The San Francisco call., 1898-03-04
AGED MOTHER
 AGAINST SON Mrs. Flannelly's Story of the Redwood City
 Tragedy.
Prisoner Listens With Stolid Indifference to Her
 Testimony.
Sister of the Parricide Also Reletes the Circumstances of the
 Crime.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


 SAN JOSE, March 3.-The story of the killing of Patrick Flannelly by his son Thomas Flannelly at Redwood City on October 26 last was told in Judge Lorigan's court to-day by the defendants mother and sister Flannelly sat beside his attor- neys and showed not the least bit of emotion. He did not look up as his aged mother entered the courtroom weeping. He sat impassively through the proceedings, and not once did he vince as the story of his horrible crime was retold.
 The courtroom was crowded with spectators. When court opened this morning District Attorney Walker of San Mated County made the opening statement of the case for the prosecu- tion. His outline was a repetition of the facts of the crime as told before.
 w. P. Gilbert, County Surveyor of San Mateo County, was the first wit ness He produced map of the house of Patrick Flannelly, where the homi eide occurred, and explained the draw ing.
 John Kerr, brother-in-law of Elan nelly, then took the stand. He lived at the home of his wife's father and was in the house at the time of the murder. The witness said Flannelly came to his house about S;30 o'clock that night and asked Where is Pop?" On being told that his father was in bed the defend ant rushed upstairs. Then there were some words between father and son. Flannelly was heard to say, You have carved cnOnp na nprS Qn me and I fold you not to do it when you served some papers on me before." The father re- piled to the effect that ne did not wish to annoy his son personally by what he had done. His sole object had been to compel the partner to get out of the business. Then the son said: Take these back repeating the words in a loud tone three times. These exclama- tions were followed by the words, also this?' and three shots immediately fol- lowed. After the shooting the son ran downstairs and rode away to the ranch.
 Mrs. Kerr gave similar testimony to her husband. She said that when her brother started to ride away she asked him if he had shot their father, and he replied, "Yes, I shot him-shot him right through the brain.'' She said her
 
 tresses. She denied that four shots had been fired.
 Mrs. Catherine Flannelly, widow of Patrick Flannelly and mother of the accused, was then supported to the stand. She was heavily yelled and was weeping as she took the stand. She did not look toward her son. Her story was as follows:
 My husband retired about 630 o'clock that night. About S:30 Tom came up the stairs. He came into my room, lighted a candle and went to my husbands room. He left the door open, so I could see what was happen ing. Tom asked his father why he had the papers served upon him, and his father replied that as far as he was concerned it was all right but that he did not want Doyle to stay there with out paying rent. Tom was furnishing the family with milk and butter. When Tom asked his father to take the pa pers back his father told him to go away, as he was drunk Tom said he was not drunk, and then pulled out pistol. His father said: Don't point that at me- but Tom began shooting right away. I saw him with the pistol in his hand and saw the shots fired. At the time he was shot MT. Flannelly was leaning on his elbow, and his other hand was at his side. He did not do anything to prevent Tom from shoot ing him. The bed covers were over him except on his shoulders There was a pistol under the mattress, but I am sure he never had 1t out About two weeks before I told Tom that If he would not have anything more to do with Doyle there would be no more trouble"
 Mrs. Flannelly said that Tom had always been dutiful and obedient up to the time of the sad occurrence and had never done anything to give pain to his parents. Tom had always been a hard working boy. He worked six years on the ranch, and before that had been for many years in the employ of the Spring Valley Water Company in San Francisco. Besides furnishing the fam fly with milk Tom paid the insurance and taxes on the dairy property. She said she had not seen her son since the night of the crime. She said that in conversation with Tom weeks before her husband had told Tom that he did not want Doyle to remain on any of his property, and her son promised to get rid of Doyle as soon as he could get some one to take his place.
 pr. w. M. Barrett of Redwood City testified to Patrick Flannelly's wounds.