Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-23
FIGHT ADMISSION
Of SKELLY TALE
Defense Objects to Defendants
Statement After Tragedy
Being Put in Evidence
JUDGE WITHH0LDS DECISION
Witnesses Testify to Hearing AC-
CusationS of Crime by Wife
Against Defendant
JUDGE WITHHoLDS DECISION

SANTA ANA July 22.-Both prosecu-
ton and defense in the Skelly murder
trial now progressing in the superior
court, have scored important points on
j. r. Cavanah's testimony
The case of the defense was aided
yesterday during the ross-examination
of Cavanah, who testified that Skelly
endeavored to extinguish the flames in
which his wife was enVeloped. Inc
witness averred he had noticed a
partially burned package of papers in
a rack on the kitchen wall, with
marks of fire on the same wall. II
is intimated that the defense will at
tempt to prove that Mrs Skelly tried
to fill the gasoline tank of the kitchen
stove while the burners were alight'
which resulted in an explosion, the
burning gasoline igniting the clothing
of Mrs Skelly.
The prosecution recalled Cavanah,
who testified that the gasoline tank
was on the stove when he entered the
room, and that he found the jets BURN
ing.
Cavanah is thought to be the most
important witness in the case, being
the first person. other than Skelly ana
his WIFE to enter the Skelly Kitchen
and pantry on the morning of the
tragedy.
Eugene Hoff, the stenographer who
TOOK SkellN ltSlllHbly lol ~
coroner on May u, was placed on the
stand His testimony concerned the
making by Skelly of two statements
following the tragedy. HOff took a
stenographic report of the statements
made He testified that the defendant
averred that he went home on the
night before the tragedy at 10:30, and
retired in a room adjoining that of his
wife. He had no conversation with
her. In the morning, after leaving the
house he returned to his room to get
a vest, and heard Mrs. Skelly scream
ing He found her hurrying from the
stove and wrapped in flames he
seized her and endeaVored to smother
the flames, but was impeded by her
struggles. Skelly further averred that
he tried to throw water from the
bucket over his wife. She broke away
and he followed her to the well, but
could not find a bucket with which TO
carry water. He secured a quilt, which
he threw about his wife, smotherlng
the fire. AS she was lying on the grass
she cried out, "Oh, Frank, 1 am muir
dered." On carrying her into the
kitchen, his wife said, "Why did you
do it?" He replied, "WAy, Ethel, l
didn't do it." He said he thought she
must have believed he was pouring
gasoline on her when he held her to
throw water oh her.
The introduction OF the SIenoSTdpllC
statement was objected to by Attorney
Rutan, because the transcript had not
been filed. After some argument on
the admission of the statement Judge
West announced he would give de-
cision on admissibility of the statement
next Tuesday.
John Gaines testified to hearing Mrs.
Slxe1Iv's screams and seeing her in
flames. He was present when she was
carried into the house.
William Shamrock and his wife both
testified to hearing Mrs. Skelly's ac-
cusations against her husband. Sham
rack admitted he was not friendly to
Skelly.
]. F. Patterson testified that he went
into the kitchen after the arrival of the
doctor who had been called. The wit
ness found the tank of the gasoline
stove on the floor and the stove in
good condition. He also saw the broken
fruit jar in the pantry and cleaned
up the fragments.
Court adjourned until next Tuesday
morning.