Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-14
YOUNG PRISONER SAYS He WAS
coERcED BY MEsKlL
WIFE TEsTIFIEs THAT CHILD is
HER OWN
Evidence All Taken in Trial of Man
Charged with Completely in the
Killing of Patrick II.
Lyons

today, which Will proDaDly occupy tue
greater part of the session in Judge b. N
Smiths department of the superior court
the case will go to the jury.
Robe himself took the stand yesterday
closely following his young wife, both OF
whom were subjected to a severe cross
examination by District Attorney Fred
erlcks, the former giving detailed &C
count of his movements on the night OF
the killing of Lyons, while Mrs. Robe
testified regarding the little 1S-months-
old child who played about the court
room at the feet of its mother while she
sat in the witness chair, adding her mite
to the testimony in favor of the young
husband and father
AS on previous days of the trial the
courtroom was crowded to its utmost
capacity, many of the spectators being
women. The belief that the prisoner
would AXE the stand in his own behalf
spread during the noon hour and an hour
before the commencement of the after
noon session found a large gathering at
the locked door of the courtroom. When
the door was opened the people rushed
in, quickly filling every seat and crowd
ing the rear and both sides Of the
chamber.
Robes Testimony a Feature
Robes testimony was, of course. the
feature of the proceedings. His replies
were brief and to the point and he told
"a well-connected story regarding his
mountaineering with Daniel F. Meskil
and his subsequent movements on the
night of the shooting. 1t was brought
out that Robe is subject to attacks OF
epilepsy, and the prisoner declared he
had an attack of this kind following the
robbery of the winery on Central avenue.
Testimony to show that persons suffer-
/ E.,,r lit ra ci1htaOf 70
lapses of memory and lack will power
was also introduced.
The first witness of the day was Ernest
| Garleman, whose grocery store Meskil
and Robe failed to hold up and rob prior
to the robbery of Grosser's winery. Garle-
man said Robe had worked for him from
October % to Is, had been paid and left
his employ without saying word He
had telephoned Robes wife inquiring
about her husband, but was told he was
not at home. Garleman said he knew
Robe by the hat worn that night, and
a hat was shown him which the witness
identified as being the one he saw on
Robes head. He also identified a coat
said to have been worn by the prisoner
that night anu both articles were placed
in evidence.
In reply to the question of a juror
| Garleman said he had told Officer Bowe
the night Of the robbery where Robe
| lived, 772 HemloclS street. and that Robe
! had been found near that place.
On cross-examination Garleman swore
positively that the hat and coat shown
him were those worn by Robe but this
statement was refuted by Robe later.
Men Arouse Suspicion
Earl Burrell. who lives at 906la San
Pedro street, was the second witness.
| II ii rf4 of OF n
two men on the night of the attempted
robbery of Garleman's store. The men's
movements, he said, aroused the suspi-
cions of Garleman, by whom Burrell was
employed at that time. Burrell ridiculed
this and started out to investigate.
AS he got outside the door, he said.
someone told him to hold up his hands,
/ placing a revolver near his face. The
strangers hat and mask fell Off and
were held in his left hand, while the re-
volver was held in the right. He had
seen Meskil since then but did not believe
he was The man. The door of the store
had been locked in the meantime and the
men could not enter
Burrell declared the man resembled the
defendant, but he could not identify him
positively as the man stopped. Robe here
stood up of his own volition and the wit
ness again said he could not positively
identify him as the holdup man.
Frank Flower, 1902 Central avenue. a
machinist, told of finding revolver on
| Central avenue the night of the shoot
ing, taking 1t home and how his mother
turned 1t over to the police the follow
ing day. This is the weapon Robe says
! he lost at the time of the accident
when he and Meskil were running
away from lie Garleman store
Officer j. D. Hurt identified the can
vas sack taken from Robe the night Of
the shooting, and Detective Roberts
identified the hat and coat said to have
been worn by Robe at that time. w. Il.
Woods, a deputy sheriff. also identified
the coat as the one worn by Robe when
he was taken to the county Jail.
Tells Of, Runaway
Patrolman r. Alvarado told of the
dash of the two men in a buggy the
night of the attempted robbery. He
said he tried to stop the horse, but
| failed. The accident occurred a short
distance from where he stood, and
when he reached the place he found a
grip, two coats, hat and box of So
caliber cartridges.
The defense asked for a recess to
await the arrival of another witness
| but this was objected to, and pending
the arrival of the witness Attorney Ar
thur l.. Veitch of counsel for the de-
PENDANT made a statement to the jury
THE defendant" he said, became
connected with Meskil only so far as
the robbery of Garleman's store was
concerned. When that failed the con-
spiracy ended. Any further acts of the
defendant on that night were done be-
cause he feared his life was in danger
Mrs. M. M. Walker, who runs an
apartment house at S4S Central avenue
/ was the first witness for the defense
She said Robe and his wife engaged
apartments from her in September
1906, remaining there some weeks
/ Shortly after their arrival Robe was
attacked with fit and was thrown in
! to commissions. He placed his hands
over his heart she said and tore his
| clothing. A doctor was sent for, and
when she left the room he was
sleeping.
On ross-examination Mrs. Wakes
said Robe and his wife were alone
/ when they came to her house, but latei
a baby was brought to their apartment
| the same she said that was running
about the court room.
Does Not Quiz Roomers
"Where had Robe been rooming?'
asked Mr.. Fredericks.
'T don't know" said the witness.
! Didn't he tell your"
'Rolla Robe tell mel Why, no.! sh'
| exclaimed. 81 don't quiz my roomers.'
She said the Robes always had monel
and paid their rent regularly.
| Mrs. Robe was called to the stand
i She testified that following her mar
riage she and her husband went to Sar