Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-08

near Seventh street and Central avenue"
said Connolly IT went into the room,
where ] saw five or six persons at
small table playing checkers. One man
sat with his right hand on his knee and
the left hand in his pocket He was
watching the game and his back was
toward me.
IT couldn't see him very well and I
walked around in front Of him. Then L
came over to where he was sitting and
punched him on the shoulder and told
him l wanted to see his left hand,
1t will be remembered that the index
finger of Meskils left hand is missing,
II having been amputated at the Elmer
gency hospital shortly after he reached
Los Angeles the operation following an
accident resulting from the accidental
discharge of a revolver in his room.
MeskPs Fateful Mark
It was this telltale myrk which led to
his capture and which had caused the
arrest Of George Lauman two days prior
to the arrest of Meskil, Lauman, how
ever, being minus two fingers instead OF
one.
AS Connolly made his demand, he said,
Meskil turned and exclaimed:
1.-THE HI you want to see my left
hand" getting up from his chair as he
spoke
"Then he struck me-" said Connolly,
"and 1 struck him. He hit me again and
I staggered back. He then drew his
revolver and I grabbed it by the barrel l."
The weapon said to have been used by
Meskil was given to the witness In order
that he might illustrate what took place.
LAS he turned the weapon toward me,
continued Connolly, Il ran my hand
down the barrel and placed my finger
behind the trigger. Meskil pulled the
trigger a half-dozen times, but with no
effect, as my finger prevented dis
charge
1--WE wrestled about for some time and
fell to the floor, rolling over until we
were near the wall Just then man
entered the side door and, taking pool
ball, struck Meskl on the head"
AS Meskils hold was released, said
Connolly, he cried out: XIII me, you
-; kill me! I would have killed
you"
Wanted to XIII Connolly
Someone" said Connolly, ''came in the
side door and asked, Who is this?'
said 1t was the man who had killed
Officer Lyons, and Meskil said: Yes, and
l would have killed you. too, If it had
not been for the guy with the pool BALI"
Connolly said he then rang for the
patrol wagon and. before the prisoner
had reached the police station, he de-
clared, Meskil made the statement at
least half-dozen times that he would
have killed Connolly as he had Lyons.
While Connolly was testifying Meskil
assumed a more comfortable position. He
tilted back his chair, placed his hands
behind his head, and regarded the wit
ness with apparent unconcern. sometimes
smiling as the Irishmans rich brogue be-
in
ness.
Detective A. R. Rich identified a re-
volver said to have been used by Meskil
on the night of the shooting. He also
told of the examination of the prisoner
in the office of Captain Paul Flammer,
chief of detectives, on the afternoon of
December 3. Meskil he said. told the
detectives where he roomed, and the room
was later searched and suit case con-
tanning cap, mask overals and blouse |
was found.
The noon recess was taken at this time, |
but a number of persons remained in |
their seats which they occupied during |
the next two hours, in order to forestall |
any action the court might take in clear
ing the room of the expected afternoon |
throng.
Crowds Watch tor Prisoner
side of the courthouse were lined on
either side by a large number of men
and women waiting to catch a glimpse
of the prisoner as he made his way from
the county Jail to the courtroom. A
large gathering was also collected in the
lower corridor through which the pris-
oners pass on their way to the elevator.
The crowd in the courtroom at clock
was as great as that in the morning,
and the doorkeeper found 1t necessary,
at least half an hour before the begin
ming of the afternoon session, to refuse
admittance to scores of curious persons.
Captain of Police w. II. Auble was the
first witness of the afternoon. He told
Of the examination Of Meskil in Captain
Planners office on December 3, the day
Of Meskil's capture, and of the state
ments made at that time by both Meskil
and Robe.
Robe he said. had met Meskil, or
as he was then known, in the
Arizona pool room on Main street, the
previous Saturday. They went to China
town together where they played the
lottery. Later they went to a sporting