The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-04-02
COLDBLOODfD MURDER
WAS BLACKSMITH AHTHUR's
DEED
KENNEDY TELLS WHAT HESAW
The Prosecution Rests-Today the
Defense Will Try to Substantiate
q Plea of Insanity

Department one of the superior court was
we'll filled with people yesterday to heai
the testimony for the prosecution at the
trial of Charles H. Arthur, the Pasadena
blacksmith, for The murder Of Mrs. Me-
lissa Ransome, the mistress, who had cast
him Off for another man. In the forenoon
Coroner Campbell and Police Surgeon Ia
gan gave their testimony and other wit
nesses followed whose evidence was unin-
teresting. In the afternoon the tale of the
murder was related by an eyewitness.
w. G. Taylor, a reporter on the Express,
testified that the defendant, when being
brought into the station after the shooting,
said in reply to a request for statement
that he was somewhat nervous but would
give It later. Some time afterward, In the
detectives room, Arthur said to the wit
ness that he had nothing to conceal lit his
pipe and gave him an account Of his rela-
tions with Melissa Ransome. He said that
he had ascertained that during his absence
the woman had taken up with one Jack
Kennedy tinhorn gambler Arthur also
fold how he had followed the woman from
San Pedro street on that day until she
met Kennedy near Third and Broadway.
He said that 1t was impossible to shoot the
woman then because the street was too
crowded and he didn't want to hurt an in
nocent person. When Kennedy and Mrs.
Ransome reached Spring street in front Of
Z building In the course of construction he
pulled out his revolver and shot her down.
Kennedy ran across the street and Arthur
fired one shot at him, but he did not again
shoot at this man because he was afraid of
getting short Of ammunition to finish the
woman with.
The defense objected to the introduction
of the statement made by Arthur to Mr..
Taylor, on the ground that the defendant
was insane at the time that he was under
the influence of drugs, liquor, etc. The ,b-
lection was overruled. In the course of his
cross-examination the witness said that
Arthur showed no signs of nervousness.
The only thing noticeable was that he lit
his pipe number of times.
Miss Kitty Ransome, daughter of the
murdered woman, tall, powerfully built
Foung woman, who Is now working a. AL
hambra, was called to the stand. She gave
her age as 16, although she looks fully 20.
She testified that she had known the de-
iendant about two years. She had heard
her mother and Arthur quarrel together in
came to Mrs. Ransome's room In Los An
geles. Arthur was frequently in state of
ntoxication while making these visits ard
her mother had told her that he had struck
her on some occasions. AS far as witness
personal knowledge went he treated her
kindly when he was sober When she met
him in the city he appeared to be SOBER
John Kennedy, now Of San Bernardino,
Who was with Mrs. Ransome when Arthur
hot her, told the tragedy, as nearly as he
lould remember, to the jury. About 80
lie met the woman, with whom he was 60
ng to have breakfast, near Broadway and
Third street. They started down Spring
treet. A man called out to him: Look
Dut!" He heard noise, but 1t did not sound
Ike pistol shot; 1t made him believe that
board in a scaffold was breaking. He had
lold of Mrs. Ransome's arm. She said.
oh, Jack!' With that he stepped off the
hdewalk into the street, when a bullet
vhistled past his ear and he heard Arthur
Jay: You -" Witness ran little way.
,ut returned, and Arthur shot at him again.
Then he deliberately stopped down with
he gun and shot Mrs. Ransome again as
The was lying on the ground. On cross
Examination, Kennedy said that he had
frequently seen Arthur under the influence
# liquor.
This concluded the case for the prosecu-
ion and court adjourned until this WORN
ng, when the defense will endeavor to SUBJ
ltanttate a plea of insanity, claiming that
Arthur has not for years been in his right
mind,