The herald., 1898-10-13
HELD TO ANSWER
ASsAILANT OF GOV. SMITH WILL
STAND FOR TRIAL
His Bail Fixed in the Sum of SIC, 900.
The Calmest Man in the
Room

SANTA MONICA, Oct 12-The prelim-
iparv hearing of Albert G. Bradley, the
member of the Soldiers home who shot
Governor A. ]. Smith on September 2c' was
held before Justice Guidinger TINS morn
ing. Deputy District Attorney McComas
conducted the examination Tor tne prose-
cution. and o. H. Hubbard appeared for
the defendant. The prisoner sat seeming
ly Indifferent throughout the entire ex-
animation. Four witnesses. all members
of the home, were examined, ana agreed,
In general, as to their testimony.
william NJ Pottle, orderly to the quar-
termaster Of the Home was the nrst VIII
ness He testified that on the 2Sth OF Sep-
tember he was standing near the rear door
of the Quartermaster's department, when
he heard two shots fired. He ran to the
door and saw A. j. Smith, the governor.
who was thirty or thirty-five feet frorm the
door, turn around and stagger, when
the defendant fired two more shots at
him, and turned to walk away. The gov
ernor cried, stop that man, ana as MT.
Graham came to the assistance OF the
wounded governor witness turned MS at
tention to the assailant, who said, as ne
WAS being placed under arrset. II amt
going to try to get away" Witness turned
his prisoner over to the Home guard. Wit
ness testified that when he rushed upon
the scene the only persons In sight were the
staggering governor and his assailant.
William D. Graham, a clerk In the quar-
termaster's department. testified to prac-
tically the same as the first witness, except
as to who was first on the scene. saying.
however, that In the hurry and excitement
he might be mistaken, but he believed him.
self to have been the first out Of the office.
During his cross-examination by the at
torney for the defense, witness was asked
If ne knew the difference in the sound OF a
blank cartridge, when discharged, and a
bullet, to which he replied, to the satisfac-
ton of the many old veterans present,
well, cannot now be sure. In my ear
liest years did little practicing with
blank cartridges, but later they were all
of the other kind" The question was not
passed.
Jacob F. Blattner, another clerk In the
same department, testified to having heard
three shots, and, looking out the door, saw
the fourth fired by the prisoner. but could
not see the target. On going out saw the
governor staggering toward the door, sup
ported by Graham. and Pottle In the act
of taking the defendant into custody.
Charles Fischer captain of Company H.
testified that he came out of the quarter
masters office Immediately after the
shooting was over, and saw Governor
Smith staggering toward the porch. Later,
when the governors clothing was removed
he saw a rugged wound in the shoulder.
When asked by defendants attorney how
he knew 1t was a bullet wound, he said be-
cause it looked like several he had had
himself.
This closed the case for the people. and,
although counsel for the defense moved
that the case be dismissed on the ground
that the court had no Jurisdiction. as 1t
appeared that the crime was committed on
ground controlled by the national govern
ment, the court held the prisoner to an
swer in the superior court. with bail fixed
at $4,000.