Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-13


: Clarence C. Smith, Los Angeles. I:
!. Albert Phelps, Los Angeles. +
Z John r. HadseIman, Compton. I.
i James Quill Downey. \
s+s.*.** !. !. * ). 4 !. x !: ! =,
At four o'clock yesterday afternoon
the twelve men who will try Morris
Buck accused of the murder of Mrs.
Cloe Garfield, were agreed upon by at
torneys for the defense and prosecution
and half an hour later the first witness
in the case, H. T. Duff, banker, was
called to the stand.
The case came up for trial early yes
terday morning and Attorney A. D..
Warner entered petition for post
ponement of the trial for ninety days.
He based his request upon the fact
that the sheriff had been unable to
subpoena William Buck, brother of the
accused, who was wanted as the star
witness for the defense.
I'VE think that William Buck, the
brother, and Earl Buck, his son, whom
we intended to have as chief wit
nesses for Morris Buck, have left Los
Angeles in order to escape being COM
PEELED to testify at this trial and we
ask for a continuance chiefly on that
account" said Attorney Warner.
For a second cause we assert that
although Buck has been examined by
nineteen physicians of Los Angeles,
none of them will give expert opinion
in his case because they know that
their standings both in the social and
medical world would be hurt should
they come to the defense of this man.
This man is a pauper and his habits
have been known to the police, while
Mrs. Garfield was a society leader and
well beloved by all, therefore l do not
think l can get a fair show for this
man from local physicians and I want
time to secure a deposition from DR..
Jones of Michigan" -,
District Attorney Fredericks for the
prosecution asked time to prepare an
answer and court adjourned.
Aises Were Crowded
When Buck was brought into the
court room the aisles were so crowded
that standing room wat at a premium.
Spectators crowded to the rail and
Judge Smith ordered the sheriff to
clear the aisles and put guard at
the door. Deputy Frank Cochran was
stationed as guard and visitors were
turned away throughout the day.
Buck looked like a different person
from the trembling, hysterical man
captured by Special officer Foster fol-
lowing the killing of Mrs. Garfield.
At that time his clothes were
slouchy and filthy and his hair un-
kempt. A three days growth of black
whiskers on his lean, sallow- face did
not enhance his beauty and even the
TRUSTEES of the Jail Stunned him.
Yesterday he was dressed in a neat
suit of dark pattern, a white and blue
shirt with gold sleeve links, white
batwing collar and a gray four-in- hand
tie. Black shoes and soft black hat
completed the costume. Since his in
carceration in the county Jail Buck has
gained twenty pounds, and before he
appeared in court the Jail barber cut
his hair and shaved and ma ssaged his
face so that he had all the appear
ances of some wealthy young man.
Buck was taken to a chair beside his
attorney and he sat down and stared
at the floor. Not once during the day
did he raise his eyes from the carpet
and he showed not the slightest inter-
est in the testimony or the character
of the examination.
Declares Brother Is Here
Shortly before noon District Attorney
FrederickS returned an answer to the
petition for postponement by two affi-
davits sworn to by L. F. Koch, a
South Main street cigar dealer and
George Longfellow, the office detec-
tive. Both men declared that William
Buck was in the city, but that he had
said he could do his brother no good
by testifying in his behalf. The an
swer further stated that if the ply
sician who had attended Buck would
not make a statement regarding his
insanity 1t was because they did not
think Buck was insane.
Judge Smith ordered the trial to
proceed and the first list of jurors
was called before noon.
The entire afternoon was spent in
challenging the jury and the twelve
men were not selected until o'clock.
The jury is composed of six elderly
men and six slightly under the prime
of life, but there are no young men
among them
Details of Tragedy
H. T. Duff, banker, was the first
witness called for the prosecution.
II had alighted from a car at Eighth
street and was about to walk north on
Alvarado," said Duff. 81 had reached
point about six feet past the corner
OF the Garfield lot when | heard a wo-
man say in loud voice, oh, put that
down She said it three times and
as looked / saw Mrs. Garfield stand
ing on the porch of her residence with
ner Dack 10 Jne uOOr Buck was stand
ing in front of her and had a small re-
volver in his hand. but he held the
weapon without pointing it and did not
seem to make any effort to point it.
He fired without ever saying a word
and the gun was so near Mrs. Can
field that the sheet of flame singed
her clothing.
"She screamed as she fell forward
and clutched toward the revolver.
Then the man raised the weapon be-
yond her grasp and pointed it at her
breast and fired. She fell backward
to the floor without even a cry.
For moment the murderer looked
at her and then he bent over the body
and pointed the revolver first at her
feet and then moved it slowly along
until he pointed it at her head, but
there was not even a quiver in the
body and he murmered I told her so,
1 told her.
Threatened to Commit Suicide
"Then he Strengthened and turned
with the revolver toward me and ]