The San Francisco call., 1899-12-05
WILLIE WALSH
ACCUSES FRENNA
IN OPEN COURT
Declares He Saw Him
Draw a Pistol.
HEARD A THREAT TO KILL
SENSATIONAL TESTIMONY IN
THE MURDER TRIAL.
HEARD A THREAT TO KILL

The specter Of a gibbet haunted the
shadows OF Judge Carroll Cooks court
room yesterday during the trial OF Joseph
+. Frenna for the murder Of James F.
Turner II was a trying day for the val
liant barber who is endeavoring to convince
a jury OF intelligent men that although
he was insane at the time he got behind
Turner and filed him full OF lead he
was acting In self-defense Frenna's at
torneys have already INDUCED in some
extraordinary gymnastics in their efforts
TO save their clients neck by setting up
this joint plea Of temporary insanity and
self-defense, so that nothing they may
advance in the future should occasion
great surprise
Willie Walsh. the much-sought messen-
ger-boy, whose evidence is expected 10
tighten me moose around the neck OF Tur-
ner's slayer, was the first witness to take
the stand in the morning, and his testi-
mony on direct examination was OF a SEN
tonal character. but hardly less so than
the facts brought out on cross-examina-
uon, when the efforts of the attorneys for
the accused in attempting 10 show that
he had made conflicting statements re-
Garding what he saw and heard on the
iatetul morning OF the 18th of August
on the third floor Of the Crocker building
only resulted In creating a suspicion OF a
Job to coerce a Witness.
BernAT-
dino looks not unlike hundreds OF other
boys OF the same age, who are neither
specially good nor particularly bad He
gave his age as IL. and his manner while
on the stand created rather a favorable
impression. He told his story clearly and
unhesitatingly, and there was no trace Of
studied preparation. He had heard little
that had a direct bearing on the tragedy
and had seen but little, but what he did
see and hear was very DAMAGING to Fren-
mas cause, and was told with q can
dor and positiveness that We're very con-
Vincing.
The boys recital. barring one or two
interruptions by counsel, was listened 10
with breathless interest by every one in
the courtroom In response TO Questions
by District Attorney Murphy. Walsh said
that on the day Of the shooting he was in
the employ OF the Western Union and
American District Telegraph companies
About a. N. he was called TO the ninth
floor Of the Crocker building, and after
completing his business there he started
10 walk down the stairs Just before he
reached the third floor he heard the voices
OF men wrangling.
What else did you hear?" asked Dis
trict Attorney Murphy.
II heard somebody say. You -"
II was about six steps from the foot Of
the stairs at that time and could not see
the men. When / got TO the foot of the
stairs / saw a man with light overcoat
where was that man standing when
you saw him pull a pistol?'
He was standing near the corner OF the
corridor where you turn to go down onto
the second floor"
Did you see anybody else?'
mo, sir"
''Well. you saw the man draw the pistol
From what pocket did he draw it?"
II can't exactly say"
In what direction did he point it?'
Toward the north elevator"
well, then what did you do?'
When he pointed the pistol I turned
and ran upstairs. don't know exactly
what floor IL was. i was three or four
steps from the fourth floor when | heard
the first shot fred
9" Did you come downstairs again after
the shots were firedT'
Yes, sir. j came down in the elevator
There was quite a crowd on the third
floor when / got there"
"Who is the man with the light over
coat on, whom you saw draw the pistol?'
asked the District Attorney. rs ne here
in the courtroom"
"rt seems 10 me that Is the man sitting
over there" pointing toward Frenna
Kindly ask Mr.. Frenna to stand up"
said the District Attorney. addressing At
torney Barnes. AS the barber arose to
"Is that the man?"
'Yes, sir. That's the man"
This concluded the direct examination
OF the witness, and he was turned over
20 the tender mercies Of Attorney Hos
mer for cross-examination. After a few
preliminary questions, the latter asked: