The herald., 1897-04-14
ssKID" ON TRIAL
His Battle for Life Has
Begun
CROWDED COURT ROOM
The Story of the Trnin Robbery
Told Again
HIS COWBOY FRIEND APPEARS
"A POMONA MAN WHO JUMPED
AT CONCLUSION
HIS COWBOY FRIEND APPEARS
"A POMONA MAN WHO JUMPED
ATA CONCLUSION
McKeeby's Suit Against the City Sub
mitted-Rev. Johnson's New
Case-Court Calendar

Judge Smiths court room was crowded
to overfowing when the bailiff rappec
for order yesterday morning Necks
were craned and people tiptoed to get a
look at the notorious kid" Thompson
once condemned to be hanged for wreck
ing a train at Roscoe station on the l5tf
of February, 1894, in which two men were
killed.
Thompson himself was very much con-
cerned in all that was going on and took
the keenest interest in the proceedings
Before the court was called to order he
spent the time chatting pleasantly with
his attorneys and few friends who had
stepped inside the railing to speak to
him. He had nod and a smile for other
acouaintanees as they put in an appear
ance
When Con Mallory, the detective for
the district attorneys office, who has
devoted a great deal of time to working
nm the case against kid" came in, the
latter Jumped up and grasped him
warmly by the hand, as though he were
an intimate friend.
Thompson was neatly dressed and wore
a blue cutaway coat and vest and pair
of light trousers. He took seat be-
tween his attorneys, j. Noonan Phil
Inns and Bernard F. Mills, and talked
with them constantly during the selec-
tion of the jury
Alya Johnson has not yet arrived from
San Quentin, but is expected this morn
ing. His testimony will go long way
toward deciding the Kids" fate. Young
Col. Tuper the friend of kid" who
was taken with him by the cowboys i'll
ARIZONA, and who Etzler says accom-
panied them to get the money in Tempe,
Ariz.. put in an appearance at the sher-
IFS office yesterday morning and was
served with a subpoena as witness for
the defense. The arrival of Tuper was
very pleasing to Kid His testimony
will be used to impeach the statements
which Etzler will make for the prosecu-
tion.
Chief Crowley, at the head of the de-
tective department of the Southern Pa
cific, accompanied by Detective Miles
Bowler of the local department of that
company, was diSb Dl tSGHNs ~ iAHii'SA
of woman from one of the Holiness bands
ir the city, who are friends of the kid,
occupied seats in the room.
In the examination of the jurors Judge
Phillips was very particular to inquire
what influence the fact that Thomp-
sn had once before been convicted and
sentenced to hang would have upon
them.
The jury had all been completed by
o'clock and the Kids" battle for life
began in earnest. District Attorney
Donnel and Deputy McComas are con-
Quoting the prosecution.
The first witness placed upon the stand
was Conductor J. H Odell. who had
charge of the train at the time it was
held up at Roscoe He went over the in
cidents of the robbery in detail, telling
of the open switch into which the train
was run and the wrecking of the cars
Then of the appearance of two masked
men who covered him with their guns
and sent him to the rear Of the train
and afterward of the explosion of the
bomb which shattered the door OF
the express car. There was nothing new
whatever brought out in Odell's testi-
mony, and it was the same story as told
by him at the former trial.
Fireman La Grange, who was on the
engine the night the train was wrecked
also testified. He said that as soon as
he was able to get out after the train
stopped he was covered by revolvers in
the hands of two masked men. The
moon shone and he was able to see the
outline of the men before him quite
plainly. Both wore masks. One had on
a slouch hat and both Wore long over
coats He was unable to identify the
prisoner as either of the robbers. and
stated that in the excitement he had
not noted the appearance of the men
very closely
La Grange repeated the story of the
hold-up. taking particular pains to make
no reference to the death Of Fireman Nc
Masters. He told how the door Of the
express car was blown open and after
the bags of silver had been secured by
the robbers he was forced to carry them
a quarter of a mile to where a team Of
horses and a wagon were waiting His
mind seemed very clear on all points
of the hold-up, and he answered the
questions put to him readily.
AT the conclusion OF his testimony
the case was continued over until this
morning.
ANOTHER LIBEL SUIT
Rev. Johnson Undismayed by His