The San Francisco call., 1899-11-25
FRENNA SWORE
He WOULD KILL
J. F. TURNER
Witnesses Testify to
Hearing Threats.

Four witnesses went on the stand in
Judge Carroll Cooks court yesterday and
swore that they heard Joseph p. Frenna
threaten 10 kill James +. Turner The
threat was alleged TO have been made on
two occasions. once about two weeks be-
fore the assassination of Turner and once
a few days preceding the tragedy in the
Crocker building. The testimony OF these
four men was clear and positive, with no
trace OF ambiguity, and the frantic at
tempts Of counsel for the accused mur-
derer TO confuse the witnesses and get
them TO admit that they might have been
mistaken or that Frenna might have been
joking when he voiced his cowardly in
tention only resulted I'm their own dis
comfiture. All these witnesses are con-
nected with Rauer's law and collection
agency, and the first 10 take the stand
was Harry Morris. Morris testified that
Frenna came into Rauer's Office about
two weeks before Turner was killed.
Did you hear him say anything at that
time in regard to Turner" asked Attor-
ney Cannon, who is assisting the prose-
cution.
Il did" was the answer.
State what he said"
HE said The has robbed me
He has ruined me and I'll kill him."
Morris said Frenna was conversing
with Cashier Graf at the time. They
were standing at the other side of the
room, but Frenna shouted out his threat
so loud that II was impossible for witness
not 10 hear him. On crOss-eXaminatiOn
Morris said he knew Frenna referred to
Turner because Turner was the subject
OF the conversation.
j. j. Rauer was the next witness. and
he told OF visit Frenna made to his
office about the 24th of August, a few
days before the murder on that occa-
sion he was accompanied by a friend. and
Mr.. Graf and Ernest Nelson, a clerk in
the office, were also present. At that time
he reiterated the threat TO take Turner s
life made on the occasion of his former
visit. only varying his language The
threat as heard by Rauer was:
Turner Is liar thief and a -,
and he ought to be In San Quentin and
you know II. and I'll kill him."
Attorney Hosmer attempted 10 show
that Rauer was interested in securing the
conviction OF Frenna. but met with an
emphatic If somewhat inelegant denial
Turner was no friend OF mine" de-
clared the witness, and / have known
Frenna for years. II l were not sub
penaed / would not be here"
Ernest c. Nelson. who followed his
employer on the stand. said he was sit
ting within three feet of Frenna when the
latter made the threat quoted by Rauer
and heard him distinctly.
"You are sure you could not have been
mistaken" said Mr.. Hosmer, question
ingly.
II am positive 1 could not" was the
ready answer.
us 1t not a fact that on a certain oc-
casion when you were In the office OF DR.
Cool on Kearny street you admitted that
you might have been mistaken when you
said Frenna threatened TO kill Turner"
''It Is not. / went TO DIR. Cools office on
business. but as the doctor was busy I
had TO wait In his reception room. While
there I was addressed by that man over
there (pointing to l.. s. Megginson. sit
ting by the side of Frenna), who brought
up the subject of Turner's dealings with
Erenna"
He said Megginson tried to get him to
admit that he might have been mistaken.
but he had declared that he could not
possibly be mistaken In this instance.
Hosmer dropped Nelson and District
Attorney Murphy in n loud aside said. II
guess he wished he had left that boy
alone"
r.. j. Graf. Rauer's son-in-law and
cashier. VINO was present on both occa-
sions. corroborated the other witnesses
I'm every detail
The next important feature Of the days
proceedings was the testimony Of the
widow ana brother OF the murdered man.
corroborated by that of half a dozen
other witnesses. to the effect that Turner
had n habit when walking or standing OF
placing his right hand behind his back.
Mr.. Murphy explained to the court that
he expected to show that because OF this
habit one of the bullets from the muir
derer's revolver, although he was shot
from behind. passed through his hand
and the roll of parchment he held. The
court then overruled the objections.
In the morning w. A. Gastenberg and
F. w. Blumb. the two men who turned the
body over on it's back. testified, but aside
from the fact mentioned their testimony
was immaterial.
detective Dillon was put on the stand
and testified that although he lad
searched everywhere for Willie Walsh
the messenger boy who is supposed to
have been ore OF the first at the scene
OF the tragedy, II not an actual witness
of the shooting. he had been unable to
find any trace OF him.
Before adjournment District Attorney
Murphy announced that he would have