The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-30

acquainted with A. B. Lawson shortly
after that time. He knew Mr.. Kemp as
Lawson $ attorney, and went to his Office
to see him BY Appointment made on the
Saturday previous. 1t was about o'clock
when he called at Mr.. Kemp's office. No
one was in at the time, but in about sve
minutes Horace Davis, the stenographer.
put in an appearance. followed in abou:
ten minutes by Walter Hass, and then
Sam Garrett dropped in. He asked for
Mr.. Kemp, when he was told that the
gentleman had gone to San Francisco on
the o'clock train. He went into Law
sons reception room. He saw Lawson,
ST.. come to the door and look in. Law
son was sitting in front of the door going
into the EN- ployee's office, and he sew no
one in conversation with him. Kenneth
said he spoke to Lawson, and asked him
If he could see him, to which Lawson re-
piled certainly.
At THIS point witness was asked by his
counsel whether or not Lawson owed
him money at the time, and whether he
had any evidence of the Indebtedness.
kennett replied that he did, and that be
had LawsoD's note for S247, besides the
assignment made by Mr.. and Mrs. Law
son for his benefit. The witness further
answered ID reply to questions that he
vent to Lawsons office with the sole and
only purpose of trying to collect this
money, or at least portion OF it, and for
no other reason
Kenneth then said that he had on the
same coat that he was wearing at the
time of the shooting, which he showed to
the jury, and had his pistol in his right
hip pocket, which he explained was made
in the shape of a holster.
Kenneth said that he entered the priv
ate Office first, Lawson following and
closing the door as he did so. Witness
then described the rom with minuteness,
going into the smallest details. There
was a double window in the room OPEN
ing out on the hall, and two doors. The
window had two curtains, one of which
was partially drawn. and the other al
most closed, which darkened the room,
the dimensions of which were about 10
xii fest. Continuing, the witness said
in substance, in answer to questions:
ION entering the room | took seat in
a char. lawson took a seat in another
chair, probably six or eight feet distant.
l said: "Mr. Lawson, l came to see if |
could not make some arrangement with
you about settlement. l stated to him
that was much in need of money, at
least enough to pay nv wife's funeral
expenses. Lawson replied. What do you
want, you d s. of b. I replied.
Mr.. Lawson, l am not i'll the habit of
being called s. of | have not
come here for that purpose He Kissed
more than anything else, I III show you.
and jumped towards me, his left hand
extended in front and his right hand on
his hip. 1 drew my revolver and fired.
He was almost upon me at the time, en-
veioped IN smoke, and | stepped one step
to the right and firej again. My idea
was that Lawson INTENDED to kill me
when fired. When Lawson fell there
was a movement to open the door from
the outside, when | took one step and
opened it. Dennis Kearney entered and
passing around me asked, What is this|
Pointing to Lawson replied. You can
see for yourself. This was the only reply
made, and 1 handed him my revolver.
No he did not take it'll handed it to MIN.
was then taken to jail.
"Did you at any time make a state
ment to any one that you were glad yon
killed Mr.. Lswson?" asked Captain Har-
rs. i never said to any body that l was
witness. / said that under the same cir
cumstances l would do the same thing
again.
The witness then went on to say that
he had been appointed a deputy under
Constable Younkin, and that he had
never been notified that his appointment
had been revoked. He thought that he
was a deputy con. table when he went to
Lawson's Off ce.
This closed the direct examir alton and
the witness was turned over TO Mr.. Nc
Comas. Kenneth said that the converse
ton in the office did not last more than
two or three minutes, and that Lawson
was facing him. in the act of springing
toward him, with his left hand extended
in front of him and his right hand by
his hip pocket when he Cred.
Don't you know that Lawson grabbed
YOUR pistol with both hands. and that
that was the way he got this powder
burns?' asked Mr.. McComas, holding up
his hand to show where the marks were.
II do not know that such was the
case" replied tho witness, and then he
went on to explain, repeating in substance
what he had SAID on $ direct examina :
ii IN. kennett said he could SEE the front
of Layson's hand, but could not swear
whether there was anything in it or not.
Lawson, he said, approached him about
two steps before he drew his pistol and
he did not reach for his weapon until
that time. He did not have 1t in his
coat pocket.
heart and then shot him twice in the
back, was he not falling when you fired
the second shot9"
"He was not" replied the witness, and
then he went on TO again show how
Lawson passed him and how he took one
step to the right and fired tae last two
shots.
roam with those bullets through his
heart?'' asked MIR. McComas.
And once more the wi ness explained
how Lawson had turned after the first
shot and started in the direction of his
desk, when the olher shots followed.
Then occurred the most dramatic cpl
sode of the trial. Mr.. McCumas had the
witness leave the chair and demonstrate
for the benefit OF the jury, with himself
in Lawson's place, the rela tive positions
of the men when the last two shots we're
fired. Mr.. McComas had Kennett place
him in the exact position of Lawson
when the shots were fired, and then asked
him to explain how 1t was that the bullet
ranged upward in one instance and
straight in another.
Don't you know that you fred one
shot into Lawson back when he was ly.
ing on the foor?" asked Mr.. McComas.
II do not" quietly replied the wit
ness. az never fired at Lawson when he
was on the floor" Kenneth then went on
to saw that the shots were fired as fast as
he could pull the trigger, and that if
there was any pause between the two
first and the last shots, it was when he
threw his revolver across his body in
aiming the last time. He always carried
his pistol in his hip pocket, and never