The San Francisco call., 1896-07-07

Scott make threats of personal violence,
but he had heard from others here that
Scott had said he would kill that - wife
of his father. But Mrs. Richardson was
very kind to him and his family, and
while he lived in Santa Barbara carried
him and his family provisions to make
them comfortable.
Mrs. Taber's testimony was very clear,
thoughtful and intelligent and in spite
of her seventy-odd years she proved the
best and most helpful witness summoned.
Mrs. Fanny Y. Wallin, a neighbor living
100 yards distant, stated that after she re-
tired last night, about 9 o'clock, she heard
noise that she attributed to some trou BILE
among their stock. A few minutes later
she heard groan, and although it did not
sound In the direction of their barn she
belleVed 1t came from an old horse of
theirs. A few seconds later she heard an
other prolonged groan, and told her hus-
band that she was sure this time that some
human being was in distress. He there
upon arose and went out to the barn and
iound that everything was all right. Be-
ing superstitlous, she concluded that the
SOUND was premonition. Twice after
they heard noise and groans, and her
husband went out twice again and searched
Tor the cause. They heard no scream s and
no plstol-shots. Mrs. Wallin stated that
she usually saw light in the Richardson
residence after 10 o'clock, but thought the
family had retired earlier since the old
gentleman's death.
W. l.. Rust testified to knowing a man,
Hiram Barnard, who used to work Tor Mrs.
Richardson, with whom he often talked.
lie described him as a short, slight man
with dropping mustache. On Friday af-
ternoon he saw him on State street, clad
IN blue suit. He said he had tramped
up to the northern part of the State and
had had hard experience. When asked
II he had any reason TO connect the
man with the murder Rust stated that
Barnard on Friday offered to sell him a
new S17 rifle for $40, declaring that he
would have to have the money before 6
O'Clock, and that he would leave town on
Sunday or Monday at the latest. Hearing
OF the mysterious small footprint found
upon the Richardson place and remember
ing the mans small foot he volunteered
this information thinking the man in ques
tion might be worth looking up.
DR.. Richards J. Hall testified to having
made an external examination of Ethel
Rlchardson's body, which was sufficient
to determine the cause OF death. She died,
probably, of hemorrhage, from a stab
wound in the throat There were two bull
let wounds in the neck, either of which
would have caused death, and numerous
other injuries, cuts and fractures of bones,
including bullet in her left arm, none of
which would have caused death. All of
the bullets appear to have emerged from
the body. The stab wound was probably
inflicted where she died.
The body was cold, but no rigidity had
set in, so that it was not likely that she
had been dead more than four or five
hours. His judgment was that she had
been dead not more than five hours nor
less than four hours; yet she was so cold
that 1t was possible she had been dead ten
or twelve hours. The bullet wounds ap-
peared to have been made with about a
32-caliber ball.
She was probably stabbed while in a
standing position or struggling on the
ground This knife wound cut the trachae
and @osophogus completely through, sew
ering many small vessels, but not the
Jugular vein. 1t was possible, in his judg
ment, for her to have run to the spot
where she was found after receiving the
shots. She had a broken forearm, broken
elbow, cut on the ear, cut Oh the scalp
and numerous bruises, evidently inflicted
with the loaded cane found close beside
the body.
Eben J. Packard, neighbor and dairy
man, testified as to his acquaintance with
the stepson, Scott Richardson. He saw
him two years ago, before he left here, os-
tensibly for Minneapolis. Mr.. Packard as
serted that he had heard Scott Richardson
declare he would get even with the family.
He would see them in hell. They had rob-
bed him OF his rights.
He was referring to the stepmother and
half-sister. He heard Scott make these
threats at least six or eight times. He
might not have said the precise word
kill, but his threats involved their de-
struction. He was usually drunk when
Mr.. Packard saw him, and the witness
only reproved him.
Mr.. Packard said that this bitter quarrel
was the only subject on which either
father or son could converse. When he
met either they talked about the other.
They seemed almost insane on the sub
ject. Scott's enmity seemed most particu-
larly directed against the father and this
girl, his half-sister. He said they had
stolen $10,0 900 from him. He would have
the property if the step-motner and
daughter were not in existence.
Mr.. Packard had attached little i'm
portance to the mans talk, regarding it as
only the excitable utterances of drunken
man.
The verdict rendered by the jury was
that Ethel Richardson, native OF Canada
and resident OF California, came to her
death by pistol shot at the hands of a
party or parties unknown to the iurv.