The herald., 1896-02-15
POLITICS AT RIVERSIDE
Hinges Largely Upon the Question O.
Prohibition
Testimony In the Hazen Murder Casa
Riverside Boy Musician at Chicago.
Water Company's Election

or less stir among the politicians. It
Is pretty evident that the election will
not be confined to political parties
this time. This is the general belief,
while there are large number OF Ea-
publicans who would like very much
to see straight party issue, that party,
OF course, being largely in the majority.
at present it would seem that "high
license or prohibition" will be the
question to settle. Some of the poiiti-
Cians, doubtless hope to get their
choice Of men into office through this
issue, probably not caring as much for
the question one way or the other IS
they do for getting their particular
mon elected, while on the other hand
there is greater body of citizens,
while they have choice OF this ques-
ton, are first interested in getting
good men into office. This latter class
think the question of saloons or no sa-
looms should be left to vote Of the
people direct, leaving the city trustees
to carry out the will OF the majority.
Then the nominees of parties or inde-
pendent candidates for trustees and
other offices would stand on their
merits before the people, thus more
nearly ensuring the election OF the
right kind of men.
THE IIAZEN TRIAL
Yesterday afternoon WAS largely
taken up in the examination of wit
nessss in the Hazen case. DIR. G. Q.
Sherman, coroner. and Drs. Huff and
Gleason of South Riverside were put
upon the stand to establish the death
Of the man Cooke, and as to the cause,
they having all visited the house where
the murder WAS committed and viewed
the remains Of Cooke.
Thomas Rude, who was at the Hazen
house at the time of the shooting, in
company with Cooke and three other
young men named Roberts. Bsitisld
and Penfraise, testified that Cooke had
taken a bottle Of whisky from his
pocket and poured portion Of the
contents of the bottle on Mrs. Hazen's
and poured the balance of the whisky
on Penfraise. Penfraise then pulled an
other bottle of whisky from his pocket
and handed it to Cooke, who poured a
part of that on Mrs. Hazen's
head. Hazen was in bed, Mrs.
Hazen having let them in the
house by the back door. When
Cooke poured the last whisky on Mrs.
Hazen's head, Hazen raised up and
said ne would not stand any more of
that and pulled revolver from under
his pilloN. Cooke rushed at him and
took the revolver away from him, say
ing Don't pull a gun on me-" HaZen
then got up and went to the corner of
the room and got his Winchester riffs
and went out; went to Hazen outside
and told him not to shoot, and started
toward the house and Hazsn said for
me to stand aside 80 he would not
make any mistake. When L went in l
looked back and saw Hazen aiming his
gun l took Cooke by the arm and
wanted him to go, but he would not. L
went out; saw HaZen 90 to the front
door and hold his gun as if to aim; was
fifteen or twenty feet away; heard
three shots fired, but did not know
who shot first. Cooke came out and
walked few steps and fell. Witness
had visited HaZens house several
times with Cooke.
On cross-eXamination at today's ses-
sion it WAS brought cut that at the pre-
liminary examination the witness bad
testified that he saw Cooke shoot. On
redirect examination he subStantiated
getting the rifle and going out of doors
stated, up to tho time Of the shooting.
Alf Robuds testified that he was at
the Hazen house the night of the mur-
der, with Belfield, Cooke, Rude and
Penfraise. He practically substan-
TAINTED the testimony of Rude up to
the time of hearing the shots fired and
as to Cooke coming out; saw him lying
on the ground; Mrs. HaZen came out
and asked Cooke If he was shot; Cooke
said yes; he said nothing more; when
Cooke was carried into the house
Hazen was sitting on the bed lacing
his shoes.
Herbert Belfield-That he was in the
room and saw the whisky pouring; SAW
Hazen draw the revolver from his bed
and saw Cooke rush upon him and
take the revolver away from Razen;
was in the room when Hazen came to
front door; then went out at the back
door; did not see the shooting; Cooke
lived about twenty-five minutes after
he fell to the ground; two or three
shots fired.
On cross.examination witness testi-
fled that he saw two flashes; could not
say whether flashes were nearest TO
Cooke or Hazen; the men were pretty
close together. Witness acknowledged
that he had sworn at the preliminary
examination that Cooke fired the first
and second shots and did not know
who fired the third shot.
On redirect examination he &C.
counted for the difference of his testi-
mony here and at the preliminary ex-
animation, that he was confused at the
preliminary examination and had had
time to think over the matter since.
James Edwards testified that he
heard two shots fired at the Hazen
house on the night Of January 14th,
the night of the murder, and that the
first shot was the louder Of the two. 1t
was between 10 and IL O'Clock. He WAS
near the HaZen house
Penfraise testified that he was at the
Hazen house the night of the shooting.
His testimony WAS the same in sub
stance as the other three young men of
the party at the house with Cooke. In
answer to a question as to what he
went to the house for, he answered for
lewd purposes. The answer was
stricken out. He had been at the
house often before and they we're al
ways welcome.
Sheriff Johnson was put upon the
stand to identify the firearms, and the
prosecution announced that this was
all their direct testimony.
NOTES ABOUT TOWN