Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05
WIDOW OF SLAIN
MAN WILL SUE
OFFICERS OF S. P. C. A. ARE
DEFENDANTS
They VIII BE Asked to Pay $4,000
Damages as Result of Killing
During Raid on
Cock Fight

AS an aftermath of the famous Car
penter-Frey shooting which occurred il
connection with cock fight in the rive
bed near Hunters ranch more than two
years ago, attorneys representing Mrs
Frey, the widow, will appear in court
Tuesday l-orning / and commence trial
of a $4,000 damage suit instituted by
the woman against the officers of the
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals.
The case has been one of the most
famous in the history of the southern
courts and it is thought that the trial
of the damage suit will be its last
chapter.
C. D. Fro, wealthy property owner
of the east side, was shot and killed by
C. f. Carpenter, an officer of the So
cety for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, while Frey was attempting to
escape from the grounds following a
raid on a cock fight,
Shooting Follows Raid
For weeks sporting men of Los An
geles had been holding the cock fights
in the river bed on Hunters ranch, near
T2opico. On Sunday afternoon of May
l, 1904, Officer N. W. thinner of the
SC~Ah
With his officers he surrounded the
place and thel sent for Carpenter and
a man named Drumgold to precipitate
the raid by driving up in a buggy.
At the approach of the buggy, the
lookouts fired several shots in the air
and the spectators and gamblers made
a mad dash for freedom, leaving coats,
collars, hats and neckties behind. Many
of item failed to reach their automo-
miles and carriages in their mad dash
for safety.
Frey leaped to his feet as the officers
closed in on the cock pit and then he
started toward his buggy. Carpenter
touched him on the shoulder and told
him he was under arrest but Frey
broke away and dashed for the buggy
He succeeded in getting into the rig
and away when Carpenter drew a re-
volver and fired. Frey drove short
distance further then pitched forward
in the rig and began to moan. Some
of his friends came to his assistance
and started to drive to Los Angeles
with him but Frey died on the way.
It was afterward learned the bullet
had pierced the back of the buggy and
had passed through Frey's left lung.
Carpenter Convicted
AS the first step in the case Carpen-
ter was arrested on muIuer cnarSe.
1t was held that the offense had been
too light to warrant the shooting. Car
penter contended that he had not shot
at rey but that he had fired in the
air and the bullet had glanced from
tree and hit the flying spectator.
The jury, however, found Carpenter
guilty and he was sentenced to five
years Imprisonment in San Quentin
where he is now serving
out his time.
Frey had been married only short
time and his widow was active in
the case. Following the
proceedings she filed suit for
$4,000 damages against Carpenters
and against NJ w thinner,
officer of the local society for the pre-
vention of cruelty to animals.
Last week attorneys representing
both parties to the suit were kept busily
in looking up the old evidence
In the criminal proceedings, and when
the case is called Tuesday morning
there will be the same old fight TO be
fought over again, It is understood the
civil case will be as bitterly contested
as was the trial OF Carpenter.