Amador ledger., 1902-11-28
CASE OF OWEN FALLON.
On Trial for the Murder of Raymond
Meehan.


The trial of Owen Fallon, charged
with the murder of Raymond F.
Meehan on the morning of the 18th of
lAugust last, was commenced in the
superior court on Tuesday morning.
The prosecution was represented by
district attorney c. P. Vicini, and de-
fendant by w. J. McGee. Sixty trial
jurors had been summoned to appear.
out of which to select a jury. 1t was
expected from the nature of the case,
and the publicity that had been given
to it, that some difficulty would be en-
countered in getting twelve unbiased
men, without an opinion touching the
guilt or innocence of the accused to try
for cause, having formed an opinion
that could not be changed. A full
jury, however, was secured early Tues
day afternoon, with two names to spare
in the box. The jurors sworn to try
the case are as follows:
M. Fitzsimmons, j. Fl. Williams, L.
G. McClary, Claude Wilson, T. G.
Showers, w. 81. Sharp, H. W. Neff,
M. S. Carbine, w. Clifton. j. A. Sohn,
j. Andrews, R. Downey.
Charles Gregory and Frank Burgin,
who were the only witnesses of the
shooting, which took place in the Gem
saloon on Main street, Jackson, kept
by the last named witness, early on the
morning of August II. Their testi-
mOny was to the effect that while Greg
ory and Meehan were standing at the
bar, the latter engaged in eating dish
of beans, Owen Fallon entered the front
door, walked through the bar room,
and passed into the card room in the
rear. He said nothing, aud after look
ing into the card room, passed out in to
the street. In a short time he reap
peared. Deceased and Gregory were
still standing before the bar, and Bur-
gin attending to his business behind
the bar. Fallon took position at first
nearest the street, with Gregory be-
tween him and Meehau He afterward
changed his position aud got next to
deceased, and then said, ''Meehan are
you healed; [ am going to kill you, Or
you will kill me-" Gregory attempted
to pacify Fallon, who, however, showed
no outward signs of excitement. Fallon
seized Gregory and swung him around
through the swinging doors that sep
arated the bar from the card room. and
immediately drew his pistol and COM
menced shooting. The first shot took
effect in the wall close to the door cas-
ing; the second went through the glass
pane in the front door. After the
second shot Meehan aud FallOu grap-
pied, and in the struggle that ensued,
both went to the floor close to the bar.
Two or three more shots were fired as
the men were on the floor. When the
chambers were all exploded, young
Gregory and Burgin went around and
got the pistol from Fallon. Fallon got
up and treated those in the saloon, ten
or twelve in number. Nightwatchman
Parker came in and took defendant in
custody. Deceased was not heard to
say word during the struggle and
shooting.
Drs. E. E. Endicott and A. M. Gall
were called, and testified that they at
tended the deceased from the shooting
until he died on the 18th of Septem ber.
DR.. Endicott was called to attend him
first at Arditto's saloon, where he was
taken Immediately after the shooting
by Henry Schacht and others. He
examined him and found him suffering
from the shock, and from two gunshot
wounds over the left shoulder, and two
in the left forearm. The wounds were
powder marked, except one in the fore
arm, which seemed to be an exit
wound. The two doctors named held
an autopsy on the body on Sept Is, and
found that both wounds in the shoulder
passed through shoulder blade, and
entered the chest cavity; one entered
the left lung Death was caused by
injury to the lung caused by gunshot
wound.
L. N. Martell testified that he was at
his home at Martell's station on the
morning of the 18th. After l2 o'clock
defendant came there and inquired for
his wife, and when she came. asked to
see his child. She told him he was
asleep. Defendant asked if she had
given him up for Ray Meehan. She
began to cry. Defendant then said,
"That settles it; either he or l will
have to die. -
The pistol was introduced, and it
was admitted to be the weapon with
which the shooting was done.
On Wednesday morning the prosecu-
tion closed their case, after placing one
witness on the stand, to testify on
minor point.
W. j. McGee then made an opening
statement for the defense, detailing
that he expected to prove how the
home of the defendant had been in
vaded by deceased, and the accused
had been thereby wrought to such a
condition of mental anguish that he
took the life of Meehan while in state
of temporary insanity.