pesSes.
Foote explained to the court that he ex-
pected witness on the evening train. She
would be the last he had to offer. Exam
nation of this witness would take but a
short time. and he therefore asked post
ponement until tomorrow morning.