Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-25
.FIGUEROA HELD ON
AUNT'S TESTIMONY
Santa Monica Woman Declares
She Was Witness to Shoot
ing of GirI-Wife
EVIDENCE is QUITE DAMAGING
Accused Sits Near Relative and
Listens with SuIIen Inter-
est to Recital

SANTA MONICA, May 24.-By giving
graphic description OF the tragedy whereby
Mrs. George Figueroa lost her life Sunday
night Mrs. Eloysia sammann. at the coro-
ner's inquest today, wove such a thick net
of evidence around George Figueroa. hus-
band of the dead woman, that the jury was
left no alternative and returned verdict
holding the young Mexican for murder.
From her position of denying all knowl-
edge of the affair yesterday Mrs Sammann,
who Is an aunt OF the accused man. proved
today to be the star witness for the state,
tliiiiIs az detail uf tie Inat led up
to the shooting, to which she was an eye
witness. This Is the verdict returned by
the coroner's jury:
Sarah Madeline FiKueroa to her
death by gunshot wound of the BRAIN
homicidally inflicted. and the evidence
points to one George Figueroa as the
guilty party; and we recommend that one
John Surber be held as material Wit
ness"
The verdict was followed by the issuing
of a complaint against Figueroa In the local
police court charging him with the murder
of his pretty 19-yeaI old bride OF three
weeks and he was Immediately removed
to the county jail to await his preliminary
hearing.
Mrs Sammann. who is a middle-aged
woman of distinct Spanish type and exceed
ingly handsome. said that Mrs Figueroa
had arranged to sleep in her house Sunday
night as Figueroa and Surber planned to
sleep in the little summer house In the gar
den where the quarrel and shooting later
occurred. She said she was preparing TO
retire when she heard knock at the
kitchen door. AS she is crippled ana Is
able to walk only with the aid of crutches,
she requested Mrs. Figueroa to go to the
door Then she heard voices and recog-
nized them as belonging to Figueroa ana
his wife. apparently in quarrel Going 10
the kitchen window she saw the couple IN
the yard, where she said Ffgueroa was
pounding his wife the back. This she
said she could plainly see In the moonlight
Mrs Sammann said she cautioned Figue-
roa to desist but he refused. ana Ieo ms ms
wife to the summer house, pushing the door
open and making his wife enter. me VIII
ness followed as rapidly as possible ana
found the pair there together with Suroer.
She testified that Figueroa and MS prlue
continued to quarrel and Mrs tigueroa
began to cry. Mrs. Sammann feared 1ur-
ther trouble and went to neighbors Tor
help. When she returned she SAID Surpel
had disappeared.
The witness entered the summer house
and found Mrs. Figueroa on the noor cry
ing her hands being crossed on her breast
and her head lying close to the door;
Figueroa invited his aunt in the place, ana
after attempted to get her out II was
while F1gueroa was urging Mrs eaIiiaan,i nam
to leave the house that the shot was nred.
The witness said she stood with her feet
touching the young woman's head at the
moment and distinctly felt the conclusion
of the shot but did not know whence II
came She demonstrated to the coroner ana
jury how Figueroa stood on the outside OF
the little hut his right hand holding the
door and his left hand hidden benino hlIi
Mrs Sammann said she did not see the shot
fred and this point was not pushed 1ur-
ther by her Questioners.
The police found the revolver that was
used living behind a basket of clothing hve
or six feet from the body OF Mrs. Figueroa
and the same distance from the door. Po-
lice Sergeant Fred Calkins testihed tnat
this could only have been dropped behind
the basket by standing over 1t. and couIo
not have been thrown there.
When she returned from calling for help
and a moment before the shot was fired,
Mrs Sammann testified that F1gueroa asked
her:
She said she told her nephew that was
her intention. The next think she knew
according to her testimony. was that re-
volver was discharged and she hurrleoly
left the house to call the police.
Surber told of meeting Figueroa and his
wife on the Marine street pier Then the
trio went to local cafe and passed several
hours drinking beer. after which they went
to the Sammann place. the man later going
to Ocean Park and Venice and imbibtng
more beer surber also testified Fisperoa
insisted on his accompanying him nome
and passing the night He said that when
they arrived at the summer house F1sueroa
left him. saying he would return In rev
moments and the next he heard was
Figueroa and his wife In an alteration,
with Mrs. Figueroa crying. Remarking
that it was place for him in 1amlly
quarrel, SurDer salO ne lelb lAO SSoiio a.
once and made for Los Angeles some time
before the shot was fred
Dr. W. H Parker who attended the IN
tured woman Sunday night, testified that
her hair was powder burnt. but no signs of
burns were found the skin. The hair
could have been burned at distance OF
two or three feet, according to the police.
Mrs Sammann's testimony indicated that
Figueroa was standing this distance when
the revolver was discharged.
Figueroa watched the proceedings and
heard the testimony with a sullen interest
He sat within three feet of his aunt Mrs
Sammann. when she told her story.
Mrs Figueroa's body was removed to the
Sutch undertaking parlors at Los Angeles,
where the funeral services will be held.