The San Francisco call., 1897-05-13
Asked a Prison Mate to
Bring Poison to His
Cell.
Said to Have Confessed the
Murder of Pyle to His
Companion.
The Accused Ventura County OFF,
Ger Certain to Be Held
for Trial.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, May 12.-In
blacksmith-shop al New ball, Justice Clay
ton presided over his court again to-day
to continue the preliminary examination
of Deputy Constable Edwin Mechanism,
who is charged with the murder of Con-
stable Henson Mccoy Pyle at Castaic
Switch. The proceedings were enlivened
By mum ber of sen nsational developments
in the testimony, which is so strong
against the accused as to leave little
chance of defense. The evidsnce is all
circumstantial, but it grows stronger each
day.
AS there have been numerous threats OF
lynchIng, the prisoner was well guarded
by Sheriff Burr in travelling between New
hall and the County Jail. Mechanism
himself maintains an air OF stolid indiffer-
ence, except at times when Everett Pyle,
a brother of the deceased, comes near
him, when he shows signs of tear, know
ing that the brother thirsts for vengeance.
The prosecution is being conducted by
the Assistant District Attorney, and 3
strong fight is being made by the de-
fendant's counsel, but it can avail nothing
TO keep him from being bound over.
Some of the witnesses who testified on
Mccall, the cook on the Newhall ranch,
testified to the finding of 8 bloody saddle
blanket about fifteen feet away from the
house where the shooting occurred and In
g direction opposite TO the one taken by
the tramps according to the story OF Nc
Camlsh. 1t is expected TO show that Pyle
was lying with his head on this blanket
when he was shot and the blanket was
afterward thrown into the alfalfa field
near by. 1t is the theory OF the pro.ecu
ton that Pyle was shot while asleep with
his head on the blanket
Mrs. Pyle, the widow, identified the two
pairs of handouts found in McCamish's
room, one of them being pair McCamish
said the fleeing tramp had carried away
locked. upon his wrist
Sheriff Burr testified to the story Nc
Camish had related to him OF how the
tragedy had occurred. Farmer Busick
and Everett Pyle testified to much the
same facts.
The story in brief was that McCamish
and Pyle arrived at Castaic Switch in
search of two men who, the former had
claimed, robbed his room of certain cloth
ing and other articles. The two officers
made beds of some sacks in the station
building and went 10 sleep. They were
awakened about A. N by two men walk
ing on the railroad track. When the two
strangers were nearly opposite the build
hands, which order was complied with.
Pyle then gave his revolver to McCamish
70 ksep the prisoners covered. SO that he
could be free to put the handouts on
them. When he had snapped the brace
let's on one hand of one of the men the
other man shot Pyle and both fed.
Pyle fell, so McCamish says, partly in
side the building, and while he lay there
the tramp shot him again. AS the two
fellows ran away McC2mish fred at them
and hit one, who said ''I'm shot," and
stopped running long enough to retrace
his way few steps and pick up bundle
he had dropped and then resumed his
fight.
The idea that . man running away from
8 revolver should be so reckless as TO stop
in that way was one of the features that
cast discredit on the whole story.
Everett Pyle testified regarding the
footprints that the only marks OF that
been made by two honest laborers, who
canped near by.
Sheriff Charlebois of Ventura sprung
sensation in telling of confession of the
accused man. A prisoner confined in the
Ventura jail claimed that McCamish,
while locken up in the same place, had
virtually admitted his guilt. The
prisoner told Mechanism about the find
ing of the clothing and the other things
that he claimed were carried away, and
Mechanism became much agitated, ex-
claiming, "Oh, my God, what will do p
McCamish, according to the prisoners
story, as told by the Sheriff, asked his cell
com panion, who was soon to be released,
TO come and see him in the Los ANGELES
Jail ana bring him some poison, imply
ing the intention OF committing suicide
The prisoner who was then with Nc
Camish viii testify at the examination to-
morrow, and will be brought from Ventura