Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-05
STAINED
SHIRT OF DEAD
MAN EXHIBITED
YOUTH ON TRIAL FOR MURDER
UNAFFECTED
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES
BEGINS
Autopsy Physician Testifies That Body
of Thayer Was Tattooed with
Initials of MitchelPs
Sister

The blood-stained clothing of Cecil
C. Thayer, for whose death William G.
Mitchell is now on trial in Judge Willis
court, was brought into court yester-
day. mute evidence of the tragedy of
New Years night. Mitchell regarded
the garments intently, but without evil
dence of feeling.
Throughout the forenoon session, dur
ing the examination of DR.. George W.
Campbell, autopsy physician, Thayer
shirt, except when it was being in
spected by the witness and the jury,
hung on the back of a chair in front
of the judges bench, the three blood
trimmed marks where the bullets from
Mitchells revolver penetrated plainly
visible to all in the court room.
That the first bullet entered Thayers
left chest while he faced Mitchell is
expected to be made the most of by his
attorneys as showing that the deed of
the accused man was not that of a
coward. Added to this, his counsel will
lay special stress on the fact that
Thayer's upper and lower limbs were
plentifully tattooed with marks indi-
eating his state of mind toward Mitch
ellis sister, Ethel Mitchell, on whose
account the killing occurred.
Jury Completed
The jury to try Mitchell was COM
pleted at IL o'clock yesterday as fol-
lows
George E. Anderson, Covina; r. S.
Bundy, 1426 East Fiftieth street;
Charles Boynton, South Pasadena; j.
e. Stone, Artesia; Charles NJ. Thaxter,
Florence; w. S. Magee, Inglewood; j.
T. Bangham, Long Beach; Albert N.
Clark, Graham avenue; j. r. Cooke,
101Q South Homo Gtroat- Tnhn O.
worth, Whittier; H. c. Hayes, 1343
East Twenty-first street, and J. O..
Houser. Covina.
DR.. George w. Campbell, autopsy
physician, was the first witness called
by John North, in charge of the prose-
cution.
Upon examination of Thayer's body
he said he found three bullet wounds.
The first bullet entered the left breast,
cut the apex Of the left ventricle of
the heart and passed through the liver
and stomach. The second was in the
left arm and was found under the
skin at the back of the arm. The third
bullet was in the back, near the Shout
der. The bullets, which had been ex-
tracted by DR.. Campbell, were identi-
fed and the witness, taking up the
clothing worn by Thayer when he was
shot, indicated to the jury the points
where the missiles penetrated.
Thayer's Father Testifes
Regarding the tattoo marks found
on Thayer's body, DR.. Campbell said
they included the nude figure of a
woman in close proximity to the mi
tails ''E. M" and "E. e. NJ" a heart
pierced by an arrow and an linked
representation of the devil sitting on
toadstool.
on account Of the slow progress of
III 4Iof 10
ton could not hope to finish its side
yesterday, Judge Willis excused all
witnesses for the defense at o'clock
until 10 o'clock today.
Thayers Father Testifes
The first witness at the afternoon
session was Clarence c. Thayer, father
principally to the movements of his son
for several years, and he was closely
examined by Grove Walter of Mitchell S
counsel with reference to the tattoo
marks on the body.
Cecil, he said, was born in Marion
county, Kas., where he lived until three
or four years ago, when the family
moved to Arkansas, and year and
three months ago to Los Angeles. His
first employment in Los Angeles was as
q messenger during strike and later
he was engaged as a lawn builder,
did you ever see any tattoo marks
on his body?" asked Attorney Walter.
Eyes, l saw lettering and two hearts.
They were on his arm, and when l
asked him about them he laughed the
matter off,
Persistent questioning failed to prove
that Mr.. Thayer knew anything more
regarding the marks.
Mitchell Calm After Murder
A diagram of the vicinity wher the
shooting took place and the surround
ing territory, prepared by Clarence j.
Schultz, a draughtsman, was fastened
to the wall near the jury box and was
used to aid the next witness, John A.
w. Stelsread, the policeman who ar
rested Mitchell, in calculating his tes-
timony Stelsread said he was on a
Cummings street car when he heard
the shots fired and someone calling
'murderi"
GAS 1 left the car and ran to the
place from whence the sounds came
saw Mitchell and ordered him to throw
up his hands," said the policeman. HE
did so, at the same time crying out,
TIN the man who did it,
Stelsread said Mitchell was not ex-
cited in the least and while they waited
for a car calmly smoked a cigarette.
John e. Housefelter 1922 East Fourth
street. near where the shooting oc-
Cured, said he found MitchelPs revoi-
yer and turned it over to the officer.
The trial will be resumed at 10 O'Clock
today, and from present indications
will extend somewhat beyond the five
DAYS set apart by Judge Willis.
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