The San Francisco call., 1904-03-04
FIELDS TRIAL
NEARS An END
Prosecution Puts in All Of
Ifs Testimony and Accused
Is Placed on the Stand
DENIES INTENT TO KILL
Anticipated That Defendant
viii Know His Fate Before
the Dawn of Another Day


- trial Of Joseph Field, charged with the
murder OF his father-in-law. Fritz
Dirking. it is anticipated that the de-
fcndant win know his fate before the
- dawn Of another day. The prosecution
= closed its case shortly before noon yes
. terday after placing before the jury
much damaging testimony relative to
threats against the Dirking family
made by Field for months prior to the
homicide
Before the noon adjournment Attor-
ney Afford made the opening statement
3. for the defense ana furnished the only
genuine surprise Of the day-in his
declaration that the defense would en-
deavor TO prove that Dirking came to
ms death as the result of the acci
dental discharge Of FIELDS pistol during
a scufie over its possession.
Field was placed on the stand as the
last witness of the day and narrated
his version of the events of the night
OF the tragedy. His testimony bore out
the statement made by his counsel
earlier in the day. Upon cross-exam-
inatiOn District Attorney Byington
tangled Field in many of the material
portions Of his testimony. and accord
ing TO the defendant the majority Of
the witnesses for the prosecution COM
mitted perjury.
DR.. L. d. Bacigalupi was the first wit
ness called by the prosecution and tes-
titled 10 an autopsy performed by him
on the body Of Dirking and the cause
Of death. He was followed by officer
Edward Stanton, who told of arresting
Field and subsequently taking him to
St Lukes Hospital.
Walter NJ Kelly. a sOn-in-law of Mrs.
Dirking. gave an account Of finding the
r. jimmy in Mrs. FIELDS room after the
shooting and the discovery of a HANDFUL
Of cartridges in the gutter in front of
: the house. Sergeant Blank described
=: the cartridges as of thirty-two caliber
and such as used in the gun carried by
Field.
Mrs. Sarah Taylor Of 242O Geary
street said that she had known Field
for more than two years, and that on
Nay j. 1903. he told her that he was
going out that evening after duty 10 kill
the whole Dirking family. He also
showed her q purse filed with cartridges
Mrs. Dora Quarles Of 25SS Geary
street stated that she had known Tie
defendant for four years, and that he
resided in her house with his wife for
two weeks last August. That on Sep
te1nber J. 1898, when Mrs. Field, Mrs.
shea and herself were present, Field
said that before he would pay his wife
a cent ne would kill her and the whole
family" Mrs Gertrude Shea Of 265
O'Farrel street corrOborated the testi-
mony Of the preceding witness
William J. Hayes. attorney for Mrs.
Field in her divorce suit, testified that
on the afternoon Of November 2 he
- called 10 see Field at his mothers house,
SOB Larkin street, TO serve an order TO
pay counsel fees and alimony pending
-. the hearing Of the divorce trial AS the
witness was about TO depart Field called
him and said. 4 am going out to see
that child tonight. and if 1 don't there
viii be a rough house. If her mother
objects I'll hit her a clout in the eye,
too"
District Attorney Byington here Of
fered TO show by Mrs. Quarles and
Mrs. Dirldng that Field had abused
his wife, but Judge Dunno sustained
tho objection made by Attorney Afford.
The prosecution rested. Attorney AL
ford made his opening statement, and
an adjournment was taken until
O'Clock.
Herbert Choyonski, an attorney, was
the first witness for the defense. He
told Of having advised Field that he
could see his child. but that arrange
ments should be left TO him. Upon
cross-eKamination Byington asked if he
advised his client 10 take an iron bar
and pistol along when he went to see
his child or TO kick in the door Of the
Dirking house.
After Mrs. Fred McGlade Of 9O3 Lar
kin street had been placed on the stand
to contradict the testimony of Attor-
ney Hayes, Attorney Afford placed the
=. defendant on the stand. After several
preliminary questions he denied that
p. he hSc made any threats against the
Dirhngs 10 Mrs. Taylor, but admitted
showing her the cartridges ''in josh"
Attorney Hayes testimony was also de-
MED by Field. In substance his testi-
% mOny relative TO the shooting was as
follows:
On November 2 he telephoned to his
wife and told her he was coming out
after supper TO see the baby. He did
not have a policeman's club or iron
bar IN his possession. Upon arriving
at the house he went to the back door
and knocked. His wife told him to
90 to the front door He found the
front door open and Mrs Dirking was
standing near the parlor door, calling
= TO his wife TO bring the baby Upon
seeing him she was much excited and
said, There is the murderer Some
what bewildered. he turned and saw
Fritz Dirking advancing with a large
bread knife in his hand, who exclaimed
IN fix you If you are a policeman -
Fritz made a lunge at him with the
knife and Field grabbed his wrist, at
the same time trying 20 pull him out
side so as 10 be able TO get away.
Mrs. Dirking then came up and tried
10 hit him with the iron bar and young
Dirldng approached with a pistol. Mrs.
Dirking struck al him and hit her hus-
band on the head. Stunned by the